Cutoffs for MBBS colleges in Karnataka rise by 9,000 ranks in first round of counseling
Bengaluru: The cutoffs for MBBS in state colleges has increased by 9,000 ranks in the first round of counseling, with experts hoping that, once the All India quota results are announced, the difference will reduce in the next rounds.
The cutoff rank in general merit section was 69,117 in the first round of counseling in 2024, while in 2025, the cutoff rank stands at 60,728. In SC category, the numbers stand at 2,23,564 last year and 2,11,587 this year, according to a report by Times of India.
The high level of cutoff in the first round is attributed to various factors, with Raghavendra Hegde, a counselor, has said that the competition among students was more intense than expected this year, although the examination was tough. Further, he said that everyone had been expecting to witness a fall till 80,000 in the cutoffs, but the results proved them wrong.
Hegde added that the Karnataka has seen a hike in the number of toppers as compared to other states. The toppers have currently opted for state colleges since the Medical Counseling Committee (MCC) counseling is yet to start, but are expected to move to All India Quota (AIQ) seats once the MCC announces the list, he explained.
The counselor said that the National Medical Commission (NMC) had not approved of any new medical college or seat. Karnataka also had lost seats since the Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College in Belagavi was not approved by the NMC.
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41 lakh illicit liquor seized, 1.84 lakh arrested in major drive: K'taka Minister tells Assembly
Belagavi (Karnataka) (PTI): The Karnataka Excise Department has conducted a statewide crackdown on illegal liquor trade over the last two years, resulting in arrests and seizures of alcohol, Karnataka Excise Minister R B Timmapur said on Tuesday.
As many as 1,09,017 people were arrested, and seizures included 13.66 lakh litres of liquor and 27.19 lakh litres of beer, he said in a written reply to a starred question by Harihar BJP MLA B P Harish in the Karnataka Assembly.
The Minister said the enforcement drive covered the financial year 2023–24, 2024–25 up to June, and 2025–26 from July to October, targeting unauthorised liquor manufacture, storage, sale and transportation across the State.
"During this period, statewide enforcement drives resulted in a total of 1,84,570 raids against illegal liquor sales,” Timmapur said.
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He noted that 9,179 non-bailable cases and 91,968 bailable and compoundable cases under Section 15(A) of the Karnataka Excise Act, 1965, were registered during the same period.
According to him, there have been no reports indicating that students have become addicted to alcohol due to illegal liquor sales.
The sale of alcohol to minors is strictly prohibited under the Karnataka Excise Act, 1965, and the department has issued periodic instructions to initiate legal action against violators, with strict enforcement and investigation measures in place, the Minister said.
Excise officials are carrying out regular road and night patrols, collecting intelligence, monitoring habitual offenders and conducting raids to identify illicit distillation units, unauthorised liquor outlets and spurious liquor manufacturing centres, he said, adding the department is also enforcing the law to prevent the production, storage, sale and transport of spurious, non-duty-paid and unauthorised liquor.
Regular patrols are being conducted on national and state highways, with suspicious vehicles being subjected to checks.
At the district level, standing committee meetings are held under the chairmanship of Deputy Commissioners, and joint operations are carried out with the police and forest departments to curb excise-related offences.
The department is also conducting awareness programmes through Gram Sabhas and in schools and colleges to educate the public and students about the physical, mental and social health hazards associated with alcohol addiction and substance abuse, Timmapur added.
