Bengaluru: The Karnataka government has made a formal request to the Centre, seeking approval to create additional supernumerary MBBS seats in government autonomous medical colleges from the academic year 2025-26. This move aims to introduce an NRI quota in medical colleges, enhancing financial inflow and educational quality.
Medical Education Minister Sharan Prakash Patil stated that he has written to the Chairman of the National Medical Commission (NMC), requesting the creation of 508 supernumerary MBBS seats across 22 government medical colleges in Karnataka. This would account for a 15% NRI quota, as highlighted in the state's proposal.
Patil supported the move by referencing UGC guidelines and the National Education Policy 2020, which underscore the importance of international student intake for global outreach. Examples from states like Rajasthan, Haryana, and Punjab were cited, where NRI quotas in government medical colleges already exist.
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Despite budgetary allocations and other revenue streams, autonomous medical institutions in Karnataka suffer from funding shortages. Patil argued that additional funds are key to transforming these centers into institutions of excellence. These funds would go toward improving infrastructure, faculty strength, research, and overall quality of education.
The minister pointed out that creating an NRI quota within the current annual intake of seats is impractical, as it could reduce opportunities for underprivileged students and provoke protests. Instead, a proposed annual fee of Rs 25 lakh per NRI student could generate substantial revenue.
Patil expressed confidence that the Centre would approve the state's request, enabling the introduction of a 15% NRI quota in government medical colleges from 2025-26 onward.
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New Delhi: Billionaire Gautam Adani and his nephew Sagar Adani have not been charged with any violations of the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) in the indictment filed by US authorities in a court in a bribery case, the Adani Group said on Wednesday.
Gautam Adani, founder chairman of the ports-to-energy conglomerate, Sagar Adani and another key executive, Vneet Jaain, have been charged by the US Department of Justice with being part of an alleged scheme to pay USD 265 million in bribes to Indian officials to win contracts for supply of solar electricity that would yield USD 2 billion profit over a 20-year period.
In a stock exchange filing, Adani Green Energy Ltd, which is at the centre of the bribery allegations, said reports claiming that the three have been charged with FCPA violations "are incorrect".
They have been charged with offences that are punishable with a monetary fine or penalty.
"Gautam Adani, Sagar Adani and Vneet Jaain have not been charged with any violation of the FCPA in the counts set forth in the indictment of the US DOJ or civil complaint of the US SEC.
"These directors have been charged on three counts in the criminal indictment, namely (i) alleged securities fraud conspiracy, (ii) alleged wire fraud conspiracy, and (iii) alleged securities fraud," the filing said.
The Adani Group has denied all allegations and said it will take all possible legal recourse to defend itself.
A criminal indictment has been filed before the United States District Court Eastern District of New York by the Department of Justice in the case of USA against Gautam Adani, Sagar Adani and Vneet Jaain.
"The indictment does not specify any quantum of any fine/penalty," the company said.
The civil complaint alleges that the executives violated certain sections of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Act of 1934, and aided and abetted Adani Green Energy Limited's violation of the Acts, it said.
"Although the complaint prays for an order directing the defendants to pay civil monetary penalties, it does not quantify the amount of penalty," it said.