Non-surgical clinical and pre-clinical specialisations — complete guide to 2,200+ seats, eligibility, fees, top colleges, cutoff marks, management quota, and admission process in Karnataka.
Karnataka is an open state — non-Karnataka MBBS graduates can participate in state quota counselling through KEA. NIMHANS Bangalore is India's premier institution for MD Psychiatry and Neurology. Manipal hosts multiple deemed universities offering a wide range of MD/MS branches. Karnataka management quota is the most popular option for non-domicile PG aspirants across India.
Important: Karnataka open state policy is a major advantage — students from any state can apply for 50% state quota MD seats through KEA. Non-clinical branches (Pharmacology, Physiology, Community Medicine) remain open at lower NEET PG ranks and are strategic options for accessing Karnataka government college training.
Non-surgical clinical and pre-clinical specialisations. All branches below are available at one or more colleges in Karnataka. 🔥 = highest demand / closes at top scores.
Branch Strategy: MD Radiology and MD Dermatology close at the highest NEET PG scores nationally. If your rank doesn't support these, MD Pathology, MD Microbiology, and MD Community Medicine are strategic options — they provide government college training and open the path to superspeciality (DM) later.
The following colleges offer MD programs in Karnataka. All fill through 50% MCC AIQ + 50% state quota unless noted as deemed/central (100% AIQ).
| College Name | City | Type | MD Branches | Annual Fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NIMHANS Bangalore | Bangalore | Central/Institute | MD Psychiatry, Neurology, Clinical Psych | ₹10,000/yr |
| Bangalore Medical College (BMC) | Bangalore | Government | MD/MS All Branches | ₹75,000/yr |
| Mysore Medical College | Mysore | Government | MD/MS All Branches | ₹75,000/yr |
| MS Ramaiah Medical College | Bangalore | Private/Autonomous | MD/MS 30+ branches | ₹14L/yr |
| Manipal College of Medical Sciences | Manipal | Deemed | MD/MS 40+ branches | ₹20L/yr |
| JSS Medical College Mysore | Mysore | Deemed | MD/MS 25+ branches | ₹16L/yr |
| Kasturba Medical College Manipal | Manipal | Deemed | MD/MS 35+ branches | ₹20L/yr |
Based on 2025 counselling rounds. Actual 2026 cutoffs will vary depending on NEET PG difficulty, total candidates, seat matrix changes, and round-wise availability.
| Category | Expected Score (Govt Seats) | Approximate Rank Band | Management Quota |
|---|---|---|---|
| General / Open | 490–570 marks | Competitive rank range | Qualifying marks only |
| OBC / Equivalent | 450–520 marks | 30–50 marks lower than General | Qualifying marks only |
| SC | 370–440 marks | Significant relaxation | Qualifying marks only |
| ST | Higher relaxation than SC | Highest relaxation benefit | Qualifying marks only |
| PwD (Horizontal) | 5% relaxation on qualifying | Within each category | Qualifying marks only |
| MD Branch | Demand | Relative Rank | Strategy Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| MD General Medicine | Very High | Top 10–15% | Closes early — competitive score needed |
| MD Paediatrics | High | Top 30% | Competitive but achievable with good prep |
| MD Radiology | Very High | Top 10–15% | Closes early — competitive score needed |
| MD Dermatology & Venereology | Very High | Top 10–15% | Closes early — competitive score needed |
| MD Psychiatry | Very High | Top 10–15% | Closes early — competitive score needed |
| MD Pathology | High | Top 30% | Competitive but achievable with good prep |
| MD Anaesthesiology | Moderate | Top 50–60% | Good option for mid-range NEET PG scores |
| MD Microbiology | Moderate | Top 50–60% | Good option for mid-range NEET PG scores |
| MD Pharmacology | Low-Moderate | Top 70–80% | Strategic option — accessible at lower ranks |
| MD Physiology | Low-Moderate | Top 70–80% | Strategic option — accessible at lower ranks |
| MD Community Medicine | Low-Moderate | Top 70–80% | Strategic option — accessible at lower ranks |
| MD Respiratory Medicine | Moderate | Top 50–60% | Good option for mid-range NEET PG scores |
2026 Cutoffs will differ from 2025. Always verify with official KEA (Karnataka Examinations Authority) data once published. Use these figures for planning and college shortlisting — not as guaranteed cutoffs.
