Karnataka MBBS Cutoffs Surge by 9,000 Ranks in First Round of Counselling 2025: What Students Need to Know

The competition for MBBS seats in Karnataka has intensified in 2025, with the first round of counselling recording a dramatic rise of 9,000 ranks in cutoff scores compared to last year. The Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) released the first-round results on Saturday, revealing tighter admission criteria for both general and reserved categories. Experts believe that subsequent rounds may see some relaxation once the All India Quota (AIQ) results are announced on August 6, but the current trend reflects increased competition and a limited supply of seats in state medical colleges.

Cutoff Ranks: 2025 vs 2024

The general merit category saw the last admitted rank close at 60,728 in 2025 compared to 69,117 in 2024, indicating a significant jump of nearly 9,000 ranks. Similarly, the Scheduled Caste (SC) category witnessed cutoffs improving from 2,23,564 in 2024 to 2,11,587 in 2025.

This upward trend has surprised many students who had anticipated lower cutoffs this year, particularly given the difficulty level of the exam. Raghavendra Hegde, a noted MBBS admission counsellor, explained that several factors contributed to this unexpected rise, including increased participation of top-ranked candidates from Karnataka in state counselling and delays in AIQ seat allotments.

Key Factors Behind the Increased Cutoffs

Several reasons have been identified for the higher cutoffs in this year's first round:

1. Increased Competition Among Karnataka Toppers:
   Compared to other states, Karnataka saw a higher number of top-performing candidates opting for state quota seats in the first round. Many of these candidates are expected to shift to AIQ seats once those results are announced, creating a temporary surge in state cutoffs.

2. Delay in All India Quota Results:
   The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) is set to release AIQ results on August 6. Until then, many top-ranked candidates have secured state seats as a backup option, leading to inflated cutoff ranks.

3. No Addition of New Medical Seats:
   Unlike previous years, no new medical colleges or additional MBBS seats were approved by the National Medical Commission (NMC) in Karnataka for 2025 admissions.

4. Loss of Seats in Belagavi:
   The Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Belagavi, did not receive approval from NMC this year, further reducing the total number of available seats.

Expert Opinions on Future Rounds

Raghavendra Hegde, speaking about the current scenario, said:
"Many students assumed that the cutoffs would drop and hover around 80,000 ranks due to the tough exam this year. However, the opposite has happened because toppers from Karnataka have largely chosen state colleges in the first round. After August 6, many of these top-ranked students are likely to vacate their state seats in favour of AIQ seats, thereby improving chances for other aspirants in the second and third rounds of counselling."

This anticipated reshuffling is expected to bring down the cutoff ranks in subsequent rounds, offering relief to students who narrowly missed out in the first phase.

KEA's Revised Counselling Schedule for 2025

For the first time, KEA has introduced separate admission schedules for each professional course, streamlining the process and setting clear deadlines for fee payment and college reporting. Below is the updated timeline:

• Engineering:

  • Choice entry began on Saturday.

  • Fee payment and admission order download: August 2–8.

  • Reporting to allotted colleges: August 9.

• Agricultural Science, Veterinary Science, B-Pharma, Pharma-D:

  • Choice entry: August 4.

  • Fee payment: August 4–8.

  • Reporting date: August 9.

• Yoga and Naturopathy, BPT, BPO, Allied Health Sciences, Architecture:

  • Choice entry: August 5.

  • Fee payment deadline: August 11.

  • Reporting: August 12.

• BSc Nursing:

  • Choice entry: August 6.

  • Fee payment by August 11.

  • Reporting by August 12.

• Medical, Dental, Homeopathy:

  • Choice entry: August 7.

  • Fee payment by August 11.

  • Reporting to colleges by August 12.

KEA has instructed all colleges to treat Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays as working days to accommodate the tight counselling schedule this year.

Implications for Medical Aspirants

While the initial surge in cutoff ranks has caused anxiety among many candidates, experts suggest patience as the situation may change significantly after August 6. Once AIQ results are declared:

• Top scorers opting for national-level seats will free up state quota seats.

• Vacant seats will be added to the next rounds, likely lowering the cutoff rank.

• Students currently on the waiting list could see improved chances of securing seats in government medical colleges.

However, with no increase in seats and a reduction in availability due to non-approval of colleges, overall competition remains tough this year, making strategic decision-making crucial for aspirants.

Conclusion

The 2025 MBBS counselling process in Karnataka has started on a tense note, with unusually high cutoffs causing uncertainty among medical aspirants. The primary reasons include delayed AIQ allotments, a surge in top-ranked candidates from the state, and no new seats being added this year. With MCC results expected on August 6, students are advised to wait for subsequent rounds before making final decisions on seat acceptance or upgrades.

Despite the temporary setback, experts are optimistic that cutoffs will normalize in later rounds, giving more candidates the opportunity to pursue their dream of becoming doctors in Karnataka's reputed medical colleges.