Maharashtra medical admissions: 10% EWS reservation in private medical colleges, no increase in total intake

Indian Express

2 days ago

As Maharashtra Common Entrance Test (CET) Cell has declared commencement of admissions for medical undergraduate (UG) courses in state, the information brochure indicates implementation of 10 per cent Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) reservation in private medical colleges, which is feared to drastically reduce the number of open seats as there is no increase in intake to accommodate this reservation.
The information brochure, released on Wednesday, under annexure on constitutional reservation, mentions EWS reservation in private medical colleges. Under the subhead of EWS category reservation, it states, 'In Government /Government Aided/ Corporation / Private Unaided Institutions (excluding Minority Institutions), 10% of the available seats under State Quota shall be reserved for candidates belonging to EWS category.'
But many have highlighted a concern that this will drastically reduce the seats available for open-merit, in private medical colleges, as there is no increase in total intake.
A parent representative, Sudha Shenoy, said, 'When EWS reservation was implemented in Government Medical Colleges (GMCs) in 2019, all were granted one-time increase in the intake capacity in open-merit seats to accommodate 10 per cent reservation for EWS, so that there is no impact on the number of seats available under general category, which caters to everyone. Without any increase in intake, out of 3000 odd seats available in open-merit at private medical colleges, close to 300 will be used to accommodate EWS reservation. This is a considerable reduction in the number of seats available for open-merit.' Shenoy also pointed out that students under EWS category are already allowed fee-benefit. 'Then why was there a need to introduce this reservation now?' she questioned.
Another parent representative, Brijesh Sutaria pointed out that increase in intake is only National Medical Council's (NMC) prerogative. 'Whereas admissions to private medical colleges are by state admission regulatory bodies. The state will have to approach NMC seeking a one-time increase in seats. Otherwise, the number of open-merit seats will be reduced considerably.'
A trustee of a private medical college however highlighted that students who have an annual family income of less than Rs 8 lakh are already getting the EWS fee-benefit from the government, wherein the government reimburses 50 percent of total fees for boys and 100 percent fee for girls since last year. 'Then it becomes unclear to understand the objective behind bringing separate reservation,' said the trustee.
Additionally, this year onwards, the Maharashtra government has implemented a strict definition of NRI candidates. Now, only those candidates who themselves or whose parents are NRIs can apply under the NRI quota, or if their legal guardian is an NRI. This is in contrast to the earlier practice where any NRI family member could endorse a sponsorship to pay the fees.
Welcoming the move, Muzaffar Khan, medical education counsellor, said, 'This will put an end to fraudulent admissions taking place under NRI quota. Furthermore, if any seats remain vacant, they will be made open for Indians. Instead of 5X fees charged for NRI students, if made available to Indians, fees will be only 3X.'