BFUHS merit list shows a severe gap between NRI quota seats and eligible applicants, with several candidates scoring below 250 in NEET-UG 2026
Punjab’s medical and dental colleges are facing a major shortfall of applicants for NRI quota seats this admission season, with only 63 candidates listed against 431 available MBBS and BDS seats.
The merit list released by Baba Farid University of Health Sciences (BFUHS) on Thursday showed that the seats are spread across 28 medical and dental colleges in the state. Of the total, 214 are MBBS seats in 12 medical colleges, while 217 are BDS seats across 16 dental colleges.
The figures indicate that a large proportion of the NRI quota could remain vacant unless additional eligible candidates come forward or the admission criteria are adjusted. Colleges may also have to consider whether unfilled seats can subsequently be dealt with under applicable admission rules.
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The limited number of applicants is accompanied by relatively low NEET-UG scores among several candidates
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The BFUHS merit list includes a significant number of applicants who scored below 250 marks out of 720 in NEET-UG 2026
The development is significant for Punjab’s private medical and dental institutions, where NRI quota seats form an important part of the admission pool. The shortage contrasts with the substantial number of seats available under the category this year.
The situation also highlights the continuing challenge of attracting NRI and NRI-sponsored students to medical education in Punjab. With applications falling far short of the available capacity, colleges could face difficulties in filling their sanctioned seats during the current counselling process.
The BFUHS merit list is expected to shape the next stage of counselling and seat allocation, including decisions on seats that remain unfilled after the NRI admission process.
