Quota For SC/STs in CBSE Medical Exams

The quota debate is all set to take centre stage once again following Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramdoss's decision to introduce a 22.5 per cent quota for SC/ST students at the entry level for MBBS and BDS courses.

For Abhishek Dwivedi and lakhs of other students like him, the competition for a general seat in medical colleges across the country has just got tougher.

There will now be a 22.5 per cent quota for SC/ST students in the All India medical entrance exam conducted by the CBSE. The quota will apply to both MBBS/BDS courses from 2008 onwards.

It's not fair. Every state medical college already has a quota for SC/ST students. If so many seats come under the quota what happens to general category student and is anyone thinking about the quality of doctors that will be produced under the quota raj?" Abhishek asks.

All state-run medical colleges already have a 85 per cent quota for their state students and a 15 per cent All India quota for students from other states.

Every state also has a quota for SC/ST students and with the new directive there will be a quota within the 15 per cent quota.

It's a move initiated by the Union Health Minister but one he refuses to comment on as another controversy is something he can do without.

There are 120 government medical colleges in India and the 15 per cent All India quota means 465 of the total 2075 seats are not going to be based on merit any longer.

Courtesy : ibnlive.com