Gujarat Government Partially Rolls Back MBBS Fees

In a significant relief to medical aspirants, the Gujarat government has announced a partial rollback in fees for MBBS courses in 13 colleges under the state-run Gujarat Medical Education and Research Society (GMERS) following a recent fee hike, reported PTI.

The public decision on Tuesday comes in response to widespread protests by students and political parties.

Decision Overview Rolling Back MBBS Fees:

During a cabinet meeting held in Gandhinagar, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and State Health Minister Rushikesh Patel decided to lower the fees to benefit 2,100 MBBS students across the GMERS colleges.

“In the interest of the students, the government has decided to reduce the fee for 2,100 MBBS seats in 13 GMERS colleges,” stated Health Minister Patel at a press conference in Gandhinagar.

Revised Fee Structure:

The fee for government quota seats has been reduced from the newly hiked Rs 5.5 lakh to Rs 3.75 lakh, reflecting a reduction of approximately 80%.

The fee for management quota seats has been reduced from Rs 17 lakh to Rs 12 lakh, marking a 62.5% decrease. The changed fee structure will take effect in the academic year 2024-25.

Background and Reactions on MBBS Fees:

This rollback follows the government’s previous notification issued last month, substantially increasing the fees for the upcoming academic year. The initial hike saw government quota fees rise from Rs 3.3 lakh to Rs 5.5 lakh annually, while management quota fees surged from Rs 9 lakh to Rs 17 lakh.

The fee hike prompted strong reactions, with members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) staging protests and the Gujarat Congress threatening to initiate a larger agitation if the decision was not reversed.

Government’s Response:

The state government’s latest move is a response to these pressures. It aims to ease the financial load on students and their families while maintaining access to quality medical education in Gujarat.

Health Minister Patel emphasized that the decision was made in the best interest of the students, reflecting the government’s commitment to supporting their educational pursuits.

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