Karnataka to Get 1,122 Additional Medical Seats, Says Minister Sharanprakash Patil; Slams NEET Irregularities

Bengaluru, May 2026: Karnataka Minister for Medical Education, Skill Development and Livelihood Sharanprakash R. Patil on Saturday announced that the state has secured 1,122 additional medical seats, calling it a major opportunity for students aspiring to pursue careers in medicine.

Addressing a press conference at Vidhana Soudha, the Minister said Karnataka continues to lead the country in medical education and infrastructure expansion. He added that the increased seat allocation will significantly benefit students across multiple districts, including Koppal, Gadag, Chamarajanagar, Karwar, and Kaveri regions.

Patil said the Centre has approved substantial funding support for the expansion. “For undergraduate medical seats, Karnataka will receive a grant of ₹495 crore, while ₹541 crore has been sanctioned for postgraduate seats. In total, the state will receive ₹1,090 crore following final approval from the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on May 15,” he said.

Describing the development as a milestone, the Minister said allocation of more than 1,000 medical seats to a single state is unprecedented. “This is a record achievement and reflects Karnataka’s leadership in the field of medical education,” he said.

He urged students to make full use of the expanded opportunities. “Karnataka now offers excellent scope for those who want to excel in the medical profession. Students must take advantage of these new seats and build their future,” he added.

Criticism Over NEET System

During the interaction, Patil strongly criticised the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), particularly in the wake of the recent alleged question paper leak controversy. He called it a serious injustice to students across the country.

“The NEET question paper leak is a grave injustice to students. The future of thousands of aspirants has been affected due to the Centre’s failure in conducting the examination system properly,” he said.

He also alleged that Karnataka’s Common Entrance Test (CET) is a far more reliable and transparent model compared to NEET and should be adopted at the national level. “We have repeatedly requested the Centre to consider the CET model, but our suggestions have been ignored,” he added.

The Minister said the recurring controversies surrounding NEET have eroded public trust in the examination system. “Every year, NEET is surrounded by chaos. The credibility of the process has been completely damaged,” he said.

Demand for Investigation and Accountability

Calling for accountability, Patil demanded that the Union Minister concerned take responsibility for the alleged lapses and resign. He also said that the investigation into the scam should be conducted under judicial supervision to ensure fairness.

Expressing doubts over the ongoing probe by central agencies, he said he lacked confidence in the CBI’s ability to conduct a transparent investigation.

“This appears to be a larger conspiracy enabling malpractice in medical admissions, and there are concerns about the involvement of powerful individuals,” he alleged.

Patil also criticised opposition leaders in Karnataka for defending the NEET system amid the controversy. He further alleged that the BJP has a history of irregularities in recruitment and examination processes, citing past scandals as examples.

With the announcement of additional medical seats, the state government hopes to strengthen healthcare education while continuing its push for expanded opportunities for students across Karnataka.