A rising number of candidates from the Economically Weaker Section (EWS)—officially identified as those with an annual family income below ₹8 lakh—are reportedly paying exorbitant fees under management and NRI quotas to secure PG medical seats. In several cases, fees have crossed ₹1 crore per year, sparking serious concerns about the integrity of the EWS reservation policy.

According to admission monitoring teams and senior medical professionals, nearly 140 EWS-tagged candidates across India have opted for high-cost PG medical programmes this year. Many of them had low NEET PG ranks but still secured premium specialities such as Dermatology and General Medicine by paying fees comparable to NRI candidates.

How EWS Candidates Are Entering High-Fee PG Courses

A recurring pattern has been observed:

• Students appear for NEET PG under the EWS quota, receiving reservation benefits.

• If government seats are not likely due to poor ranks, they shift to costly management or NRI quota seats.

• Fee ranges vary from ₹25 lakh to over ₹1 crore annually, depending on the branch.

A senior doctor explained:

“When EWS candidates secure poor ranks but have the financial backing to pay crores for PG seats, it raises a fair question about whether the category is being misused,” the doctor said.

Examples Highlighting the Trend

Case 1: Dermatology Seat Exceeding ₹1 Crore Fee

An EWS candidate with a NEET PG rank below 1.11 lakh reportedly took an NRI quota seat for MD Dermatology at a private college in Belagavi.
The annual tuition fee for NRI candidates at this college is over ₹1 crore per year.

Case 2: Multiple EWS Candidates in Management Quota

At Dr. DY Patil Medical College, Navi Mumbai:

• Out of 16 management quota MD General Medicine seats,

• 4 were taken by EWS candidates,

• Each paying about ₹48.5 lakh per year in tuition.

Verification Loopholes Raise Policy Concerns

Medical educators argue that the existing system of verifying EWS certificates is inadequate:

• Families capable of paying massive sums still manage to obtain EWS certificates.

• There is no strict audit of financial backgrounds beyond simple documentation.

• Students with powerful financial support continue to enjoy benefits created for genuinely underprivileged aspirants.

Vikas Sir’s Expert Insight (Director, Psychographic Society)

Adding to the ongoing debate, Vikas Kumar, Director of Psychographic Society, strongly criticised the emerging misuse pattern.

“EWS is a powerful tool meant to uplift academically deserving students from genuinely weaker backgrounds,” Vikas Sir said.
“But when candidates who can afford ₹50 lakh to ₹1 crore annually take PG seats under the same category, it clearly signals a systemic flaw. This distorts merit, undermines trust, and pushes truly needy students further behind.”

He further added:

“What we are witnessing is not just misuse—it’s a major policy distortion that requires immediate government intervention and stricter income verification norms.”

Demand for Urgent Action

Experts, medical teachers, and student bodies are now urging:

• Stricter auditing and cross-verification of EWS certificates,

• Mandatory financial scrutiny for candidates opting for management or NRI seats under EWS status,

• Transparent fee regulation in private medical colleges,

• And if required, a national-level investigation into systemic misuse.

With more than 27,000 candidates competing for PG medical seats, stakeholders emphasise that unchecked loopholes threaten the very purpose of the EWS quota—fair opportunities for financially disadvantaged yet deserving students.