Source: The Hindu, Deccan Herald
The number of medical seats in Karnataka has dipped by 201 for the academic year 2025–26, primarily due to the National Medical Commission (NMC) withdrawing 200 seats from the prestigious Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College (JNMC), Belagavi.
According to a report by The Hindu, the reduction brings this year’s total medical seats in Karnataka down to 12,194 across 70 medical colleges, compared to 12,395 seats in 71 colleges last year. The only other reduction was of a single seat at a medical college in Chitradurga.
The impact is significant for Belagavi, where JNMC has long been regarded as a top-tier institution, attracting students from across the country. The non-renewal of its undergraduate and postgraduate seats by NMC comes in the wake of a bribery scandal involving a senior assessor. The assessor, who was reportedly caught accepting a bribe of ₹10 lakh in exchange for a favorable inspection report, was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). As a result, the NMC has not only denied renewal of existing seats but also cancelled plans for enhanced intake and the launch of new courses at JNMC for the coming academic year.
Further compounding the situation, NMC also turned down Karnataka’s proposal to start three new government medical colleges and increase intake in some existing government colleges, as per The Hindu.
Breakdown of the available 12,194 seats includes:
- 572 under the All India Quota (AIQ)
- 2,224 under the MCC deemed quota
- 5,275 in the government quota
- 2,819 in the private quota
- 876 in the NRI quota
Out of these, 9,263 seats will be allotted through UGNEET-2025 counselling by the Karnataka Examination Authority (KEA), a slight drop from the 9,282 seats allotted last year.
It’s unfair that because of one person’s alleged bribery, 200 medical seats have been cancelled. Students who dedicated two years preparing for a highly competitive exam like NEET are now losing opportunities at the last minute. How is this fair?
Yes, it is very unfair. Just because of one person being caught, the institution should not loose its credibility. JNMC is definitely one of the finest private institutions the country as ever produced. Its wings are spread throughout the world because of dedicated faculty, high academic standards, deep rooted clinical exposure, quality research, jubliant campus atmosphere and fantastic alumni network. An institution of this standard should NOT be held under the knife and should be granted full admission. Hope the stakeholders and judiciary consider and take an appropriate quick unbiased, student friendly decision. There are other ways to take action.
Accepting bribe by one person could be Tip of Iceberg… If institution functions within the framework and follows the guideline then what’s the necessity to bribe for favourable report..
Yes, it is very unfair. Just because of one person being caught, the institution should not loose its credibility. JNMC is definitely one of the finest private institutions the country as ever produced. Its wings are spread throughout the world because of dedicated faculty, high academic standards, deep rooted clinical exposure, quality research, jubliant campus atmosphere and fantastic alumni network. An institution of this standard should NOT be held under the knife and should be granted full admission. Hope the stakeholders and judiciary consider and take an appropriate quick unbiased, student friendly decision.
It is JNMC that bribed the individual. Are you suggesting that one person shouldn’t have been caught? Rather cheated better? Such matters are a concern especially in the medical profession and need to be dealt with severely. I think the matter has been dealt with well.
Then how is it fair on the society to accept doctors who are trained with insufficient infrastructure? Keep in mind this is not about the lack of those 200 doctor. If this is accepted we’re going to end up with 200 undercooked professionals which is not their fault either. Ultimately it is the society that is going to bear the brunt. India is moving ahead and concentrating on quality now. If the students waited 2 years and could get the seat because of less seats, then maybe they aren’t good enough.
It is vague and ambigious as to who was the assessor who accepted the bribe and for what favour. How is JNMC in the matter. ,to loose seats. Alternative arrangements are not provided to the students. Why this injustice? Please be just and proper decision
These 200 sarts should be adjusted with other most qualified medical institutes. So that student get benefitted.
All politics
ye sarasar annaya h ek well established college ko aap ese kese ban kar sakte h isme kuch rajniti h Or mujhe to esa lagta h ki NMC ke bhi kuch dimand rahi hogi jo college administration ne except nahi ki hogi
Reduction of 200 seats in JNMC Belgaum is ridiculous for mistake of one person. Action should have been initiated on that person instead of reducing the seats. It results into the chaos among the candidates aspiring to study medical in this prestigious college.
Strict punishment for people involved in scam. But do justice to students.
How can the NMC hold a college responsible for a crime committed by one member? This is akin to blacklisting a party for corruption of one member. By this logic all political parties should be banned by now.
It’s totally unfair. NMC is taken idiotic decision . Court should interfere in this matter
An action should be deterrent enough to avoid recurrence of such malpractice in the future.
If JNMC is to be penalized then the whole of NMC should also accept responsibility for the misdemeanor of its appointer. Looks as if there was a covert practice or system which was well-established within which the parties concerned were operating. If what was done (& caught) had not been done then still the Institution would have run the risk of losing …. At best the NMC should have considered a fresh assessment
Jnmc is a very prestigious institution with highly qualified faculty, superb academics and research,good campus……there are far far worse institutions which are running with nil experienced faculty and academics and no infrastructure. It’s bad to cancel the seats. Maybe the official was corrupt. I hope the justice is served and students are given opportunity to study in this prestigious institution.