Govt Quota MBBS Students Face ₹20 Lakh Fee at Sri Venkateswaraa University

Students allotted government-quota MBBS seats on merit at Sri Venkateswaraa University in Chennai were asked to pay an annual fee of ₹20 lakh during admissions in the second week of August. The demand has left candidates facing a severe financial shock, as the requested sum is more than three times the ₹6.4 lakh fee published before the first round of counselling.

Medical admissions across Tamil Nadu are conducted by the state selection committee through a single-window counselling system. The allotments for government-quota seats in government colleges, self-financing colleges, and state private universities are determined strictly on NEET merit and applicable reservation rules. Under this mechanism, private universities and self-financing institutions surrender 50% to 65% of their total seats for admission under the government quota.

Under the state's present fee structure, annual MBBS tuition fixed by the fee committee ranges from about ₹4.35 lakh to ₹5.40 lakh for government-quota seats in self-financing colleges and state private universities. For management-quota seats, the regulated annual fees range between ₹15 lakh and ₹16.20 lakh.

Prior to the first round of counselling in the second week of August, the selection committee had officially listed the total fee for Sri Venkateswaraa University at ₹6.4 lakh. Candidates choosing hostel accommodation were informed of an additional cost ranging from ₹2.25 lakh to ₹3.35 lakh. Students confirmed that they locked in their college preferences based strictly on the figures notified at the time.

However, after students had already locked in their choices and before the first-round allotment results were released, the selection committee revised the university's fee structure to ₹11.5 lakh, excluding hostel charges. Candidates subsequently found themselves asked to pay an annual fee of ₹20 lakh upon reporting for their seats.