The entire thought process for introducing the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) category was to ensure that premium education was accessible to those who could not afford it. However, in the latest NEET PG Counselling outcomes, there have been certain admissions that paint a very different picture of the whole process.
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There have been EWS candidates who have been allotted seats in medical colleges where the fees are touching Rs. 2.8 crores for a single seat. Several admissions have exceeded Rs. 1 crores.
For a category that was introduced for families that earn less than Rs. 8 lakhs a year, the difference between the policy intent and reality is quite different and unsettling.
The eligibility criteria for a candidate to be considered in the EWS category are:

The eligibility criteria is meant to filter out candidates from well-off households and provide an opportunity to the genuinely underprivileged students. However, the NEET PG data suggest that in practice, the policy is failing!
The motive behind the EWS quota is to make higher education affordable and accessible for students who come from underprivileged backgrounds. However, the NEET PG Admission Data clearly shows that there is wealth behind a poverty certificate. There is a troubling issue at hand: students who are officially classified as ‘economically weak’, are being allotted seats in medical colleges where the fee is in crores.
147 EWS candidates were allotted seats in deemed universities, out of which
1 student received a seat with a fee above Rs. 2 crore
76 students were allotted seats costing above Rs. 1crore
137 students were allotted seats costing above Rs. 50 lakhs
146 students were allotted seats costing above Rs. 10 lakhs
1 student received a seat with a fee above Rs. 10 lakhs
The table below reveals an extreme mismatch between the EWS eligibility and affordability. Although these candidates are considered ‘Economically Weak’, they have secured PG seats in medical colleges where the fee range is between Rs. 1.5 crores to Rs. 2.28 crores; an amount that is far beyond the economic capability of a low-income household.
Rank | Allotted Institute | Course | Course Fee |
47428 | Santosh Medical College and Hospital, Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh | M.D. (Radio- Diagnosis) | Rs. 2.28 Cr |
91992 | M.S. (Orthopaedics) | Rs. 1.87 Cr | |
50139 | M.D. (Obst. And Gynae)/Ms (Obstetrics And Gynaecology) | Rs. 1.80 Cr | |
73098 | Sri Siddhartha Medical College, Tumkur, Karnataka | M.D. (Paediatrics) | Rs. 1.80 Cr |
82200 | Dr. D. Y. Patil Medical College, Hospital and Research Centre, Pimpri, Pune, Maharashtra | M.S. (Orthopaedics) | Rs. 1.65 Cr |
52130 | Shri Sathya Sai Medical College and Research Institute, Chennai, Tamil Nadu | M.D. (Radio- Diagnosis) | Rs. 1.65 Cr |
90824 | Mahatma Gandhi Medical College and Research Institute, Pondicherry | M.S. (Orthopaedics) | Rs.1.5 Cr |
73533 | Rajarajeswari Medical College and Hospital, Bengaluru, Karnataka | M.S. (Orthopaedics) | Rs. 1.5 Cr |
48635 | Santosh Medical College and Hospital, Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh | M.D. (General Medicine) | Rs. 1.5 Cr |
55666 | Santosh Medical College and Hospital, Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh | M.D. (Obst. And Gynae)/Ms (Obstetrics And Gynaecology) | Rs. 1.5 Cr |
Observation: If we analyse the table, we can clearly see that EWS candidates with low ranks are being allotted medical seats that are costing anything between Rs. 1.5 crores to Rs. 2.38 crores. This signifies not only a gross misuse of the EWS certificates but also a poor EWS verification process.
EWS reservation was meant to provide equal opportunities to the underprivileged, but NEET Medical PG admission data shows it is failing to achieve its intended purpose. A genuinely poor student does not get the seat; instead, a student who is ‘poor on paper’ gets the seat and pays the high fee (in this case, crores of rupees) for admission.
The issue is not about rich students entering medical education; it is the fact that they enter as poor students. The EWS quota was meant to help, but instead, it seems it has further alienated the genuinely poor student by taking away the opportunity and the means to have a quality life.
NEET PG establishes the fact that there is a mismatch between what the EWS reservation intended and what the outcome is like. Seats that were supposed to be for the economically weak were filled by those who are paying the fee, which is in crores, exposing a flawed system of verification and enforcement. Unless there are stricter checks in balance and the transparency of the entire admission procedure, the EWS quota will continue to fail the very students it was created to support.
On Question asked by student community
NEET PG stray round counselling was extended until February 20, 2026. For more details, check the link below:
https://medicine.careers360.com/articles/mcc-neet-pg-counselling-2025-stray-round
Hi,
Yes, you are eligible. After completing Doctor of Medicine (MD) in Pathology, you can appear again for National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for Postgraduate if you have a valid MBBS degree and registration with the National Medical Commission. However, government rules about funding or seat eligibility may vary.
Hi Sharmila, the NEET PG 2026 will be conducted for admission to the courses like MD, MS and PG diploma courses. Please check NEET PG 2026 , to know in detail about the eligibility and the counselling process.
Hello Student,
You can find the Neet pg 2025 questions paper by clicking on the link given below
Link - NEET PG 2025 Question Paper
Hope this was helpful!
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