The Karnataka government is currently evaluating a request from private engineering colleges to raise fees by 20%. Higher Education Minister Dr. M C Sudhakar emphasized that any decision will consider the interests of students. The previous administration allowed a 10% annual fee hike for three years, but this was revoked by the current government, which has been revising fees annually. Sources suggest that a 7.5% increase may be approved, raising fees for standard colleges from ₹81,800 to ₹87,935, an increase of ₹6,135 per student. Colleges with better facilities, previously charging ₹91,000, could see fees rise to ₹97,825. Critics argue that this tiered fee structure disproportionately affects middle-class families relying on the Karnataka Common Entrance Test (KCET) for financial relief. Additionally, the government has received complaints about private institutions collecting fees beyond the prescribed slabs. To address this, measures are being implemented to ensure compliance with fee regulations, including direct fee collection through the Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA). The government is also considering filling engineering seats before the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) results, which may benefit students seeking their preferred colleges.