1,666 candidates converted to NRI quota in the first three rounds of NEET PG 2025 counselling. This trend raises concerns about low-scoring students accessing costly postgraduate medical seats through this category. The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) data shows 811 conversions in Round 3 , following 637 in Round 1 and 218 in Round 2. This brings the total NRI conversions to 1,666.
Current rules allow eligibility for “wards of NRIs,” enabling individuals residing in India to use the quota if a blood relative lives abroad. This includes aunts, uncles, or grandparents. The sponsoring relative must provide an undertaking for the candidate’s education, as ordered by the Supreme Court.
Reports indicate that candidates with scores as low as 3.5% (28 out of 800) are securing seats. Conversely, nearly 60% of candidates scoring below 215 are reportedly gaining admission to top medical colleges via the NRI quota. Critics point to this as a legal loophole , with some demanding a ban on NEET.
Fake NRI certificates have been a concern. In August, the Enforcement Directorate and Ministry of External Affairs uncovered a racket involving nearly 18,000 forged NRI certificates for NEET UG and PG admissions. Colleges can cancel seat allotments if candidates fail to produce original NRI status and relationship documents upon reporting.
The high fees for NRI quota seats in private and deemed universities range from Rs 45 lakh to Rs 95 lakh annually for MD and MS courses. This can approach Rs 1 crore with miscellaneous expenses. BJP MLA Y Bharath Shetty has raised concerns in the Karnataka Assembly about seats meant for local students being converted to high-fee NRI seats.
The MCC is scheduled to announce the NEET PG Round 3 seat allotment on February 3 on its official website, mcc.nic.in.