BENGALURU: Allotment of medical seats in Karnataka for the 2024-25 academic year has seen a sharp increase in cutoff ranks.
The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) cutoff rank for general merit seats in Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute, the most sought-after college in the state, is 2154 – up 841 positions from last year’s 2995.
The last rank to secure a general merit govt seat for MBBS in the state this year is 69,117 at Jagadguru Gangadhar Mahaswamigalu Moorusavirmath Medical College, Dharwad. In 2023, the cutoff rank at the same college was 72,354.
The rise in cutoff ranks was expected as the scoring in NEET 2024 was high this year, triggering a slew of controversies.
Cutoff for general merit private seats has also seen uptick
As per first-round seat allotments announced on Friday night by KEA, Kasturba Medical College, Mangaluru, the second-most sought-after college in the state, the cut-off is 6,463, as against 8,144 last year.
Mysore Medical College (MMC), the second-most sought-after college in 2023 NEET, has been pushed to third slot this time, with a cutoff of 7,069.
Among other colleges that are high in demand for govt seats are Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Medical Sciences, with a cutoff rank of 7,166; ESI Medical College, Mangaluru, with 12,263; MS Ramaiah Medical College, with 13,265; Jagadguru Sri Shivarathreeswara Medical College, Mysuru, with 13,483; and Kempegowda Institute of Medical S ciences, Bengaluru, with 15,053.
Some experts have pointed out that seats in private colleges are also in demand, and the cutoff for general merit seats has seen an uptick. For instance, the cutoff rank for private seats in BR Ambedkar Medical College is 86,106, up from 91,099.
Next step begins today
For candidates, the procedure after seat allotment commences on Aug 31. Students will be able to enter their choices from 11am on Aug 31 to 11.59pm on Sept 3.
To ensure adherence to the schedule and given the limited time available for conducting counselling, all participating institutes/colleges have been directed to treat all Saturdays, Sundays and gazetted holidays as working days.
