Strict eligibility rules and a shortage of applicants leave most MBBS and dental seats unfilled, prompting their transfer to other admission categories
Punjab’s medical and dental colleges have filled only 54 of the 438 seats reserved under the Non-Resident Indian (NRI) quota for the 2026 admission session, leaving 384 seats vacant, according to admission data reported by The Tribune.
The figures highlight the limited demand for NRI quota seats across the state’s 28 medical and dental colleges, with the shortfall particularly pronounced in dentistry. The vacant seats have subsequently been transferred to other admission categories.
Of the 221 MBBS seats reserved under the NRI quota, 52 were filled, leaving 169 vacant. The situation was more acute in dental colleges, where only two of the 217 Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) seats were occupied, leaving 215 unfilled.
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The low admission figures come amid restrictions on eligibility for the NRI quota following a ruling by the Punjab and Haryana High Court
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Under the state government’s admission policy, preference is given to NRIs and their children who originally belong to Punjab, followed by eligible candidates from other Indian states
The court recently dismissed a petition seeking to extend the quota to candidates brought up by relatives living abroad. The petitioner, a resident of Jalandhar, had argued that he should qualify through his paternal aunt, a United States citizen.
The court held that the eligibility conditions could not be expanded after the admission process had begun, as this could disadvantage candidates who had not applied under the existing rules.
The decision has significant implications for colleges that depend on NRI admissions for revenue. The full MBBS course carries a fee of USD 110,000 under the NRI category, making these seats an important source of income, particularly for private institutions.
Under the admission arrangements, vacant NRI quota seats in government colleges are transferred to the general category, while those in private institutions move to the management quota.
The outcome underlines the continuing challenge of matching reserved-seat allocations with the pool of eligible applicants, particularly in professional courses where fees are substantially higher for NRI candidates.
