Face2News/Mohali
Under the pretext of tabling a bill to regulate fee structures in private unaided schools during the ongoing session of the Vidhan Sabha, the Punjab Government has stabbed medical aspirants in the back, especially those preparing for NEET examinations.
Former Health Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu has strongly criticised the Punjab Government for the steep hike in MBBS fees across government and private medical colleges, terming the move “anti-student and anti-middle class.”
Lashing out at the AAP Government, Mr. Sidhu said that on one hand, the Bhagwant Mann-led government is presenting the Punjab Regulation of Fee of Un-aided Educational Institutions (Amendment) Bill, 2026 and has scheduled it for discussion in the Vidhan Sabha session. On the other hand, it has announced a hike in fees in both government and private medical institutions, clearly exposing the double standards of the Punjab Government towards students.
The Congress party will strongly raise this serious issue in the Vidhan Sabha to safeguard the rights of medical students in Punjab, he added.
Sidhu said that at a time when thousands of hardworking students in Punjab aspire to become doctors, the government has chosen to impose an unbearable financial burden on their families. “An increase of up to 17.4% in private medical colleges and 8.5% in government institutions is not just a revision — it is a direct blow to the dreams of Punjabis,” he stated.
Highlighting the disparity, Sidhu pointed out that students under the management quota in private colleges will now have to pay nearly ₹65 lakh for the MBBS course, which is almost ₹40 lakh more than those under the government quota. “This creates a system where only those with deep pockets can pursue medical education. Is this the model Punjab wants to promote?” he questioned.
He further said that even government medical college fees, which are meant to be affordable, have crossed ₹10.8 lakh for the full course. “For many lower and middle-income families, even this amount is beyond reach. The government is steadily pushing quality education out of the reach of common people,” Sidhu added.
Criticising the timing of the decision, he said the hike comes at a time when families are already struggling with inflation, unemployment, and the rising cost of living.
“Instead of expanding affordable medical education and increasing seats in government colleges, the government is encouraging privatisation and commercialisation of education,” he alleged.
Sidhu demanded that the Punjab Government immediately roll back the fee hike and formulate a transparent, student-friendly policy in the present session of the Vidhan Sabha to ensure that no deserving student is deprived of becoming a doctor due to financial constraints.
“Education is a right, not a privilege for the rich. The government must correct this decision before it causes irreversible damage to the future of Punjab’s youth,” he asserted.
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