HYDERABAD, Aug 1: In a major policy decision, the Andhra Pradesh government has decided to permit 15 per cent quota for NRIs in five government medical colleges in the State. It is expected that a total of 120 seats would be available under this category from this academic year itself.

The decision was taken by the Chandrababu Naidu Cabinet on Wednesday but was not officially announced.

Orders constituting a committee to decide the selection procedure under NRI quota (payment seats) would be issued in a few days. Official sources explained that the creation of an NRI quota in government medical colleges was well within the guidelines laid down by the Supreme Court.

The five colleges where the reservation for NRIs would be available are: Rangaraya Medical College, Kakatiya Medical College, Sri Venkateswara Medical College, Kurnool Medical College and the University of Health Sciences Medical College at Vijayawada.

The facility of NRI quota in these five colleges is, however, subject to the Medical Council of India (MCI) giving its formal approval to the State Government's request for increase in the number of seats in these institutions.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.