Odisha Govt approves EWS quota with more 150 MBBS, 148 PG medical seats; MCI approval awaited

Bhubneswar: An approval to implement quota for the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) at the medical colleges for the academic year 2019-20 has been given by the state government. As of now, the state is waiting for the approval by the Medical Council of India (MCI).

If the state succeeds in getting the MCI nod, the MBBS seats in Odisha will increase by 150 and PG medical by 148.

The Medical Dialogues team had earlier reported that on January 9, the Parliament had passed the Constitution (124th Amendment) Bill 2019 to help the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) of Indian society. The bill focused on providing 10 percent reservation in jobs and higher education to the general category poor.

Considering the bill, it was decided that all educational institutions including ones in the medical field, will offer the EWS quota in the General Category. To implement EWS quota, the Medical institutions had been directed to increase 10 percent MBBS seats at their institutes so the other categories won't get affected.

The MCI had issued a circular to respective medical education departments, medical universities of the states running GMCs under its jurisdiction; directing them to furnish necessary information in the given format so that the 10 % EWS quota can be implemented at these concerned institutes.

Read also: NEET 2019 Breaking News: EWS Quota Implemented; 10 percent more MBBS seats at Medical Colleges

To execute the EWS quota for the medical institutes, the state government had approved an increase of 150 MBBS seats and 148 PG Medical seats.

Though the permission was given by the state government, the final call on the matter will still be given by the MCI.

Health secretary Pramod Meherda told the TOI, "The government has given in-principle approval for the proposal to implement the quota. Further modalities will be worked out soon."

If the MCI gives its approval for the same, the MBBS seat intake will increase from 1,050 to 1,200 while the PG seats will increase from 468 to 616.

Read Also: MCI moves to implement 10 percent EWS quota in medical colleges, Asks States to submit Seat Matrix