Assam Cabinet amendments: MBBS aspirants to Get 2 Additional Seats, 1-year mandatory govt service for DM, MCh candidates

Guwahati: Bringing good news to the medical aspirants in Assam, the State Cabinet recently approved amendments to the "The Medical Colleges and Dental Colleges of Assam, (Regulation of Admission into 1st year MBBS/BDS courses) Rules, 2017" and ensured two additional seats available for the candidates from the State.

The cabinet has also given approval to Admission Rules for the Post-Doctoral (D.M. and M.Ch) Degree Courses in the Medical Colleges of the State of Assam, 2024 as per which the DM/ M.Ch candidates shall have to do one year mandatory post DM/ M.Ch service in Govt institution, reports Assam Tribune.

The decisions in this regard were taken during the cabinet meeting, which was held on Sunday i.e. March 10, 2024. During the meeting, the cabinet approved an amendment in Schedule-III clause 4 of the 2017 rules.

As a result, the seats reserved under the North East (NE) quota have been rationalized from 12 to 10, considering the opening of new Government Medical Colleges in the North-East.

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The latest media report by The Assam Tribune adds that due to this amendment, now the medical and dental candidates from Assam will have 2 additional seats available for them. However, this new provision shall be effective only after the first-batch of the MBBS students pass out from the Government Medical College, Nagaland.

The Daily adds that the Cabinet has also proposed amendment in Schedule-III Clause 5.2, which will ensure that there will be a reservation of 6% of the total MBBS seats reserved under the State Quota, across all medical colleges of Assam for the candidates belonging to the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) category. Only after deduction of the 6% EWS seats and other deductions applicable under the existing rules, the number of NRI/NRI Sponsored seats would be reserved.

In respect of the super-speciality medical education, the Cabinet granted its approval for Admission Rules for the Post-Doctoral (D.M. and M.Ch) Degree Courses in the Medical Colleges of the State of Assam, 2024, which will replace the Admission Rules for the Post-Doctoral (D.M. and M.Ch) Degree Courses in the Medical Colleges of the State of Assam, 2008.

These new rules will help streamline the admission rules for admission to DM/MCh courses in the State in line with the NMC guidelines and ensure the availability of super specialist doctors in the tertiary care hospitals. After completing their course, the DM/MCh candidates will have to mandatorily serve for one year in a Government Institute.

Apart from this, the Cabinet also approved the amendment of Rule 7 (1) (c), Rule 7 (i) (d) and Rule 9 (i) of the "Medical Colleges of Assam (Regulation of Admission into Post Graduate Degree and Diploma Courses) Rules 2021".

Due to this amendment, Rule 7(1)(C) shall omit the word 'Rural'- bringing uniformity and increasing the pool of specialist doctors. Rule 7 (i)(d) shall increase the reservation for OBC/MOBC (NCL Group) from 15 to 27%.

The amendment brought to Rule 9(i) shall effectively increase the period of mandatory service from 1 year to 2 years. However, the Government may release the doctors before completion of the 2 years of service if it does not require the services.

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