The Union Government made its stand clear that a candidate can opt for only one quota category, even if he/she is eligible for multiple categories.
A large number of NRI students are writing the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) this year and due to Covid-19 pandemic the National Testing Agency (NTA), which is which conducting the NEET, has allocated some centres abroad.
A new controversy over demand for reservation of seats for NRIs on the lines of those who are writing the exam as non-NRI candidates has emerged and the issue has landed in the court to decide.
In NEET form the option for NRIs is only general category even if they belong to OBC/SC/ST category. Some students claiming to be full rights of Indian citizens have asked for reservation under OBC/SC/ST category.
Rohit Vinod, who lives in Kuwait, filled the NEET form to avail NRI quota. He ended up choosing the general category even as he belongs to other backward class (OBC) category because those who applied as NRI student had only ‘general’ category option. The matter has reached Kerala High Court.
In response to this, the Union Government made its stand clear that a candidate can opt for only one quota category, even if he/she is eligible for multiple categories.
A senior official of the National Medical Commission (NMC) tried to make it clear and said, the application portal could be changed to allow NRI students to opt for community-based reservations, but they cannot apply for NRI quota seats
It is up to the court to decide, as the government has made its stand clear that there is no reservation for NRI candidates under OBC/SC/ST categories.
The NTA in its affidavit said there is no inclusion of OBC category for NRI candidates because NRIs are already availing a separate reserved category for the MBBS course.
“The benefit of sub-reservation cannot be given to the petitioner,” it said.
A senior official of the National Medical Commission (NMC) tried to make it clear and said, the application portal could be changed to allow NRI students to opt for community-based reservations, but they cannot apply for NRI quota seats.
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