NRI Quota Expansion Undermines Education | 25 Sep 2024

Source: HT

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.