SC/ST Students’ MBBS Eligibility Marks Should Be Cut to 90%, Incentive Raised to Rs.80 Lakh: Police Complaints Authority Member

The Karnataka State Police Complaints Authority member Mohan Kumar Danappa has urged the state government to reduce the minimum PUC marks required for meritorious Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) students to avail themselves of financial incentives for pursuing MBBS under the management quota from 95% to 90%,and increase the incentive amount from Rs.50 lakh to Rs.80 lakh.

In a letter to Social Welfare Minister,K.H.Muniyappa, Danappa said the existing eligibility criteria and incentive amount needed to be revised to make the scheme more accessible to deserving students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.

Referring to the Karnataka government order dated October 24,2024,he said several meritorious SC/ST students continued to perform well in their PUC and NEET examinations despite challenging economic and social circumstances.

Access to medical education could significantly improve not only their future prospects but also the socioeconomic conditions of their families,he noted.

However,the rising cost of medical education has made pursuing an MBBS degree increasingly difficult for students from poor families,even when they possess the necessary merit and qualifications.

Under the existing scheme, eligible SC/ST students who score 95% or above in PUC and secure MBBS admission through the management quota after failing to obtain a seat under the government quota through NEET are provided an incentive of Rs.50 lakh.

Danappa pointed out that the 95% eligibility threshold was too stringent and could exclude many deserving students who had performed well academically and qualified in NEET.

He suggested that the government consider a student’s NEET qualification,marks and rank,annual family income,and social and economic circumstances instead of relying solely on PUC marks to determine eligibility.

He also highlighted the rising expenses associated with medical education, including tuition fees,hostel accommodation,food,books,examination fees, equipment and travel,and said the existing financial assistance was insufficient to adequately address the burden on economically weaker families.

Danappa urged the government to amend its October 24, 2024, order,lower the minimum PUC eligibility requirement to 90% and enhance the incentive from Rs.50 lakh to 80 lakh to ensure that more deserving SC/ST students could pursue medical education.