MBBS admission scam exposed; 18,000 NEET UG, PG seats filled using forged NRI certificates: Reports

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has busted a massive admission racket that revealed private medical colleges had facilitated admission for nearly 18,000 NEET UG and PG seats using forged Non-resident Indian (NRI) certificates, as per reports. The investigation was conducted in collaboration with the ministry of external affairs (MEA).

The inquiry revealed that medical colleges partnered with admission agents and paid intermediaries to prepare fabricated documents. A single credential was used for multiple candidates who opted for the NRI category, the Tribune India reported.

Parents paid the fees for such students who got MBBS admission under NRI quota using fake certificates, and not sponsors, thus defeating the purpose of foreign exchange.

Also read NEET UG Counselling: NMC flags 60 ‘wrong entries’ by medical colleges, 16 ‘got MBBS seats' despite low ranks

'Cash for admission'

The ED has been conducting raids in multiple locations in West Bengal and Odisha for several months now. It found “counterfeit US notary stamps, forged NRI certificates, and fabricated family trees showing unrelated foreigners as relatives of candidates”, the report read.

Hundreds of such NRI certificates confiscated in these raids were then sent to the Indian embassies for verification. Most of them turned out to be fake!

During the probe, the ED earlier confiscated fixed deposit (FD) certificates worth Rs 6.42 crore from a private medical college in West Bengal in relation to cash-for-admission in MBBS, MD, MS courses.

Earlier in March, the Indian Consulate in Dubai expressed concerns over the rising NEET admission scam after it found that 24 NRI certificates submitted by candidates in 2024 was fake. The number was 9 in 2023.

Also read Another NEET fraud? Dubai Consulate sees NRI certificates for medical admissions double in 3 years

MCC tightens rules for NRI admission

Taking this into account, the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) has tightened the MBBS admission rules under the NRI quota for 2025-26. Only certificates issued by Indian Mission or ministry of external affairs (MEA) will be considered valid for MBBS, NEET PG admission 2025.

Further, the NRI certificate submitted by candidates at the time of admission will be sent to the MEA and India mission for verification. If any candidate is found to have submitted fake or forged documents, their candidature will be cancelled and appropriate action will be taken against them.

Further tightening the rules, the MCC later announced that the admission will be done on the basis of priority. Only the NRI candidates and children of NRIs will be given priority 1, and first and second-degree relatives will be given second priority.

As per the NEET UG 2025 round 1 seat allotment, a total of 557 candidates have been allotted medical seats under NRI quota in round 1. Of which, 297 have been admitted under NRI priority 1 and the remaining 260 under NRI priority 2.