Are EWS candidates paying crores to secure NEET PG seats?
An online educational guidance platform claimed that around 145 EWS-listed seats in deemed universities were reportedly taken by candidates who paid fee in crores. The claim prompted misuse of the EWS reservation quota and gave a hint at a possible scam in NEET PG seats.
An education portal claimed that around 145 EWS-listed seats in deemed universities were reportedly taken by candidates who paid fee in crores.
The recent NEET PG counselling outcomes have stirred widespread concern about possible misuse of the Economically Weaker Section quota.
Reports that some candidates listed under EWS later paid very high fees to secure postgraduate seats in private and deemed universities have put the reservation mechanism under scrutiny.
An online educational guidance platform had claimed that about 145 EWS-listed seats in deemed universities were taken by candidates who paid fees running into crores, with one reported case of a candidate paying 4.23 crore for an MD seat.
The findings named several clinical specialities and private institutes where such admissions were recorded.
WHO QUALIFIES AS EWS
The Economically Weaker Section category was created to provide reservations to financially disadvantaged persons not covered by SC/ST/OBC quotas. The government has set both income and asset conditions for EWS eligibility.
To qualify as an EWS, the applicant’s family must satisfy all the following:
Annual family gross income from all sources should be less than Rs 8 lakh for the financial year preceding application.
The family does not own five acres or more of agricultural land.
The family does not own a residential flat of 1000 square feet or more.
The family does not own a residential plot of 100 square yards or more in notified municipalities.
The family does not own a residential plot of 200 square yards or more in areas other than notified municipalities.
THE ALLEGATIONS AND COUNSELLING MECHANISM
The online educational guidance platform’s findings suggest an anomaly: students claiming EWS status later paid management or NRI fees in private or deemed institutions, often exceeding Rs 1 crore.
The discrepancy raises two questions: how such candidates obtained EWS certificates, and whether the certificates were used to gain preferential allotment during central or state counselling rounds.
The Medical Counselling Committee conducts central NEET PG counselling for AIQ, deemed and related seats, while the National Medical Commission oversees standards and regulatory compliance. Both bodies have roles in allocation and oversight.
The NMC has recently updated counselling schedules and notices for the academic session, underscoring the committee’s role in allocations.
THE BROADER CONCERN
For students genuinely eligible under EWS, the alleged misuse reduces opportunities and erodes trust in reservation schemes.
Many aspirants from modest backgrounds rely on the quota to access postgraduate medical education; misallocation of seats can derail careers and deny representation to the intended beneficiaries.
The Supreme Court has also been attentive to quota misuse issues in medical admissions, seeking reports and clarifications in recent matters.
REMEDIAL STEPS REQUIRED
Tighter vetting of income and asset certificates, cross-verification between issuing authorities and counselling databases, and prompt investigations into alleged misuse could help.
Transparency from colleges and prompt action by state and central agencies would help restore faith in reservation policies.
