NMC rejects proposals for new government medical colleges in Ramanagara, Kanakapura and Bagalkote

Construction work on the new RGUHS campus near Archakarahalli in Ramanagara at a cost of about ₹ 600 crore is in full swing and 70% of the work has been completed. | Photo credit: Special arrangement

The National Medical Commission (NMC) rejected the state government’s proposal to set up new government medical colleges – Ramanagara Institute of Medical Sciences in Ramanagara, Kanakapura Institute of Medical Sciences in Kanakapura of Bengaluru South District and Bagalkot Institute of Medical Science in Bagalkote district.

The main reasons cited are the failure to employ the necessary human resources, including pedagogical and non-pedagogical faculties, and the failure to develop other infrastructure, including buildings.

The medical education department has now decided to complete the recruitment process as soon as possible and submit a proposal to the NMC for permission to set up the three colleges by October 2026.

Four years of effort

After the previous BJP government shifted the government medical college approved for Kanakapura to Chikkaballapur, the Congress government that came to power in 2023 is seeking to build a government medical college in Kanakapura.

The government had planned to build a government medical college at the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS) Ramanagara campus in 2023-24, but it was shifted to Kanakapura.

After strong opposition, the state government announced to set up two government medical colleges separately at Ramanagara and Kanakapura.

The government has decided to start medical colleges in Ramanagara in collaboration with the district hospital and in Kanakapur in collaboration with the taluk hospital and submitted the proposal to the NMC. But the government’s proposal was rejected because the necessary personnel were not appointed.

The same thing happened in 2024-25. Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, the then Deputy Chief Minister, directed that permission for the medical colleges would be obtained in 2025-26 after the necessary recruitment of staff was completed and basic equipment was completed.

However, the NMC again rejected the state government’s request.

Due to this setback, the state government in a cabinet meeting took a decision to open a medical college only in Kanakapur and the government has already started the construction work.

Meanwhile, construction work on the new RGUHS campus near Archakarahalli in Ramanagara at a cost of about ₹ 600 crore is in full swing and 70% of the work has been completed. The government has taken steps to start a new government medical college using the district hospital.

The construction work at Bagalkote has been completed and is awaiting inauguration.

However, due to various reasons including the realization of internal reservation, the state government has not yet acquired the necessary human resources to start these colleges.

“The NMC has not given permission to open medical colleges in Ramanagara, Kanakapura and Bagalkot districts even this year. The main reason is that direct posts have not been recruited. The state government has recently given permission for new recruitments. The recruitment process will be completed soon and the proposal will be submitted again to the NMC by October 2026. By this time, the new RGUUS medical camp is being built. Ramanagara is also expected to be completed,” said Dr. BL Sujatha Rathod, Director, Directorate of Medical Education.

She said that as per the state budget announcement, proposals are also being prepared to open new medical colleges at Puttur in Dakshina Kannada district, Kolar and Vijayapura districts.

Published – 05 Jul 2026 20:38 IST