Guidelines of Medical Council of India for S.T. Students
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12:39 IST
Rajya Sabha

In the Medical Council of India Graduate Medical Education Regulations 1997 as approved by the Central Government, relaxation has been provided in criteria for admission to MBBS course, in respect of SC/ST students. While 50% of marks has been provided for General category candidates for qualifying examination as well as entrance examination, it is 40% of marks for candidates belonging to SC/ST categories.

The MBBS seats are filled up under two categories namely “All India Quota” and “State Quota”. Under All India quota, 15% MBBS seats of the State are contributed by the respective State Government. In so far as admission of SC and ST students in the All India quota is concerned, reservation at the rate of 15% and 7-1/2% respectively has been introduced from the academic year 2008-09. As per information available, for the academic year 2008-09, against 164 total seats for ST students, 111 ST candidates were allotted and for the year 2009-10, against 202, 75 candidates were allotted.

With regard to State Quota for the remaining 85% seats, the admission process is conducted by the respective State Government. As such the Central Government does not maintain any data in the matter. While the State Governments have not pointed out any problem of shortage of filling up of SC/ST MBBS seats in the State, in the recent past the Government of Kerala informed the Central Government that ST candidates of their State are not able to qualify in the entrance examination getting admission against the reserved seats due to the above mentioned MCI norms. In the meanwhile, a Civil Writ Petition No. 393/2008 – Vineeth K. and others versus State of Kerala and others - has also been filed in the Supreme Court challenging the criteria of 40% marks for ST students. The Court taking a note of the shortfall, has issued notices to Union of India and eight other States viz. Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Orissa, West Bengal, U.P., M.P. and Karnataka. The matter is subjudice.

This information was given by Shri Dinesh Trivedi, Minister of State for Health & Family Welfare in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha today.

DS/GK