Ministry of Health reveals an increase of 5200 MBBS seats under EWS quota

New Delhi, July 24: Medical aspirants seeking admission in the 2019-20 session rejoice as Ashwini Kumar Choubey, Minister of Health and Family Welfare, announces an increase of 5,200 seats in medical colleges of the country. The minister revealed the information in response to a query filed in the upper house. To accommodate the 10% Economically Weaker Section (EWS) reservation, the increment in the number of seats in 24 states were listed out. The list mentions the increase of seats in State Government’s colleges, colleges set up on Private Public Partnership (PPP), State Government aided society run colleges and Municipal Corporation’s colleges.

Who comes under EWS category?

There is a set criterion for who can receive the benefits of EWS category. The law provides reservations for jobs and in educational institutions to those candidates who do not come under ST/SC and OBC category and also fulfil all the points given below:

1. Candidate whose annual family income is less than 8 lakh

2. The candidate’s family must not own more than 5 acres of agricultural land

3. The family’s residential area must be less than 1000 sq. ft.

4. If in a notified municipal society the residential plot must not be more than 100 square yards

5. If in a non-notified municipal society the residential plot must not be more than 200 square yards

Why an increase in seats?

Earlier this year, the Union Government approved the EWS reservation Bill, introducing 10% reservations for candidates who have an economically weaker background. The act allows the said reservation in all government educational institutions and job with effect from January 7, 2019. This reservation was declared to be over and above the 50% reservation. On January 12 this bill turned into law with the approval of President Ram Nath Kovind. It is under the effect of this law that the seats in medical colleges have seen an increase for the 2019-20 session.

How is the increase implemented?

To provide 10% reservation under EWS category the Council has increased the seats by 25%. This has been done to avoid disruption in the current reservation for SC/ST and OBC category. For instance, if the reservations to accommodate EWS category was provided on the already available seats it would have led to an increase in reserved seats in medical colleges and decrease in seats for general candidates. This would have turned out to be a great disadvantage to the latter. To avoid this scenario the total number of seats have been increased and the reservations will be provided on the increased seats. The table below lists state-wise increase in seats:

State-wise seats increase

Recent changes

Apart from the statement regarding increase in seats under EWS reservation quota, a number of other changes in the recent past were also quoted by the attending ministers in the Lok Sabha also. Union Minister Harsh Vardhan informed the members:

• During 2017-18 to 2019-20 session there has been an increase of 15,815 seats for UG and 2,153 seats for PG

• There has been an increase of 10,565 UG seats in UG in 2019-20

The total number of MBBS seats in 529 colleges was 70,693 and now with the introduction of the EWS category, the seats have increased to 75,893.