This situation underscores the ongoing challenge of making medical education accessible, as high fees continue to prevent many eligible students from securing NRI quota seats in Punjab’s medical institutions
In Punjab, an overwhelming 80% of MBBS and BDS seats under the Non-Resident Indian (NRI) quota remain vacant after two rounds of counseling, primarily due to prohibitively high tuition fees. Out of 366 seats, 291 are still unfilled, highlighting the financial burden that discourages students from pursuing medical education in the state, reported hindustantimes.com.
The Baba Farid University of Health Sciences (BFUHS), which oversees admissions for medical courses, reported that all NRI quota BDS seats in 14 private dental colleges remain vacant. Similarly, 60% of NRI quota MBBS seats in 10 medical colleges are unfilled.
The high cost of NRI quota seats is a significant deterrent for many. For an MBBS seat, the tuition fee is set at $110,000 (₹92 lakh) for the entire course, while a BDS seat costs $44,000 (₹37 lakh). These rates are applicable to both private and government institutions in Punjab, making medical education under the NRI quota one of the most expensive options.
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The third round of counseling by BFUHS began recently, with vacant NRI quota seats being transferred to the general category after the final round
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The provisional merit list will be displayed on October 11, and the results will be announced on October 18
Punjab’s 11 medical colleges offer 185 NRI quota MBBS seats, out of which 112 remain vacant. In the case of dental colleges, 181 BDS seats are available across 16 institutions, but only two have been filled in the Government Dental College, Patiala. All seats in private dental colleges remain unallocated.
“The steep tuition fees make NRI-quota seats less attractive,” remarked Dr. Raj Bahadur, former vice-chancellor of BFUHS. He pointed out that students also need to consider additional expenses during the five-year course, making it an expensive proposition overall. “Many NRIs who wish to send their children to India for medical education are not financially strong, so they opt for more affordable options abroad,” he added. Countries like Ukraine offer medical education at a much lower cost, approximately ₹30 lakh, compared to ₹1 crore in India.
In August, the Punjab government attempted to broaden the NRI quota eligibility by including distant relatives, such as siblings and cousins, living in India. However, this amendment was quashed by the Punjab and Haryana High Court, which ruled against allowing distant relatives to be eligible for the NRI quota in medical admissions.
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