Who Owns Manipal Academy of Higher Education?

MAHE operates a sustainability framework aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The Green Manipal program has earned the Green Apple International Silver Award for environmental best practices (2018) and the Green World Award Gold (2019). The Manipal Institute of Technology was recognized as the third most clean campus in India by the AICTE Clean Campus Award 2017.

MAHE integrates the UN SDGs into its academic programs, research activities, and campus operations. The institution publishes annual sustainability reports. MAHE's 2025 reports emphasize SDG publications, SDG 3 publications focusing on health and well-being, and worldwide collaborations addressing global sustainability challenges.

Campus environmental management practices include energy conservation programs, waste reduction strategies, water conservation measures, and biodiversity preservation efforts across all campuses in Manipal, Bengaluru, Mangalore, Jamshedpur, Dubai, and Malaysia. Campus development projects incorporate sustainable building practices and green architecture principles.

Through community development programs, MAHE engages students and faculty in environmental conservation drives, public health awareness campaigns, and partnerships with local communities. The Student Support Centre offers sexual and reproductive healthcare services, confidential counseling, and mental health support.

As a deemed university under Section 3 of the UGC Act, 1956, MAHE operates with regulatory autonomy while maintaining accountability to stakeholders. The institution's private ownership under the Pai family has drawn questions about transparency in decision-making, particularly regarding fee structures and administrative policies.

MAHE leverages its 300+ international university partnerships to advance sustainability goals through research exchange, student mobility programs, and collaborative sustainability initiatives.

MAHE ranked 3rd among Indian universities in the NIRF 2025 rankings, up from 4th in 2024. MAHE ranked 14th overall in India in both 2024 and 2025. These rankings are issued by India's Ministry of Education and evaluate institutions on teaching, research, and outreach.

Internationally, MAHE placed 901-950 in the QS World University Rankings 2025 and 197th in Asia. The Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2025 placed MAHE at 801-1000 globally, 201-250 in Asia in 2024, and 301-350 among emerging economies.

MAHE received the Institutes of Eminence designation from the Government of India in 2020, making it one of a small number of private institutions to receive this status. The designation recognizes institutions with the potential to achieve global rankings within the top 500 and grants additional regulatory autonomy, including independent fee-setting, foreign faculty recruitment, and international collaboration without prior government approval.

The institution holds A++ accreditation from the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC), the highest available grade. Kasturba Medical College Manipal has shown improvement in QS World Rankings by Subject, while Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences (MCOPS) has maintained its position in international subject rankings.

In December 2024, MAHE refused to charge government-fixed fees for 25% government quota PG medical seats at Kasturba Medical Colleges in Manipal and Mangaluru. The Karnataka state government had ordered all deemed universities to reserve 25% of PG medical seats as government quota with fees fixed at approximately ₹768,108 for clinical courses, ₹192,027 for para-clinical courses, and ₹96,015 for pre-clinical courses for 2024-25. MAHE's refusal led to warnings of legal action from the state government.

The controversy escalated when MAHE objected to implementing government-fixed fees, threatened not to admit candidates, and objected to the release of mock allotment and final seat allotment lists. MAHE had previously signed a consensual agreement with the government regarding fee structures while obtaining no-objection certificates for seat enhancement. Other deemed universities in Karnataka, including JSS and Yenepoya, agreed to implement government-fixed fees. Dr. Sharan Prakash Patil, Minister of Medical Education, stated that the government could not give MAHE special preference and warned of legal action.

MAHE submitted an alternative proposal to the Karnataka Examinations Authority suggesting candidates allotted PG medical seats would be charged approximately ₹1.62 lakhs for the first year and ₹1.52 lakhs for subsequent years, apart from tuition fees. The government rejected this proposal. In 2023-24, MAHE had fixed fees for government quota PG medical seats ranging from ₹510,750 to ₹3,413,750, depending on the course.

The fee dispute highlights the tension between MAHE's regulatory autonomy as an Institute of Eminence and its obligation to comply with state government regulations. The dispute occurred during the critical counseling process for PG medical courses, potentially affecting student admissions.

As a privately held institution under family-controlled governance through the Pai family, MAHE has faced questions about transparency in decision-making processes, particularly regarding fee structures. In 2012, MAHE faced student protests at the Manipal Institute of Technology, though specific details are not extensively documented.