MUMBAI: Screws have been tightened on the controversial NRI quota for post-graduate medical admissions that is known to be sometimes auctioned and at times allotted for large sums of cash.
In an order issued on Monday, January 10, the medical counselling committee (MCC) has decided to convert unfilled seats reserved for NRIs, Muslims and Jains to the general category "Indian national" seats during the mop-up round, the last round that the government will carry out for admissions.
Following that, if seats remain vacant, these will be given back to the deemed universities. NRI seats make up 15% of every college's total intake. The rule is applicable for post-graduate admissions from this year.
"Unfilled NRI/Muslim minority/Jain minority seats to be converted to Indian national seats after exhaustion of all the eligible NRI/Muslim minority/Jain minority candidates during the mop-up round before reverting it back to the respective deemed university," said the notice issued on Monday.
Based on the affidavit filed by the ministry of health and family welfare, the Supreme Court recently directed the MCC of the directorate general of health services (DGHS) to conduct admissions to 50% post-graduate seats under the all-India quota in four rounds. This will mean that in addition to the first two all-India rounds, mop-up and stray vacancy rounds will also be conducted for 2021-22 admissions. Earlier, only the all-India rounds were conducted by MCC and the vacant seats were returned to the state. That will not be the case.
"Earlier, after three rounds, we used to return all the unfilled seats to the respective deemed universities. We were almost always shocked to see that they would somehow manage to fill all those seats," said a senior official from the ministry of health and family welfare. Of the 800 NRI seats across India, about 350-odd seats would remain unfilled after the three rounds. Following that, deemed universities would fill them at their level.
Parents are thrilled with the decision; they said this would end all the "exploitation" against students who, despite having the marks, often don't get a seat for not having the moolah.
"We know from students that on the last day of admission, parents are called inside and cash is demanded from them at various campuses. There are students with low scores who manage to get a seat and many with higher scores lose out if they don't shell out the demanded money.
Some colleges agree to give students a discounted package if they pay the full fee for the entire course in one go at the start. Colleges also bargain rates with students and their parents. Students go through a very difficult time then," said Sudha Shenoy, a parent representative. The landmark decision to convert NRI seats and plough them into the general pool is the victory of merit over money, added Shenoy.
"How the stressful admission season plays out, only time will tell," said another parent.
