Baba Farid University of Health Sciences (BFUHS) has updated the rules for admission to MBBS and Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) courses under the Non-Resident Indian (NRI) quota, following a directive from the Directorate of Medical Education & Research (DMER). This amendment aims to address the issue of vacant NRI quota seats, which have remained largely unfilled each year.
Key Amendments:
- Eligibility Expansion:
- Current NRIs or their Children: Candidates originally from Punjab or any other Indian state/UT are eligible for NRI quota seats.
- Wards or Immediate Relatives of NRIs: If seats remain vacant, they will also be considered under the NRI quota.
- Order of Preference for Relationships:
- Closest Relationship: The closest relationships include:
- Father’s siblings (uncle and aunt)
- Mother’s siblings (maternal uncle and aunt)
- Grandparents (paternal and maternal)
- First cousins (paternal and maternal)
- Closest Relationship: The closest relationships include:
- Proof of Guardianship:
- The guardian must be ordinarily resident abroad and should provide proof of guardianship through an affidavit verified by a competent authority.
- Fee Collection:
- The NRI fee must be collected from an NRI or NRE bank account.
- Vacancy Management:
- Post-Counselling: Vacant NRI seats after the second round of counselling will be offered to NEET-qualified foreign nationals.
- Conversion to General Seats: Unfilled seats will be converted to general category seats.
Seat Availability:
- MBBS Seats: Approximately 185 NRI quota seats.
- BDS Seats: Approximately 196 NRI quota seats.
Fees:
- MBBS: $1,10,000 (Rs 92,29,022)
- BDS: $44,000 (Rs 36,91,608)
Recent Counselling Issues:
- All 12 seats for Master of Dental Surgery (MDS) for NRIs remained vacant after two rounds of counselling.
Additional Notes:
- The university has issued a checklist to guide candidates applying under the NRI quota.
This adjustment in the admission rules reflects a commitment to improving the utilization of NRI quota seats and addressing the challenges of seat vacancies in medical and dental education.
