Several ‘dubious’ EWS certificates come to light in MBBS admissions

Ongoing admissions for 1,600 MBBS seats across 11 medical colleges have brought to light numerous dubious Economically Weaker Section (EWS) certificates, according to Baba Farid University of Health Sciences (BFUHS). Out of 149 candidates who applied under the EWS category during the first two rounds of counselling, more than a dozen have secured seats in private colleges after failing to gain admission in government institutions.

Under the EWS category, candidates must demonstrate a family income of less than Rs 8 lakh per annum, making them eligible for reserved seats. However, many candidates with EWS certificates are now paying exorbitant tuition fees in private institutions, ranging from Rs 58.02 lakh to Rs 63.94 lakh for a 4.5-year MBBS course. In one notable case, an EWS candidate secured admission in the NRI quota at Government Medical College, Amritsar, agreeing to pay approximately Rs 92 lakh ($1.10 lakh) for the full course.

University officials have expressed concerns over the disparity between the declared income of these candidates and the high tuition fees they are willing to pay. “It’s surprising that families with less than Rs 8 lakh annual income are able to pay Rs 12-14 lakh per year in tuition, excluding additional expenses like hostel and mess charges,” a senior BFUHS official remarked.

The university suspects that these certificates were issued without proper on-ground verification by the authorities responsible. Officials fear that the system is being exploited by economically stable families, blocking genuine applicants from accessing opportunities meant for the truly deserving.