Karnataka PG Medical 2018: Eligibility criteria debars non-domicile candidates

NEW DELHI, MARCH 12: The Karnataka Examination Authority (KEA) has introduced a major change to the eligibility criteria for admissions to MD/MS/PG Diploma/MDS courses available in Karnataka state under 50% State Quota. The criteria was notified through the official Karnataka PG Medical 2018 brochure released by the KEA on March 10, 2018.

In the change which impacts hundreds of students who studied MBBS or BDS in Karnataka and were looking to continue their postgraduate medical education in the state, only those candidates will be eligible to apply for admissions if they are of ‘Karnataka Origin’.

About the eligibility change

What this rule means is that even if candidates have completed their MBBS or BDS from any institute located in the state, they will not be eligible to apply under 50% Karnataka State Quota unless they are domiciles of the state. To become a domicile, the Karnataka PG medical notification states two criteria which need to be mandatorily followed -

• The candidate who has studied and passed in one or more Government/Government recognized educational institutions located in the State of Karnataka for a minimum period of 10 academic years as on March 31, 2018 will be considered as a domicile candidate. The academic years will be considered from Class 1 to 12. The candidate should also have studied and passed Class 10/12/2nd PUC examination from Karnataka state.

• Or, the candidate who has studied and passed 1st and 2nd year Pre-University Examination or Class 11 and 12 examination within the state of Karnataka from an Educational Institution run or recognized by the State Government or MBBS/BDS from a professional educational institution located in Karnataka will be considered as a domicile if both or either one of the candidate’s parents have studied/resided in Karnataka for a minimum period of 10 years.

Till last year, candidates who studied and passed MBBS/BDS from any Institution located in the state of Karnataka and cleared NEET PG were eligible to apply for admissions under 50% State Quota in Karnataka. If the aspirant had not completed MBBS/BDS from an Institution located outside the state then they could be of Karnataka Origin to apply.

Problem for candidates

The Karnataka PG Medical application form for this was opened on March 10 and candidates can apply till March 13, 2018. This unexpected change in eligibility criteria however means that numerous aspirants from other states who completed their MBBS or BDS from Karnataka are no longer eligible to apply for MD/MS/PG/MDS Diploma seats in Karnataka.

As per media reports, the main problem with the new rule change is that most other states in India, including the home states of many of the affected candidates, require candidates to have completed their MBBS/BDS from the state to qualify for the 50% State Quota seats in that particular state. At this point, candidates who completed their MBBS/BDS from Karnataka but belong to some other state are ineligible for admissions both in their home state as well as in Karnataka. This has left there candidates at the mercy of All India 50% Quota seats which are already less in number compared to the number of candidates who appear and qualify the entrance exam NEET PG.