The Andaman & Nicobar Islands Institute of Medical Sciences (ANIIMS) has clarified that no MBBS seats reserved under the All India Quota (AIQ) remain vacant following the completion of the counselling process. The clarification comes amid concerns raised in recent weeks over unfilled AIQ seats after the second round of counselling.
In a press release, ANIIMS referred to Notice No. U-12021/06/2021 dated December 18, 2021, issued by the office of the Additional Director General (Medical Education), Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW), Government of India. The notice clearly states that “no AIQ seats will be reverted back to the respective States after the completion of AIQ Round 2 counselling.”
ANIIMS said the ministry’s directive was issued in compliance with an order from the Supreme Court of India in the matter of Nihila P.P. vs The Medical Counselling Committee & Others. The court mandated that the AIQ counselling process must include four rounds, AIQ Round I, AIQ Round II, AIQ Mop-Up Round, and AIQ Stray Vacancy Round.
Prior to this order, AIQ seats that remained unfilled after the second round of counselling were returned to the respective states. However, following the court’s directive, these seats are now filled in subsequent rounds, Mop-Up and Stray Vacancy, conducted by the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC). The rounds apply exclusively to AIQ seats, ensuring that no seat remains vacant at the national level.
ANIIMS stated that the All India Quota constitutes 15 percent of the undergraduate MBBS seats, amounting to 17 out of 114 seats in the institute. Since the implementation of the MoHFW notification, the institute has reported that all 17 AIQ seats have been successfully filled each year through the designated rounds of counselling.
The institute further clarified that the existing counselling structure is designed to prevent AIQ vacancies by conducting additional rounds at the central level. This mechanism, ANIIMS noted, has ensured a more efficient and transparent allocation of seats, eliminating the issue of unfilled quotas.
Addressing public concerns, ANIIMS reiterated that after the MoHFW notification dated December 18, 2021, no MBBS seat under AIQ has remained vacant at the institute. The statement emphasized that admissions are carried out in accordance with the guidelines laid down by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare and the Medical Counselling Committee.
ANIIMS added that it undertakes all necessary measures to ensure a fair and transparent admission process for MBBS seats every year. It affirmed that both AIQ and state quota seats are allocated strictly through the centralized counselling mechanism, leaving no scope for seat lapses.
The clarification, ANIIMS noted, aims to address and dispel speculation regarding vacant AIQ seats at the institute, reaffirming adherence to the Supreme Court’s directives and MoHFW guidelines.