| College Type / Quota | Annual Fees | Total (3 Years) | Stipend Available? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Government College — State Quota | ₹50,000–₹1L/yr | 3 × annual fees | ✅ Yes — ₹35,000–₹75,000/month |
| Private College — State Quota | ₹7L–₹14L/yr | 3 × annual fees | Usually not provided |
| Private College — Management Quota | ₹15L–₹28L/yr | 3 × annual fees | Usually not provided |
| AIIMS / Central Institutions | ₹25,000/yr | ₹75,000 total | ✅ Yes — ₹60,000+/month |
Stipend makes a huge difference: A government MD seat paying ₹50,000/month stipend over 3 years = ₹18 lakh earned. Net cost of a government MD vs management quota at ₹15L/year is vastly different when stipend is factored in. Always evaluate net cost, not just fee structure.
Karnataka open state policy is a major advantage — students from any state can apply for 50% state quota MD seats through KEA. Non-clinical branches (Pharmacology, Physiology, Community Medicine) remain open at lower NEET PG ranks and are strategic options for accessing Karnataka government college training.
Archway's advice: Management quota MD seats fill very fast after state counselling rounds end — often within days. Contact us immediately after you know your state quota outcome so we can check real-time seat availability.
MD (Doctor of Medicine) is a 3-year postgraduate program covering non-surgical specialisations: General Medicine, Radiology, Dermatology, Psychiatry, Pathology, Anaesthesiology, Paediatrics, Microbiology, Pharmacology, Physiology, Biochemistry, and Community Medicine. MD leads to clinical practice, diagnostics, or research careers. MS (Master of Surgery) covers surgical specialisations: General Surgery, Orthopaedics, Ophthalmology, ENT, and Obstetrics & Gynaecology. MS is for those who want procedural surgical careers. Both require NEET PG and follow the same 50% AIQ + 50% state quota structure.
Karnataka has approximately 2,200+ MD seats across 35+ medical colleges. These seats are distributed across government colleges (state quota + AIQ), private colleges (state quota + management quota), and central institutions (100% through MCC AIQ). The exact seat matrix for 2026 will be published by KEA (Karnataka Examinations Authority) and MCC before counselling begins.
Based on 2025 trends: General/Open category — 490–570 marks; OBC — 450–520 marks; SC — 370–440 marks. High-demand branches like MD Radiology and MD Dermatology close at the higher end. Non-clinical MD branches like Pathology, Microbiology, Community Medicine remain open at lower ranks. 2026 cutoffs will vary — use these for planning only.
Karnataka open state policy is a major advantage — students from any state can apply for 50% state quota MD seats through KEA. Non-clinical branches (Pharmacology, Physiology, Community Medicine) remain open at lower NEET PG ranks and are strategic options for accessing Karnataka government college training. Management quota requires only the qualifying NEET PG percentile (50th for General, 40th for reserved categories) — no merit cutoff. Any NEET PG-qualified student regardless of home state can apply for management quota seats.
Yes — and you should. Register for both MCC AIQ counselling (mcc.nic.in) and Karnataka state counselling (kea.kar.nic.in) simultaneously. They run on parallel timelines. Accepting a seat in one does not prevent upgrading through the other (subject to round rules). Archway helps manage both registrations and counselling strategies simultaneously for maximum seat-securing chances.
Government MD residents in Karnataka receive a monthly stipend ranging from approximately ₹35,000–₹75,000 depending on the year of residency (junior resident, senior resident) and the specific college. Central institutions like AIIMS provide higher stipends (₹60,000+/month). Private college management quota residents typically do not receive stipend. This stipend significantly offsets the effective cost of a government MD program.
Share your NEET PG rank and preferred specialisation — we'll map your realistic MD options in Karnataka and backup states within 2 hours.