Chennai: The Union government today granted permission to Tamilnadu government for increasing the medical seats by 25 per cent. It also stated that for every five years, the seats can be increased by 25 per cent.
With respect to reservation for economically backward forward caste, the Centre has directed to allocate 10 per cent seat this year.
In addition to the existing medical colleges, the State recently got an order to set up a government institution in Karur district with 150 seats, beginning this academic year. Also, 100 additional seats for the medical institutions at Tirunelveli and Madurai, respectively.
As of now, the seats at the two colleges are 250 each which would be in implementation from the upcoming academic year.
The Medical Council of India (MCI) has done two rounds of inspection at the Karur campus. The officials have requested an undertaking to rectify the minor problems within a few months. For the students of first two years, the 340-bedded district headquarters hospital will be used for teaching and the institution is constructing a 1,000-bed unitary campus, it is learnt. Additionally, IRT-Perundurai Medical College and Hospital would also be inaugurated soon.
Every academic year, the State government has a policy decision to increase the number of institutions or procure additional seats.
Sources in the government state that proposals for colleges in Ooty, Ramanathapuram and Perambalur are awaiting approval by the Centre.
The total number of State-run medical institutions have risen to 24 from 22. As many as 3,250 seats are available in Tamilnadu government medical colleges and 1,590 in self-financing institutions (860 under government quota and 730 under management category).
The admission for medical seats is done based on the score of National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) which was held 5 May, where 1,34,711 students appeared for the test held in 188 centres in the State.
The online application that started 7 June concludes 20 June and the merit list for government and management quota is expected to be released 2 July, according to sources.
Counselling is expected to be held between 5 and 12 July for government quota seats and for NRI and minority seats 15 July. The first phase of counselling for management quota seats will be held from 16 to 18 July.