Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Jul 18: Students from Karnataka aspiring to pursue medical and dental courses have brighter prospects of realizing their dream. The state government has taken a decision to set aside 50 percent open quota seats in minority institutions for students who are residents of Karnataka. The state government took this decision after considering demand made by Karnataka Medical Students and Youth Doctors Association towards this end.

Representatives of the said association along with Union of Karnataka organizations, had staged a protest in front of Karnataka Examinations Authority office on Monday. The association members later had met the principal secretary in the department of medical education.

The government had given its nod to increase reservation for students of Karnataka domicile from 30 to 50 percent in private, non-minority colleges in institution seats. The remaining seats which comprise open quota were to be allotted on the basis of ranking in National Eligibility cum Entrance Test. In private colleges, 40 percent seats are given to government, 20 percent are meant for management and NRI quota, with the balance 40 percent being institution seats. In respect of minority colleges, 55 percent seats were under institution quota. 66 percent seas are meant for respective linguistic or religious minority candidates. Although candidates from other states are eligible under this quota, preference is given to Karnataka candidates.The remaining 34 percent seats were open quota seats to be filled on merit basis. This quota has now been hiked to 50 percent for Karnataka domicile candidates.

Medical education minister, Sharanaprakash Patil, clarified that increasing the reservation over 50 percent is not possible as such a decision could encounter problems in the court.