Medical education: MBBS admission confusion persists

Thiruvananthapuram: Though the Commissioner for Entrance Examinations (CEE) announced that Rs 5 lakh would be the annual fee for 85 per cent MBBS seats in self-financing medical colleges, confusion prevails as the option registration ends on August 16.  The fee for most of the colleges barring three — Academy of Medical Science, Pariyaram; MES Medical College Perinthalmanna, Dr Somervell Memorial CSI Medical College, Karakonam — have the same fee of Rs 5 lakh for the 85 per cent seats. But the students have been asked to submit separate options for both the government and management quotas, creating doubts among students over their choice.

Those who got allotted to 35 per cent management seats in the other three that had entered into a deal with the government are liable to pay an interest-free refundable deposit of Rs 11 lakh in addition to the fees as per the agreement. Similarly, the 15-per cent NRI allottees are liable to pay an interest-free refundable deposit of Rs 15 lakh. Moreover, both have to produce a bank guarantee on the fee for the remaining four years, the CEE clarifies through a separate order contradictory to the earlier one. 

Of the 50 per cent government quota, 14 per cent will be for BPL/lower income group attracting a fee of Rs 25,000, while 26 per cent SEBC quota fee is Rs 45,000 and the rest Rs 2.5 lakh. As a seat in the 35 percent management quota costs Rs 11 lakh and 15 percent NRI seats Rs 14 lakh annually. In these two private colleges and the state-supported Pariyaram college, students under the management quota will have to remit Rs 5 lakh and should produce bank guarantee for the remaining amount. The order says all fees are ‘provisional’ and will be subject to the decision of the High Court considering writ petitions and students are liable to pay the enhanced fee if the court decides so.