The sought-after seats in medical colleges in Karnataka have very few takers under the NRI quota and ‘other’ category as the fees are being termed exorbitant.
At the end of the first round of medical and dental seat counselling through National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) ranks, only 29 out of the total 577 medical seats under NRI quota were taken and students completed paying fees. Worse, in the ‘other’ category, none of the 196 candidates who were allotted seats had completed the admission formalities.
While 15% of the NRI quota seats are reserved for Non-Resident Indians, Persons of Indian Origin, Overseas Citizen Of India and foreigners, another 5% ‘other’ seats can be applied by any candidate with a NEET ranking.
In the dental category too, only one of the 127 candidates allotted the ‘other’ seat has completed the admission formalities and reported to college.
Officials in the Karnataka Examination Authority (KEA) pointed out that there were very few takers for these seats as they were extremely expensive and ‘not affordable’. This year, the cost of the seats have increased by almost 40% compared to previous year. “Most candidates who have applied under these categories do not have good NEET ranks. So, they are unlikely to get government or private quota seats. They have to pick NRI and other quota if they want a medical seat,” a KEA official said.
Sources in the Medical Education Department pointed out that most candidates for these two categories have applied for choices two and three, which means that they either are satisfied with their seat and want to better their options or are not satisfied but wish to participate in the next round. “The correct picture will be known after the second round and the mop up round. Before mop up round, we will allow fresh registrations too,” an official in the department pointed out.
V. Manjula, Additional Chief Secretary of the department, pointed out that as per orders of the Supreme Court, the vacant seats should be handed over to their respective institutions with a list of unallotted candidates in the order of merit in the ratio of 10 candidates for one vacancy.
The remaining categories of seats have more takers as they are less expensive. Of the 2,248 seats in government medical colleges, 1,164 students have completed admission formalities. Similarly, of 1,346 seats under government quota, 478 students have paid the fees. Out of 2,023 seats available, 668 candidates have completed the admission formalities.
Published - August 08, 2017 11:38 pm IST
