Discontinuation of NRI Quota for MBBS in Assam Medical Colleges from next year

Guwahati: The NRI quota for MBBS courses in Assam's government medical colleges is poised for discontinuation starting the next academic year. The decision follows the admission of 23 NRI-sponsored candidates in the current academic year.

Sources from the State Directorate of Medical Education (DME) have informed India Today NE that, in accordance with a recent Supreme Court verdict, there will be no provision for NRI quota seats in the state's medical colleges in the forthcoming academic year.

Initially designated for economically weaker sections (EWS), a set of seats in Assam's medical colleges saw a transformation, now being allocated to the NRI quota. This alteration led to the enrollment of 23 NRI-sponsored candidates in the current academic year. This shift was permitted as the admission process had already progressed significantly and did not contravene the Supreme Court's directives.

Also Read: Silchar Medical College Hospital Intern doctor suspended for allegedly assaulting Govt officer

As per a report in India Today, the NRI-sponsored candidates have taken seven seats each in Gauhati Medical College (GMC) and Assam Medical College (AMC), Dibrugarh. Furthermore, they have also filled up the seats in several other prominent medical colleges in Assam, including Jorhat Medical College, Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed Medical College in Barpeta, Nalbari Medical College, Silchar Medical College, and Tezpur Medical College (TMC). These aspiring medical students have received backing from their Assam-origin NRI relatives, which has paved the way for their admissions to these esteemed institutions.

According to the daily, despite the provisional selection of 30 candidates under the NRI/NRI sponsored quota, seven of them have declined their final admission offers. The predominant factor influencing their decisions is the considerable fees associated with this category. Under the NRI/NRI sponsored quota, students are obliged to pay an annual fee of USD 25,000 (approximately Rs 21 lakh) for the first year and USD 22,500 (approximately Rs 18.5 lakh) for each subsequent year. In stark contrast, regular MBBS students bear significantly lower fees, typically around Rs 30,000 in the initial year and an average of Rs 10,000 to Rs 12,000 in the following four years.

Also Read: WBUHS Invites Online Applications For Post Doctoral Fellowship, Post Doctoral Certificate Courses; Apply till September 25