BMJ  2006;332:1291 (3 June), doi:10.1136/bmj.332.7553.1291-a

News

India will expand number of medical school places after protests

New Delhi

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

The Indian government has announced additional places in medical colleges funded by the central government after widespread protests against its proposal to reserve more places in higher education institutions for students from lower castes.

In April the government set out plans to increase the proportion of college places reserved for students from socially deprived castes from the existing 22.5% to 49.5%, beginning in the 2007 academic year (2006;332:931, 22 Apr). The policy is an attempt to bolster a decades old affirmative action policy.

However, students, staff members, and the Indian Medical Association are campaigning against the increase in reservations, which will apply to both undergraduate and postgraduate courses. In response to litigation challenging the proposals, the Indian Supreme Court on Monday asked the government to justify its more than doubling of the percentage of reserved places.

"We want the government to review the existing reservation policy and examine other options . . . [Full text of this article]

CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

Related Article

All India Institute staff is split over attempt to dismiss director

Ganapati Mudur
BMJ 2006 333: 115. [Extract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Rapid Responses:

Read all Rapid Responses

More unemployed doctors will only add to a further brain drain

Durgesh Raje
bmj.com, 3 Jun 2006 [Full text]

Reservation at what cost ?

Rajesh S Phatak
bmj.com, 5 Jun 2006 [Full text]

Medical education and employment opportunities

MK V Sathyamoorthy
bmj.com, 6 Jun 2006 [Full text]