Govt seeks more MBBS seats in lieu of 10 pc EWS quota

Ashok Raina

Kangra, June 11

The government has asked the Medical Council of India (MCI) to enhance MBBS seats in lieu of 10 per cent reservation for the poor in six government colleges from this academic session. The state will have an additional 150 MBBS seats in the colleges, which will prove a boon for students.

Dr Ravi Chand Sharma, Principal, IGMC-Shimla, who is officiating as Director, Medical Education and Research, Himachal Pradesh, said here today that MBBS seats in each college would go up from the present 100 seats to 125 seats. The state would have now 750 seats against 600.

Dr Sharma said MBBS aspirants from the EWS category could now apply for the reserved seats.

When asked about the ambiguity of some communication to the principals of the colleges, Dr Sharma clarified that the MBBS seats would be enhanced from this session and for the postgraduate courses from the next session.

Dr Sharma said the MCI had extended the last date for the submission of applications for 10 per cent EWS quota aspirants in different states, including Himachal and UTs from June 7 to June 11.

The MCI had said the increase in the seats would not entail any corresponding increase in infrastructure or faculty right now. It further said in order to implement the 10 per cent EWS quota, the increase in the seats would be 25 per cent of the current intake to ensure that the number of general category seats were not affected.

The NEET results were declared on June 5 and counselling is expected to be held last week of this month.

Advantage students

• MBBS seats in each college will go up from the present 100 to 125 seats
• The state will have 750 seats against 600
• The MCI has extended the last date for the submission of applications for 10 per cent EWS quota aspirants from June 7 to June 11.