education

Updated: Jul 07, 2017 19:30 IST

The Punjab government’s decision to double reservation for Backward Classes (BCs) in the state from 5% to 10% in all government medical and dental colleges has upset general category students, who have threatened to move court. Baba Farid University of Health Sciences (BFUHS) issued a notification in this regard on Tuesday, on instructions from secretary, department of medical education and research, Vikas Pratap.

Anxious students and parents are reaching out to the BFUHS authorities seeking the withdrawal of the decision.

A parent said, “The Punjab government should also think about the interest of general category students. We are already suffering due to reservations and quotas. With increase of BC quota reservation, things will be worse for general students. The government should give equal opportunity to all.”

The counselling for NEET to fill seats in the state starts on July 16 when the provisional list of candidates will be displayed. Aspirants are vying for 1,125 MBBS seats in eight medical colleges and 1,130 BDS seats in 14 dental colleges.

Total reservation will be 76%

Total reservation in government medical colleges is 76% including 15% NRI quota and 15% in the CBSE quota.

This includes 25% reservation for SC, 10% BCs, backward area/border area (1% each), 3% physically handicapped, 1% sports persons, 1% each for children/ grandchildren of terrorist affected persons and children of Sikh riot affected persons; 1% for wards of defence personnel, 1% for wards of Punjab police personnel and 1% reservation for children of freedom fighters of Punjab.

The reservation in private institutions is 54% including around 15% NRI quota (There is no CBSE quota for private institutes)

BFUHS vice-chancellor Dr Raj Bahadur said, “Our University is the designated nodal agency for common counselling of the NEET. We have to follow government instructions. Thus, BC candidates will now have 10% reservation instead of 5% during admission of NEET candidates.”