The Gujarat government approved a fee decrease for MBBS programs in 13 colleges affiliated with the government-run Gujarat Medical Education and Research Society (GMERS), providing help to those aspiring to become doctors.
Recently, the state raised these fees, which incited opposition from political parties and students.
Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel presided over a cabinet meeting in Gandhinagar where the decision to lower fees was made.
According to State Health Minister Rushikesh Patel, the government reduced tuition for 2,100 MBBS seats across 13 GMERS colleges since it was in the best interests of the students.
The cost for government quota seats has been reduced by 80%, from Rs 5.5 lakh to Rs 3.75 lakh.
The charge for the management quota has been lowered by 62.5 percent, from Rs 17 lakh to Rs 12 lakh. The 2024–25 academic year will see the implementation of the revised pricing schedule.
The state administration announced last month that GMERS college fees would be rising. The management quota cost jumped from Rs 9 lakh to Rs 17 lakh, while the annual charge for government quota seats climbed from Rs 3.3 lakh to Rs 5.5 lakh.
The Gujarat Congress's threats of a riot and the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad's (ABVP) protests prompted the administration to reevaluate the fee increase.
The fee decrease was prompted by opposition from political parties and students after a recent fee hike, as well as protests from the Gujarat Congress and the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP).
The new fee for government quota seats has been reduced by 80%, from Rs 5.5 lakh to Rs 3.75 lakh.
The management quota fee has been reduced by 62.5%, from Rs 17 lakh to Rs 12 lakh.
The revised fee schedule will be implemented in the 2024–25 academic year.
The Gujarat government initially increased the fees last month, raising the management quota fee from Rs 9 lakh to Rs 17 lakh and the government quota fee from Rs 3.3 lakh to Rs 5.5 lakh.