Punjab: Relaxation in NRI quota norms for MD, MS seats demanded

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, August 27

Following the state government’s decision to relax norms for NRI quota seats in MBBS and BDS courses, parents and medical teachers are now demanding similar relaxation for MD and MS seats. The move aims to increase the attractiveness of Punjab’s medical colleges and benefit both institutions and students.

Currently, the NRI quota fee in Punjab colleges is significantly lower compared to many other states. By relaxing the norms, the colleges can attract more students under NRI quota, generating additional revenue. This, in turn, can improve infrastructure, faculty, and resources, ultimately benefiting local students, stated a senior official at a medical college here.

”The relaxed norms for MBBS and BDS courses have shown positive results as the number of applicants this year has increased. It’s only logical to extend this to postgraduate courses,/” said the official. He added that while fee for MBBS in NRI quota on Punjab is 1,10,000 dollors, it is much more in many other states.

The state government has recently expanded the definition of NRI for the seats wherein now brothers and sisters of the parents of a student can sponsor him for admission. With this a large number of students who otherwise could not get an admission into a medical college would now be able to get an NRI quota seat.

Jagwinder Singh, a parent said, “A post graduate degree after MBBS has become necessary these days. Lot many students have to get NRI seats in other states when norms here are not easy. In times as now, the parents do not want to send their children away.” He said the recent incident in Kolkata have panicked the parents who do not want to send their children out of Punjab.