GMCs to get additional 74 seats for EWS

Tribune News Service

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Jammu, June 9

Government Medical Colleges (GMCs), Jammu and Srinagar, are all set to get additional 74 MBBS seats from this academic session.

The state government had approached the Medical Council of India (MCI) to grant 200 more seats to medical colleges of J&K, including the four new government medical colleges, for the students of Economically Weaker Sections (EWS). According to sources in the health and medical education department, the state is expected to get the approval next week.

At present, the total MBBS seats available in the state are 900. The addition of 200 seats will take it to a total of 1100 medical seats in J&K colleges.

Officials said the Constitutional Amendments brought by BJP-led Central Government in March to extend 10 per cent reservation benefits to EWS students had finally allowed the state to increase MBBS seats.

“Medical colleges of Jammu and Srinagar could admit 37 more students each, taking their strength up to 187 candidates. At present, both have capacity of 300 students (150 each). There are 100 seats each in SKIMS Soura, Kashmir, and Acharya Shri Chander College of Medical Sciences (ASCOMS), Jammu, and they are all expected to get additional seats,” an official source said.

The four new GMCs, at Kathua, Rajouri, Anantnag and Baramulla, are also likely to get more MBBS slots.

“We have submitted a proposal to the MCI to allow 10 per cent quota to EWS students. This will be apart from the existing quota for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes,” said Atal Dullu, principal secretary, health and medical education.

“We have submitted a proposal and are hopeful of getting the nod,” he added.

Amendment made it possible

In March, the Union Cabinet, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, had amended a clause of Article 370, which gives special status to J&K, extending reservations benefits to EWS among general categories in government jobs and educational institutions. It was among the three ordinances promulgated by the President as the state was under President's rule. It aimed to extend the benefit to SC, ST and those living close to International Border and LoC.