BJ Medical College (BJMC), Ahmedabad, one of Gujarat’s most sought-after government medical institutions, saw 30 students who were allotted MBBS seats fail to complete the admission process after the first round of counselling.
The vacant seats were filled in the subsequent admission process on Monday. However, the number of students who initially did not join BJMC has raised concerns among students, parents and admission experts, given the college’s longstanding reputation.Sources attributed the trend to several factors, including concerns over ragging, shortage of hostel accommodation and the rising cost of living outside the campus.
Hostel shortage a concern
BJMC’s hostel infrastructure was damaged in last year’s Air India plane crash, and sources said adequate accommodation, particularly for first-year students, has yet to be fully restored.Students who have to rely on private accommodation and food outside the campus may face a significantly higher cost of pursuing their MBBS. This additional financial burden is reportedly influencing the choices of some students.Concerns over ragging have also emerged as another factor.
Sources claimed that students from outside the region may sometimes feel uncomfortable or singled out, prompting some to consider other colleges.However, experts pointed out that not every student who failed to report to BJMC necessarily rejected the college. Financial constraints, distance from their hometowns and the possibility of securing a preferred college in subsequent counselling rounds may also have influenced decisions. Some students are also reportedly waiting for opportunities through the All-India Quota, including at AIIMS and other government medical colleges.
1,537 MBBS seats vacant across Gujarat
The BJMC trend comes amid an unusual admission scenario across Gujarat. After the first round of counselling, 1,537 MBBS seats remained vacant across the state, along with 625 BDS seats.Of the students allotted seats in the first round, 752 MBBS and 467 dental candidates did not confirm their admissions. Overall, 1,219 students failed to report, adding to the vacancies.
Government medical colleges were also affected, with 102 non-reporting cases recorded across the state. These included 30 at BJMC Ahmedabad, 25 at Jamnagar, 14 at Rajkot, nine at Surat, and two each at Vadodara and Bhavnagar.
Admission experts said the trend reflects broader changes in medical admissions, with the country witnessing a substantial increase in MBBS seats while the pool of NEET-qualified candidates has reportedly declined.For BJMC, however, students initially choosing not to join after securing seats marks an unusual departure from the college’s traditional status as one of Gujarat’s most preferred government medical colleges.