Hyderabad: Filling of NRI quota seats (C-category) in private medical colleges has led to an interesting situation this year. While earlier medical aspirants from well-to-do families used to block seats in various colleges, this time around institutions are scouting for students who could afford the high fees and who have, in addition, qualified in the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET).
This is because the Supreme Court has upheld the MCI proposal that NEET qualification be made mandatory even for filling of NRI category seats in view of allegations against college managements in filling of seats, and the same is being implemented from this year.
Call it exam blues or new format of NEET. A good number of students who earlier approached colleges inquiring about the admission procedures could not clear the national test. The test, in a way, dented hopes of at least some of the candidates with good financial background.
Till last year, a pass in Senior Intermediate was enough for them to make a big leap into medical colleges. And, now private medical colleges are going on a hunt of prospective students who could fill up their NRI quota seats.
“The fee fixed for NRI quota is maximum two times that of the B-category fee (i.e up to Rs 22 lakh). Students who qualified for NEET and missed getting B-category seats are the ones we are looking at. While the maximum limit is fixed at Rs 22 lakh, parents of these children are bargaining for Rs 15 lakh or Rs 18 lakh depending upon the college and location,” co-owner of a medical college said.
Also, the cancellation of Eamcet-2 and a new test thereafter had a bearing since NEET counselling was delayed in Telangana forcing some students with good financial background, who cleared the national test to look for an alternative option in neighbouring states. “By the time our counselling process began, admissions to private medical colleges had ended”, members of medical colleges association said.
Students, who are not very brilliant were caught unawares when NEET was made compulsory from this year. However, the situation will improve by next year because students, who were used to Eamcet format, will get accustomed to the new exam and hopefully could clear it without much fuss, they said.
