Udaipur- In a recent discussion, Maheshwer Peri, founder of Careers360, highlighted the escalating hostel fees charged by certain private medical colleges in Rajasthan, raising questions about fairness, transparency, and the overall cost of medical education. He pointed out that some fees are so high that they rival the price of purchasing a modest property, especially for single-occupancy options in non-metro cities like Udaipur.

Peri cited specific examples from institutions in the region. At Pacific Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Udaipur (affiliated with Sai Tirupati University), the official fee structure for the 2025-26 academic year lists a premium suite/flat/apartment with AC at ₹10.5 lakh per year.

This aligns with Peri's reference to ₹10.5 lakh for single occupancy. Basic hostel options at the same college start at around ₹3.5 lakh per year, with AC hostels at ₹6.75 lakh. Over the 5-year MBBS course, opting for the premium accommodation could accumulate to over ₹50 lakh in hostel fees alone, excluding mess charges, living expenses, and tuition.

Peri also referenced Dr. SS Tantia Medical College and Research Center in Sri Ganganagar (under Tantia University), where single-occupancy hostel fees have been reported at around ₹6 lakh for certain categories, particularly in PG contexts, though UG figures often range lower (e.g., ₹1.9 lakh to ₹2.2 lakh annually for standard options, with higher for AC or single rooms).

He mentioned another Pacific-affiliated institution, Pacific Medical College and Hospital in Udaipur, with a claimed single-occupancy fee of ₹72 lakh, likely a reference to cumulative costs over years or a potential misstatement, as current official structures show much lower annual hostel rates (typically ₹2.5 lakh to ₹3.5 lakh for AC/non-AC options).

These charges occur in non-metro locations where equivalent off-campus rentals or property purchases are significantly cheaper. Peri emphasized that such fees contribute to the total MBBS cost reaching ₹2-4 crore in some cases (including tuition of ₹20-35 lakh per year in private colleges), placing immense financial strain on families.

Loopholes in Regulation and Calls for Stricter Oversight

Rajasthan operates a Fee Regulatory Committee (FRC) that caps tuition and sometimes hostel/mess fees in private medical colleges to ensure accessibility. For instance, recent guidelines for PG courses have standardized hostel fees (e.g., ₹3.5 lakh for single rooms in some notifications). Hostel accommodation is technically optional, allowing students to choose off-campus living. However, Peri noted practical challenges: limited external options near campuses, pressure to stay on-site, or management through separate entities that may circumvent direct regulation.

He argued that while premium accommodations (like suites with enhanced amenities) justify higher costs in some views, the scale in non-metro areas warrants closer scrutiny. The FRC's role includes mandating transparent fee structures, but loopholes such as categorizing high-end options separately or routing through third parties allow elevated charges.

Peri stressed the societal impact: high combined costs (hostel plus tuition) could exclude middle-class students, increase debt burdens, and affect the future supply of doctors serving public needs. He called for stricter regulation of hostel fees during FRC reviews to prevent commercialization from undermining education's accessibility.