Assam reserves 3 MBBS seats in two medical colleges for Bhutanese nationals

NEW DELHI: Assam Cabinet on Wednesday approved reservation of three MBBS seats for Bhutanese nationals in two medical colleges of the state. While two seats will be reserved for Bhutanese nationals at Nalbari Medical College, one seat will be reserved at Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed Medical College and Hospital in Barpeta.

The decision came ahead of Bhutan King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuk’s visit to India. Wangchuk will begin his official visit to India from Assam today. He will remain in India till November 10.

Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma in an X post said: “Bharat and Bhutan share a unique relationship which has strengthened with the passage of time. For centuries, knowledge and education have been central to this special bond.”

Medical education, service bond

Apart from reserving three MBBS seats for Bhutanese nationals, the Assam cabinet also approved an amendment to the Medical Colleges and Dental Colleges of Assam, (Regulation of Admission into first year MBBS-BDS Courses) Rule, 2017 (amended in 2023).

The amendments set up a 7% quota of seats for NRI or NRI-sponsored candidates in medical and dental colleges of the state. According to the cabinet, this will ensure “equitable opportunities in medical colleges”.

The Assam Cabinet also gave its approval for the compensation of Rs 30 lakh to be paid to the state government by the MBBS graduates in case they fail to fulfill the one-year rural service bond obligation.

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Meritorious students

The Assam government has also announced that it will provide scooters to meritorious students on November 30. Boy students who secured 75% and above and girl students who secured 60% and above in Class 12 exams conducted by Assam Higher Secondary Education Council (AHSEC) will be given scooters under the Dr Banikanta Kakati Award scheme.

A total of 30,209 girls and 5,566 boys will be given scooters on November 30.

Last month, the Assam government announced it will again distribute scooters among meritorious students who have passed this year's higher secondary examinations. Last year, the government gave scooters to a total of 35,800 beneficiaries, of whom 6,052 were boys and 29,748 were girls. The overall pass percentage of girl students in Assam Class 12 board exams 2023 was 72.92% whereas boys recorded 66.94%.

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A total of 27,183 students of Class 10 who secured 75% and above in state board exams will be given Rs 15,000 under Anundoram Borooah Award scheme on November 29. The overall pass percentage of Class 10 students in the academic year 2022-23 was 72.69% in Assam.