Karnataka Minister writes to Centre seeking NRI quota in government medical colleges
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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Thane court sentences man to life imprisonment for bludgeoning wife to death
Thane (PTI): A court in Maharashtra's Thane district sentenced a man to life imprisonment for the brutal murder of his wife, whom he attacked 22 times with a hammer in front of his children, based on the testimony of his 13-year-old daughter.
Principal district and sessions judge S B Agrawal found the accused, Vijay Mishra alias Samir Shaikh, guilty under sections 302 (murder) and 324 (voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
The court sentenced him to life imprisonment and a three-year term to be served concurrently. It also imposed a fine of Rs 1 lakh for the murder charge and an additional Rs 10,000 for injuring his minor daughter and mother-in-law, who had tried to intervene during the fatal attack.
Additional public prosecutor Rashmi Kshirsagar informed that 11 prosecution witnesses, including the accused's daughter, were examined during the trial.
According to the prosecution, the victim, Zarin Israr Ansari, had been living with her mother, along with her daughter and a six-year-old son, for two years following prolonged domestic violence and disputes.
The accused, who had converted to Islam to marry Zarin 14 years prior, harboured deep resentment over her living separately and suspected her character.
On the afternoon of September 28, 2023, the accused stormed into his mother-in-law's residence in Mumbra with a hammer concealed in a bag, cornered his wife on the mezzanine floor, dragged her down, locked the main door, and repeatedly bludgeoned her.
The court defended the testimony of the victim's 13-year-old daughter, who was an eyewitness and had sustained injuries herself, noting that minor inconsistencies do not degrade the core truth of an innocent child's account:
"...they are not of any significant consequence since it is not expected from such a witness of 10 years of age to have a total photographic memory to be reproduced before the court. But as far as the incident is concerned, evidence of this witness is totally free from any reasonable doubt."
The prosecution had also stated that the accused had locked his family inside and threatened a neighbour by brandishing a "bomb-like thing" and declaring he would blow up the building if anyone intervened.
The victim's brother eventually broke down the latched door, disarmed the accused, and pinned him down until the police arrived.
The post-mortem report revealed that the victim had suffered 22 brutal injuries and had died due to severe head wounds.
