NEWS TO DAY 16.07.2026

 

NMC adds 950 MBBS seats to state roster Clears Decks For 9,911 More Seats In India

NMC adds 950 MBBS seats to state roster Clears Decks For 9,911 More Seats In India

 TIMES NEWS NETWORK 16.07.2026

Chennai : Medical colleges across Tamil Nadu together expanded MBBS seats by 950 this year, with 13 existing institutions raising their intake. A new private college, APS Medical College Hospital and Research Institute, was added to the roster with 150 seats, according to a seat matrix released by the National Medical Commission. 

The additions bring the state’s capacity to 13,999 seats across 78 medical colleges for the academic year 2026-27, up from 13,049 seats at 77 colleges. 

Across India, NMC has cleared the decks for 9,911 additional seats — including 2,111 seats in govt colleges. The list does not include central govt institutions such as AIIMS. Namakkal, Thiruvallur and Tirupur govt colleges each expanded their intake from 100 to 150 seats, adding 150 seats in the public sector, taking the seat tally in 37 govt colleges to 5,349. Among private institutions, NMC has permitted an increase of 800 seats, including the newcomer. 

Of these, 150 are added to three deemed universities. The remaining 650 will be added to the state matrix, for which the state selection committee will conduct admissions. The additions come as a consolation for a state that has lost 800 MBBS seats from its own counselling matrix after some self-financing colleges and private universities were granted deemed university status. Seats from at least four institutions are expected to be removed from the state list and included instead in the Central pool overseen by Medical Counselling Committee. 

Admission to deemed universities, conducted by the MCM, follows merit in NEET but has no reservations. The annual tuition fee is at about ₹20 lakh. In Tamil Nadu, selffinancing colleges and private universities offer up to 60% seats for govt quota, for which the selection committee follows 69% rule of reservation, and sets aside 7.5% seats for govt school students. 

The annual tuition fee varies from ₹4.35 lakh to ₹5.40 lakh for govt quota seats, and ₹15 lakh to ₹16.20 lakh for managementquota seats. The net effect may not be a squeeze, said a senior official. “150 seats in govt colleges and 650 from private colleges will be added in the state basket,” he added. Health minister K G Arunraj said the state is going ahead with negotiations and moving courts against the grant of deemed university status to some universities. “But the state will ensure new seats are added to the seat matrix,” he said.

NEWS TODAY 15.07.2026

 

RGUHS turns down proposal on fee diversion, cites paucity of funds

RGUHS turns down proposal on fee diversion, cites paucity of funds

 SruthySusan.Ullas@timesofindia.com 15.07.2026

Bengaluru : Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS) has opposed the state govt’s proposal to utilise university admission fees paid by govt medical colleges for maintenance of those institutions, citing financial constraints. 

The govt, on April 24, 2026, proposed that undergraduate and postgraduate admission fees paid to the university can be used by the same institutions for their maintenance. However, the university rejected the proposal. At a recent syndicate meeting, the university resolved to inform the govt it is facing shortage of funds as substantial resources are being spent on the development of RGUHS campus at Ramanagara, establishment of medical colleges at Ramanagara, Kanakapura and Bagalkot, and setting up six skill labs across the state. 

The academic council earlier noted that the fees collected from govt medical colleges are essential for meeting the university’s operational expenditure. It recommended that the university fees paid by govt medical colleges should not be transferred for the maintenance of those colleges. 

There are around 25 govt medical colleges in the state. “We are giving the govt money for construction of medical colleges in Bagalkot and Kanakapura, apart from our own projects. We’ve requested the govt that it cannot be considered because we need money for completion of these projects. It may not be a big amount, but every penny is important for us,” RGUHS vice-chancellor Dr Bhagavan BC pointed out. 

No keywords for descriptive questions Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences

 (RGUHS) has decided against providing answer keys or keywords for descriptive questions in its examinations. Pointing to hundreds of petitions, Karnataka high court had in 2024 asked the university to reconsider its practice of not providing answer keys for evaluation. RGUHS sought National Medical Commission’s opinion in Nov 2024.

 The apex medical regulator supported the university’s position, stating model answers for descriptive questions should not be published. Further, at an academic council meeting, it opined that providing keywords will limit the scope of critical thinking and will not encourage logical responses. In July 2025, the university formed an expert committee comprising faculty from Karnataka as well as health sciences universities in Maharashtra and Kerala. It concluded that keywords and predetermined answers fail to adequately assess the integrated analytical abilities expected of medical graduates. The committee observed that medical education requires evaluation of critical thinking, clinical decisionmaking and communication skills. It pointed out that Kerala University of Health Sciences issues only valuation guidelines for examiners, while the Maharashtra University of Health Sciences does not provide keywords. However, the university decided to conduct a limited pilot by preparing model answer keys for firstyear Bachelor of Physiotherapy students admitted in 2026-27. A committee of physiotherapy experts will prepare question papers with keywords, gather feedback from stakeholders after the results are announced, and submit a report to the university. The academic council reiterated that the current valuation system produces satisfactory results, while recommending periodic training and orientation for evaluators and workshops for question paper setters to improve assessment standards. The syndicate accepted the council’s recommendation and decided not to share answer keys, but to roll out the pilot