Employers who sponsor medical education as part of staff retention plans are being advised to closely examine fee structures and bonding conditions, as some colleges apply different rules for NRI and management quota students
PRAVASISAMWAD.COM
More than 800 medical graduates appearing for NEET-PG have moved to the Non-Resident Indian (NRI) quota following recent court decisions that widened its eligibility. On 1 February, the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) released a list of 811 candidates whose status was changed from ‘Indian’ to ‘NRI’ for Round 3 of the 2025–26 counselling process.
Interestingly, only 113 of these candidates either hold foreign passports or are children of NRIs. The remaining 698 qualified as wards of first- or second-degree NRI relatives, a category that became valid after rulings by the Kerala High Court, later upheld by the Supreme Court. These decisions allowed private medical colleges to fill seats that often remained vacant due to a lack of eligible NRI applicants.
The NRI quota comes with a steep price tag. Annual fees range from ₹45 lakh to ₹95 lakh, far higher than the subsidised rates for domestic students. However, the quota offers a near-assured seat in private colleges, making it an attractive option for families who can afford the cost.
The sudden surge in NRI conversions has led many families to rush through documentation. Proof of overseas residency, including passports, visas and consular attestations, often needs urgent updating to meet counselling deadlines. This has increased demand for fast-track documentation and apostille services
Experts note a growing trend of families using the overseas status of relatives to secure professional education in India. Financial advisers estimate that remittances for high-value education payments under India’s Liberalised Remittance Scheme could cross USD 2 billion this financial year.
However, critics argue that the expanded NRI quota deepens inequality and pushes deserving domestic candidates to face even higher cut-off marks. In response, the National Medical Commission is expected to review seat-allocation guidelines in March.
Meanwhile, employers who sponsor medical education as part of staff retention plans are being advised to closely examine fee structures and bonding conditions, as some colleges apply different rules for NRI and management quota students.
