NAGPUR: The Maharashtra government is contemplating withdrawing from the All India Pre-Medical Test ( AIPMT ), so that it can utilize the 15% seats reserved for students from other states for local students. Higher and technical education minister Vinod Tawde made a statement in this regard in the legislative assembly on Thursday while replying to a discussion under Rule 293 moved by Yogesh Sagar, Madhuri Misal, Sanjay Kute, Shashikant Khedekar and others.

This would make Maharashtra the fourth state, after Andhra Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, and Telangana, to not have the 15% quota for outside students.

“Maharashtra has good facilities in medical education with its government-run colleges considered among the top in the country. As the state had agreed to be a part of AIPMT, 15% seats in our colleges are reserved for students from others states, and vice versa. This means, out of 2,000 odd seats in the colleges, about 330 are occupied by students from other states, which is a big percentage,” he said.

'Just 22-30 students opted for outside state medical college'

Higher and technical education minister Vinod Tawde pointed out that in the last six years hardly 22-30 students from Maharashtra had preferred seats in medical colleges in other states, while some 330 students from outside used our seats every year. "It's a big disparity, and our students, particularly those who can't afford the fees of private colleges, are at the loss. We will approach the Supreme Court to exclude the state from AIPMT, which will be conducted on May 3 next year. If the court agrees, we will get 300 extra MBBS seats for state students," he said.

The former leader of opposition in council said that Maharashtra was part of the national entrance examination for many years and students from many states pursue medical education from the state under 15% All India quota.

Former lecturer and now senior PMT trainer Sameer Phale said the decision would surely benefit the state students, as they would get additional 300 seats. However, it would be against the democratic set up of the country. "What about students from other states who want to take admission in Maharashtra colleges? At national level, such things shouldn't be considered. States like AP and J&K had rejected the 15% quota since the very beginning of AIPMT."

He added that even the Armed Forces Medical College had stopped its own entrance exam following SC directives to start National Entrance-cum- Eligibility Test (NEET). "But after it was stopped by the SC, they admit students through AIPMT. Even MP and Chhattisgarh use AIPMT score for admissions. Now, if Maharashtra students want to take admission in AFMC or other colleges, they have to appear in AIPMT," he said.

