Surgical specialisations — complete guide to 1,100+ 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 MS management quota across 38+ private colleges is the most popular non-domicile MS route in India. Manipal KMC and JSS offer excellent MS training. Open state means non-Karnataka MBBS graduates are eligible for both state quota and management quota MS seats.
Surgical specialisations. All branches below are available at one or more colleges in Karnataka. 🔥 = highest demand / closes at top scores.
Branch Strategy: MS Orthopaedics and MS General Surgery close at the highest scores. MS Anatomy is available at lower ranks. Choose based on your career interest and surgical aptitude — all MS branches are procedural and require physical commitment.
The following colleges offer MS programs in Karnataka. All fill through 50% MCC AIQ + 50% state quota unless noted as deemed/central (100% AIQ).
| College Name | City | Type | MS 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 | 470–550 marks | Competitive rank range | Qualifying marks only |
| OBC / Equivalent | 430–500 marks | 30–50 marks lower than General | Qualifying marks only |
| SC | 350–420 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 |
| MS Branch | Demand | Relative Rank | Strategy Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| MS General Surgery | Very High | Top 10–15% | Closes early — competitive score needed |
| MS Orthopaedics | Very High | Top 10–15% | Closes early — competitive score needed |
| MS Ophthalmology | Very High | Top 10–15% | Closes early — competitive score needed |
| MS ENT | Moderate | Top 50–60% | Good option for mid-range NEET PG scores |
| MS Obstetrics & Gynaecology | Moderate | Top 50–60% | Good option for mid-range NEET PG scores |
| MS Anatomy | Low-Moderate | Top 70–80% | Strategic option — accessible at lower ranks |
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 MS seat paying ₹50,000/month stipend over 3 years = ₹18 lakh earned. Net cost of a government MS vs management quota at ₹15L/year is vastly different when stipend is factored in. Always evaluate net cost, not just fee structure.
Karnataka MS management quota across 38+ private colleges is the most popular non-domicile MS route in India. Manipal KMC and JSS offer excellent MS training. Open state means non-Karnataka MBBS graduates are eligible for both state quota and management quota MS seats.
Archway's advice: Management quota MS 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.
MS (Master of Surgery) is a 3-year postgraduate surgical training program covering surgical specialisations: General Surgery, Orthopaedics, Ophthalmology, ENT, and Obstetrics & Gynaecology. MS requires surgical aptitude and physical commitment. MD (Doctor of Medicine) covers non-surgical specialisations like General Medicine, Radiology, Dermatology, Psychiatry, and Pathology. Both require NEET PG and follow the same 50% AIQ + 50% state quota admission structure.
Karnataka has approximately 1,100+ MS seats across 30+ 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 — 470–550 marks; OBC — 430–500 marks; SC — 350–420 marks. High-demand branches like MS Orthopaedics and MS General Surgery close at the higher end. Non-clinical MS Anatomy remain open at lower ranks. 2026 cutoffs will vary — use these for planning only.
Karnataka MS management quota across 38+ private colleges is the most popular non-domicile MS route in India. Manipal KMC and JSS offer excellent MS training. Open state means non-Karnataka MBBS graduates are eligible for both state quota and management quota MS seats. 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 MS 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 MS program.
Share your NEET PG rank and preferred specialisation — we'll map your realistic MS options in Karnataka and backup states within 2 hours.