The Government of India has earmarked four MBBS seats from the Central Pool for spouses and children of civilian victims of terrorism for the 2025-26 academic session, opening a crucial opportunity for affected families to pursue higher education in medicine. The seats, allocated through the Ministry of Home Affairs, will be available in three medical colleges across the country: A.N. Magadh Medical College in Gaya, Bihar, with one seat; Grant Medical College in Mumbai, Maharashtra, with one seat; and Pt. JNM Medical College in Raipur, Chhattisgarh, with two seats.
The allocation follows a communication from the Ministry’s Counter Terrorism and Counter Radicalisation Division, which notified state authorities and concerned departments about the eligibility framework. The process includes a priority order for allotment: children who have lost both parents to terrorist violence will be considered first, followed by children of families that lost their sole breadwinner, and finally, wards of victims who suffered permanent disability or serious injury due to terrorism.
Eligibility norms for the scheme align with the National Medical Commission’s Graduate Medical Education Regulations. Applicants must be either the spouse or children of the deceased or disabled civilian victim of terrorism, and must be Indian nationals who have completed or will complete 17 years of age by December 31 of the year of admission. Academic requirements stipulate that candidates must have studied Physics, Chemistry, Biology or Biotechnology, and English individually at the qualifying level. Minimum aggregate marks required are 50 percent for unreserved and General-EWS categories, 40 percent for SC, ST, and OBC categories, and 45 percent for persons with disabilities under the unreserved category.
Beyond qualifying marks, candidates must also meet percentile thresholds in the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET). The benchmark is set at 50 percentile for unreserved and General-EWS categories, 40 percentile for SC, ST, and OBC categories, and 45 percentile for persons with disabilities under the unreserved category. Percentile rankings will be based on the common merit list of NEET scores at the national level.
To apply, candidates are required to submit applications in the prescribed format along with documentary proof establishing their eligibility, including certificates verifying their status as family members of terrorism victims. Applications must be filed in duplicate and submitted in person to the Development-IV Section at the Secretariat in Sri Vijaya Puram by August 28, 2025, before 5 pm. Officials have made clear that incomplete applications or submissions after the deadline will be rejected outright.
With medical education being one of the most sought-after disciplines, the reserved seats in established institutions could serve as a significant relief for families who have suffered irreparable loss due to extremist violence.
The transparent criteria and defined order of priority aim to ensure that the opportunity reaches those most severely impacted by terrorism. For many aspirants, the initiative is not just about gaining admission into medical colleges, but also about reclaiming a sense of stability and purpose after enduring trauma.
