Government scheme for minorities of Pakistan and Bangladesh

The External Affairs Ministry on Wednesday announced a scheme to help "persecuted religious minority migrants" from Bangladesh and Pakistan for seeking admissions in MBBS and BDS courses in the current year, without the need of appearing in any entrance examination.

In a statement, the Ministry said such facility was available to foreign nationals from developing countries for admissions in various technical courses against seats allotted by ministries of health and human resources development.

It said the facility had been extended to "persecuted religious minorities", of Bangladesh and Pakistan based in India with a view to facilitating their access to educational institutions. From the next academic session, they will be able to avail such facility to seek admissions in engineering and pharmacy as well. The last date for applications has been set by August 19, 2016. "The applicants are not required to appear in any entrance examination. The candidates will be selected on the basis of academic merit," the ministry statement said.

Eligibility criteria for medical and dental college is minimum 60% marks each in Physics, Chemistry and Biology and 50% in English in qualifying exam equivalent to 10+2 standard o CBSE.

The ministry has selected 20 medical colleges including three in New Delhi and two in Maharashtra in Pune and Wardha. The two dental colleges where these migrants will get admissions include one in Raipur, Chhattisgarh and Nagpur in Maharashtra.(ends)