According to regulations, the NRI sponsor must be a first-degree relative of the candidate and should ordinarily reside abroad
The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) has initiated stringent measures to prevent the misuse of Non-Resident Indian (NRI) quota seats in MBBS admissions across medical colleges in Punjab. In response to numerous complaints, the MCC has mandated that candidates wishing to change their nationality status from ‘Indian’ to ‘NRI’ must provide substantial proof of their NRI sponsors.
This move comes after allegations surfaced that certain private medical institutions were exploiting the NRI quota by filling seats with local candidates, falsely categorizing them as NRI-sponsored. Such practices not only compromise the integrity of the admission process but also lead to significant financial losses for both government and private institutions.
In Punjab, there are approximately 185 NRI quota seats available in medical colleges, yet around 80% of these seats remain unoccupied each year due to a lack of eligible candidates. These seats are highly lucrative, with fees set at $110,000 (approximately ₹93 lakh) for an MBBS seat at both government and private institutions.
In cases where the student has no parents or close relatives, a guardian may sponsor the student, provided there is an established, bona fide relationship, and the guardian also meets the NRI criteria
However, when these seats go unfilled, they are often converted into general category seats, leading to a substantial financial shortfall. Private colleges then fill these seats under the management quota, charging ₹55.25 lakh for the entire course, while government colleges charge ₹9.05 lakh.
To curb this malpractice, the MCC now requires candidates seeking to change their nationality status to submit detailed documentation, including the sponsor’s passport and visa, the nature of the relationship between the candidate and the NRI sponsor, an affidavit confirming the sponsor’s commitment to funding the entire course, and an official certificate from the sponsor’s embassy.
Baba Farid University of Health Sciences (BFUHS) sources revealed that certain medical institutions have been admitting students under the NRI quota by charging inflated fees, despite neither the students nor their parents being NRIs. These cases often involve less meritorious students gaining admission due to their ability to pay higher fees.
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