Bengaluru: The Karnataka government has categorically ruled out any hike in nursing course fees for the current academic year, reinforcing its stand on protecting students from rural and economically weaker sections.
Medical Education and Skill Development Minister Dr. Sharanaprakash R. Patil made the announcement during a meeting with the Association of Nursing Colleges at Vikasa Soudha on Thursday. The minister firmly rejected the association’s demand to increase fees.
“The government has decided not to allow any fee hike. Most nursing students come from poor, rural families, and raising the fees would be both unfair and unacceptable,” Dr. Patil stated.
He confirmed that the existing fee structure would remain unchanged: ₹10,000 for students under the government quota, ₹1 lakh under the management quota, and ₹1.4 lakh for non-Karnataka students. “Any institution found overcharging students beyond the approved fee will face strict action, including fines and cancellation of affiliation,” he warned.
Karnataka currently has 611 nursing colleges offering approximately 35,000 seats. Of these, 80% fall under the management quota, while only 20% are filled through the government quota.
Dr. Patil also instructed KEA Director H. Prasanna to ensure that nursing colleges receive government fee reimbursements within 30 days. He emphasized that the decision-making authority on the allotment of unfilled seats rests solely with the state government, warning colleges against making unauthorized changes.
The move signals the government’s resolve to curb exploitative practices in the nursing education sector while upholding transparency and affordability for students.
