Bengaluru: The Karnataka government’s decision to increase nursing course intake and grant recognition to new colleges after the third round of counselling has drawn criticism from students aspiring for nursing seats, who claim they were forced to opt for other courses this year.
The Department of Medical Education approved over 1,500 additional seats across at least 90 nursing colleges, along with recognition for seven new institutions, after the completion of the third round of seat allotment by the Karnataka Examination Authority (KEA).
Following the approvals, KEA conducted an extended mop-up round to allocate the newly added seats. However, only 350 students were able to attend the extended round seat allotment, as reported by Deccan Herald on Sunday.
“The seats left vacant after the extended round of seat allotment will be automatically converted into management,” DH quoted a KEA official as saying.
Several students expressed frustration over the government’s delayed decision. One student shared they had initially wanted to pursue nursing but were compelled to enroll in another course due to the lack of government-quota seats at their preferred college. "Now, the government has added a few more seats to that college," said the student.
Another student pointed out that many aspirants were unaware of the extended round, leaving them unable to switch courses. “There was no information about the extended round. Hence, many of us were forced to take up other courses as there were no seats available at quality nursing colleges. Now, we cannot withdraw admissions as we will not get the refund,” DH quoted one student as saying.
Meanwhile, department officials stated that seat approvals are based on recommendations from the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS).
Furthermore, KEA authorities acknowledged that similar issues occurred in the previous year’s counselling process. “This was a similar issue even during last year’s seat allotment. Nursing seats were added even after the completion of all the rounds. We were forced to conduct another round, but of no use for students as they had already taken admissions to other courses,” the KEA official said.
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Dubai: Dr. Thumbay Moideen, Founder of Thumbay Group has been featured in this year's “The 100 NRIs by Entrepreneur Middle East.”
The annual feature recognises 100 prominent Non-Resident Indian entrepreneurs from diverse fields. Other notable names on the list include Zakariya Jokatte, Ashish Koshy, Deepak Babani, Pankaj Kundr, Faizal E. Kottikollon, Dr. Vivek Oberoi, and Prashant Goenka.
Dr. Thumbay Moideen, son of the late community leader B. Ahmed Haji Mohiudeen, is a prominent alumnus of St. Aloysius College, Mangaluru. He has earned widespread recognition in the UAE and beyond for his contributions to higher education and healthcare. He is also a recipient of the Karnataka State Rajyotsava Award 2025.
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In 1997, Dr. Moideen founded the Thumbay Group, a diversified international conglomerate that has expanded into health education, healthcare services, and medical research. In 1998, he became the first Indian invited by the rulers of Ajman to establish a medical college in the UAE, which has now grown into a university with its own network of hospitals, clinics, medical centers, and pharmacies across the country.
Dr. Moideen’s achievements have been recognised in respected publications, including Forbes Middle East and Arabian Business. He has also received an Honorary Fellowship from the International Medical Sciences Academy (IMSA) and an honorary doctorate from Amity University.
Today, Thumbay Group institutions cater to students and healthcare professionals from over 100 nationalities, contributing to workforce development and research-driven healthcare practices. Dr. Moideen is widely regarded as one of the most influential Non-Resident Indians in the Gulf, a respected voice from the Beary community, and a leading Muslim entrepreneur and educationist.
Over the past decades, he has steered Thumbay Group’s expansion into a multi-sector organisation focusing on academic medicine, research-led healthcare, and global education. His initiatives have created opportunities for thousands of healthcare professionals and students while strengthening healthcare delivery systems and academic collaboration across regions.
