Punjab: 50 pc government quota for MBBS at Sri Guru Ram Das Institute of Medical Science

Patiala: The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee-run Sri Guru Ram Das Institute of Medical Science and Research, Amritsar, has much to the relief of the student community decided to retain 50% Government quota MBBS seats. This quota is to be filled through centralised counselling by the Baba Farid University of Health Sciences (BFUHS), Faridkot.

Till last year 75 of the 150 seats were being filled through the government controlled fee structure and the rest, from its minority quota, on which management quota was applicable. The institute after having been given the status of private varsity last month, converted 90 % of its government quota, into management quota seats, having a higher fee structure. It also announced independent counselling for the coming session. The institute announced conversion of 65 MBBS seats under the government quota into management and NRI seats.

The decision came under fire as the fee for the five-year MBBS course under a government quota seat is Rs 13.30 lakh whereas, it is Rs 40 lakh in case of the management seat.

In a recent announcement, the State government clarified, that the institute had yet to be granted the status of private university, as the statutes and rules were yet to be approved. According to Secretary, Medical Education, Punjab, Mr. Vikas Pratap, the admission mode and fee structure of the institute would continue to remain the same, as last year, for the coming session. However, once the rules and statutes are submitted and approved, the institute would be able to govern independently, he added.

According to sources, it may be the last session for the institute to have government controlled seats. The status of a private varsity from the next session, would lead to a change in the fee structure and nature of seats.

Principal, Dr. Geeta Sharma, when contacted confirmed that the number of government quota seats would continue to remain the same as last year.