Domicile rule to apply to deemed universities as well : Maharashtra Govt

Mumbai: The Maharashtra government is mulling reserving 50 per cent post-graduate and 85 per cent under-graduate seats in the deemed medical universities for candidates domiciled in the state.

The move, which would be on the line with other states like Telangana, aims to ensure more opportunities for students domiciled in Maharashtra. If approved, deemed medical universities in the state can admit students in under-graduate courses (MBBS, BDS) who have passed their qualifying school examinations from Maharashtra under the 85 per cent quota, while only 15 per cent of the seats will be available to students of other states or NRIs. For post-graduate courses, a 50 per cent quota is being proposed for the candidates who hold MBBS degree from Maharashtra. There is a 50 per cent cap for the domicile quota in PG admissions, stipulated by the Supreme Court.

Government and private medical colleges in Maharashtra already exercise the domicile rules with 85 per cent seats reserved for those who pass qualifying examinations from the state, while 15 per cent seats are for all India quota. Girish Mahajan, medical education minister, confirmed the development. Without revealing details, he said, "Discussions are still on. The domicile quota will be fixed for the PG courses admissions for which start from May first week."

Nearly 2,400 UG seats and 1,100 PG seats are up for grab in the eight deemed medical universities in Maharashtra, most of them owned by Congress politicians. As per the Supreme Court's verdict, admission in the deemed universities have already been streamlined from the upcoming academic year. All their seats will filled only through the NEET and the state-run centralised admission process.