Free exit option leaves TN MBBS seats largely unfilled
Tamil Nadu- Only 14 percent of students allotted MBBS seats in Tamil Nadu government institutes joined and just 2 percent retained their seats. This is reportedly because most candidates used the ‘free exit’ option to upgrade or choose later rounds.
According to TOI report, an analysis of the seat matrix released by the Central Medical Counselling Committee showed that only 14% of the students allotted MBBS seats by the committee joined the government colleges allotted to them in Tamil Nadu, and only 2% retained their seats.
Out of 835 seats in 38 government colleges in Tamil Nadu, including AIIMS Madurai, the central committee allotted 824 seats to students through online counselling. These seats were allotted on the basis of National Eligibility and Entrance Test (NEET) merit, reservation rules and students' choices for the academic year 2025. However, students were asked to take admission in colleges by August 22.
Meanwhile, the data on vacancies for Round 2 counselling released by the committee shows that a total of 707 candidates used the 'free exit' option, either to select a better college from the options provided by respective state counselling committees, or to look for better choices in the subsequent rounds.
Moreover, among the 114 students who joined the colleges allocated to them, 95 students chose an 'upgrade'. These seats, considered virtual vacancies, will be allocated to students if the candidate is admitted to another college of their choice or will be retained by the same candidate.
All states surrender 15% of seats in state-run colleges for admission under the all-India quota. The Central committee allots students to all-India quota seats and all seats in Central institutions and deemed universities.
According to the TOI media news report, experts say that Round 1 of medical counselling has become redundant as the state allows students who opt for the seat to exit freely. On this, the student counsellor Manickavel Arumugam said, "The students are given the seat only if they opt for it. I understand if they want to upgrade. If they decide to quit, they should not be allowed to participate in the process any further”.
