Entrance Test for NRI Quota Admissions.

There was a huddle in colleges after the Medical Council of India (MCI) directed private colleges across the country to hold separate entrance tests to check merit of Non-Resident Indians(NRI) students. Starting with the 2015-16 academic year, the MCI ordered all medical colleges to conduct an Entrance Test for NRI Quota Admissions.

In Karnataka, there are 4000 medical seats, 15%(around 600 seats) quota is set aside for NRI students. Under the aegis of Karnataka Religious and Linguistic Minority Professional Colleges Association (KRLMPCA), management representatives of 20 private colleges have planned for a meeting on 7th Feb to discuss on the pros and cons of conducting a separate entrance test for NRI Quota Admissions. 

Selling an NRI seat for 80-90 lakhs generate huge revenue to the college. The eligibility of the candidates(as per the MCI) are merely checked by many of the private colleges and are admitted on first-come-first-serve basis. Also, the reason as to why NRI seats are allowed is that private colleges give a share of the seats to the government through the Common Entrance Test (CET). According to the colleges, higher fees is charged from NRI students in order to subsidize the CET seats. Entrance Test for NRI Quota Admissions would therefore hamper such subsidy.

MCI secretary Dr Reena Nayyar defended the decision saying the Supreme Court has held that in admissions under the NRI quota, merit cannot be compromised. “According to Regulation 5 of the graduate medical education Regulation, 1997, the selection of students to a medical college shall be based solely on the merit of the candidate.

Meanwhile, a few of the medical colleges are gearing up for the separate entrance test to NRI candidates. Rajarajeshwari Medical College’s dean, Dr H Rangappa, said, “Complying with the MCI guidelines, we have decided to conduct a test. However, as this is the first such test for NRI candidates we need to see how this will go forward.” Sajid Ahmed, a parent from Dubai said, “I was planning to admit my son to MBBS course in Karnataka this year. I thought I could directly apply in colleges. However, I am told by colleges to wait for some time as my son may have to take an entrance test this year. With time running out, I need to see how many entrance tests my son needs to write. What if each college goes for a separate Entrance Test for NRI Quota Admissions? Or will there be just One common test?”

The circular further states that as NRI students would have taken qualifying examinations from different boards/examining bodies “it is essential to have a uniform evaluation of their academic ability so as to make a proper merit list. It is compulsory to have an Entrance Test for NRI students so as to determine their inter-se merit in order to enable them to exercise preference for admissions to the various medical colleges.”

The MCI directive further said: “A limited reservation of such seats, not exceeding 15 per cent may be made available to NRIs depending on the discretion of the management subject to two conditions; first, such seats should be utilized by bonafide NRIs or their children or wards only. Secondly, within this quota, merit should not be given a complete go by.” We have to wait for the final decision towards the Entrance Test for NRI Quota Admissions, as suggested by MCI.