Centre to review income cap for Economically Weaker Section quota in NEET

The Centre on Thursday told the Supreme Court that it has decided to reconsider the limit of ₹8 lakh annual income fixed for determining the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) category for reservation in NEET admissions for Post-Graduate medical courses.

A bench of Justices DY Chandrachud, Surya Kant, and Vikram Nath was informed by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta that a committee will be constituted to determine the criteria for EWS and it would take four weeks.

Mehta said that NEET (PG) counselling would stand postponed for a further four weeks as per assurance earlier given to the court.

Also watch: 27% reservation for OBC & 10% for EWS in medical colleges under Centre's All India Quota scheme

The top court was hearing a batch of pleas filed by Students challenging the Centre and Medical Counselling Committee's July 29 notice providing 27% reservation for Other Backward Class (OBC) and 10 per cent for EWS category in the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET-PG) admissions for medical courses for the current academic year.

Justice Kant said that the EWS quota is a very enabling and progressive kind of reservation and all states should support the Centre in its endeavour.

The bench said that the only question is that determination of the category should be in a scientific manner and it appreciates that the Centre has taken a decision to revisit the criteria earlier fixed.