Assam reserves two MBBS seats for orphans, relaxes state quota norms for students studying outside

The Assam Cabinet on July 25 approved a series of changes to medical college admissions, increasing reserved seats for five indigenous communities, introducing a special quota for orphaned students, and relaxing eligibility norms for Assamese students who completed their schooling outside the state.

Announcing the decisions after the Cabinet meeting, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the reservation in medical colleges has been enhanced following the completion of Pragjyotish Medical College.

The number of reserved seats for the Tai Ahom community has been increased from 10 to 11, while the Chutia community's quota has gone up from 9 to 10. The Koch-Rajbongshi community will also receive one additional reserved seat. Similarly, the reservation for the Moran and Motok communities has been increased by one seat each.

Overall, the combined reservation for Tai Ahom, Chutia and Koch-Rajbongshi communities has increased from 13 to 14 seats each, while the Moran and Motok communities will now have nine reserved seats each, up from eight.

In another significant decision, the Cabinet has approved an experimental provision to reserve two MBBS seats for students who have lost both their parents.

"We are introducing, on an experimental basis, reservation of two seats for orphaned students who have lost both their parents," Sarma said.

The Cabinet also amended the eligibility criteria for admissions under the state quota in Assam's medical colleges.

Earlier, children of Assamese families who studied outside the state because of their parents' postings in the Central government, defence services or Assam Bhawan were not eligible for admission under the Assam state quota.

Under the revised policy, such students will now be eligible for admission under the state quota, provided both their parents can establish a three-generation legacy of residence in Assam.

The chief minister said the decision was taken to ensure that children of Assamese families serving outside the state are not deprived of opportunities in their home state merely because of the nature of their parents' employment.