Worried that this may mean even fewer seats for general category students, parents and students are concerned about the medical counselling process for the academic year 2025–2026
The change was spotted in the NEET UG brochure right as the registration process for medical college applications began on July 23. Representational Pic/File
Students and parents have found themselves stumped as 10 per cent of private medical college seats in Maharashtra are now to be reserved for candidates who belong to the EWS (Economically Weaker Section) category.
Worried that this may mean even fewer seats for general category students, parents and students are concerned about the medical counselling process for the academic year 2025–2026.
“This is a grave injustice towards those students who fall under the general category, since it’s their seats that are at stake. The right way to do it would have been to increase the total number of seats at medical colleges to ensure that no child is losing out on an opportunity. We hope to take our concerns to X (formerly Twitter) to give this issue the spotlight it needs,” said Jasmine Gogri, a medical counsellor who is guiding over 100 students through admissions.
The change was spotted in the NEET UG brochure right as the registration process for medical college applications began on July 23.
“My son is an open category student and even secured good marks in the 2025 NEET UG. If seats aren’t increased, the EWS reservation will cut into his chance of getting into his preferred medical college,” said Dr Sameer, a Nagpur resident.
The process of increasing medical college seats was last observed in 2019, when an EWS quota was rolled out for government medical colleges with a 25 per cent increase in seats to accommodate the cut-offs.
“We plan to approach Hasan Mushrif and Devendra Fadnavis to raise the concerns of our students. Why has the rule only come out in Maharashtra, and are we expecting an increase in medical seats? The registration process has already begun and the admissions will begin soon too — this puts the students in limbo,” said Sudha Shenoy, a member of the Parents’ Association.
Some parents are even considering a shift in their children’s domain after catching wind of the new reservations. “My son was already worried about applying to medical colleges given the competitive cut-offs, but now we may completely move to paramedical courses since the open category seats may be cut down further,” said a Dombivli-based parent.
According to the NEET UG information brochure released by the State CET Cell, "Government / Government Aided / Corporation / Private Unaided Institutions (excluding Minority Institutions), 10 per cent of the available seats under State Quota shall be reserved for candidates belonging to the EWS category."
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
