Alva's to Soon Get Deemed-to-be-University Status: Pralhad Joshi

Alva's Education Foundation in Moodbidri is set to receive deemed-to-be-university status soon, Union Education Minister Pralhad Joshi has said.

Joshi made the announcement while inaugurating Alva's Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre on Monday, 21 September, at the Smt. Shobha Mohan Alva campus in Mijar, Moodbidri. He assured the audience that formal recognition of Alva's as a deemed university would come within about a month, The Hans India reported.

Moodbidri as a centre of learning

Joshi said families from the Mumbai-Karnataka region travel to Dharmasthala for faith and to Alva's in Moodbidri for learning — a sign of the reputation the institution has built over the years.

He also spoke about the growing confidence in Indian doctors and nurses around the world, noting that while much of the world is ageing, India remains young. He added that the Centre has set aside ₹2.5 lakh crore for research, according to the report.

What is a deemed university?

In India, a deemed-to-be university is a higher education institution that is given university-level status by the Union Government on the advice of the University Grants Commission (UGC). It brings greater academic freedom:

• Own degrees: the institution can award degrees in its own name, instead of through an affiliating university.
• Own syllabus: it can design and update courses and curricula more quickly to keep pace with new fields.
• Own exams and admissions: it can run its own examinations and set admission processes within regulatory rules.

For professional courses such as MBBS, national regulators like the National Medical Commission continue to set standards, and admission remains based on NEET-UG.

What it could mean for students

• More flexible programmes that respond faster to industry and research needs.
• A single university identity across Alva's many colleges, from medicine and Ayurveda to engineering and the arts.
• More research opportunities for students and faculty.

The new medical college

The newly inaugurated college has 150 MBBS seats, approved by the National Medical Commission from the 2026–27 academic year. Read more:

• Alva's Medical College opens in Moodbidri
• Alva's Medical College aims to produce compassionate doctors: Dr. Mohan Alva

Deemed-university status is granted by the Union Ministry of Education. Coastal Samachar will update this story when the formal notification is issued.