New MCI norms for MBBS, BDS disability quota

Only if a candidate has more than 40% disability of the lower limb will he or she be eligible for seats under the ‘Person with Disabilities’ quota in the counselling for medical and dental seats.

Candidates with vision, hearing and speech disabilities and those with disabilities of the upper limbs are not eligible for the quota.

This year, the Medical Council of India (MCI) has changed the eligibility criteria for the PwD quota. The information brochure on the centralised counselling for MBBS and BDS seats, released by the Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA), reflects these revised rules. The brochure says that candidates with 50% to 70% of disability in only the lower limb will be considered for seat allotment first, followed by candidates who have 40% to 50% lower limb disability.

“The MCI rules are followed by all states and we too have to do the same,” said K S Manjunath, executive director of KEA.

However, the disability criteria remains unchanged for engineering and other professional courses, according to the state’s rules. Before the implementation of NEET, the same rules applied to medical and dental seats as well.