Rapid Fire
NRI Quota Expansion Undermines Education
- 25 Sep 2024
- 2 min read
Recently, the Supreme Court condemned the Punjab government's decision to expand the Non-Resident Indian (NRI) quota (15%) in medical colleges to include distant relatives of NRIs, such as uncles, aunts, and cousins.
- The Supreme Court described the expansion of NRI quota as a “fraud” that undermines merit-based admissions and called it a “money-spinning tactic” that could allow less deserving candidates to gain entry based on wealth and connections rather than merit.
- The SC referenced the PA Inamdar vs. State of Maharashtra Case, 2005, which highlighted the necessity to prevent misuse of the NRI quota.
- However, similar broad definitions of NRI candidates had been adopted in other states, such as Himachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.
- NRI Quota allows NRIs, PIOs, and OCIs to secure admission, often without the need to appear for entrance exams that residents must undertake.
- The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) allows NRI Students up to 5% in technical institutes while it is 15% in medical institutes as per the Medical Council of India.
- NRI refers to an Indian citizen who resides outside India 182 days in a financial year.
Read More: Rights of Overseas Citizens of India
