The Telangana state government has expressed its willingness to join national pool for MBBS seats. As part of this, the state government has written a letter to the central government for its permission to enable the students from Telangana eligible for appearing the All Indian Pre Medical Test (AIPMT) from next year.

Earlier in the united Andhra Pradesh, the then state government did not opt for national pool fearing loss of large number of medical seats in the national pool. But now with the bifurcation of the Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, unlike earlier the share of medical seats the respective states will lose in the national pool is less compared to the seats they will benefit from joining it.

However, experts say that, both the states can join the national pool only when the Article 371(D) is amended, which is aimed at securing protection and maximum benefits to local candidates of that particular state. “Telangana state government is in favor of the national pool, because it will throw up more opportunity for our students in medical colleges across the country. At present, our students are denied a chance to pursue medical courses in some often best medical colleges of the country due to Article 371(D). We are awaiting a positive response from the Centre on this issue,” said C. Laxma Reddy, minister for health and family welfare, government of Telangana.

In the erstwhile Andhra Pradesh there were about 16 government medical colleges, but after bifurcation Telangana has only 5 government medical colleges with an intake of just 850 students while Andhra Pradesh has 11 government medical colleges with an intake of 1550 students annually. On the other hand, the scenario for the share of medical PG seats in Telangana is 620 while that of Andhra Pradesh is about 516.

Having said this, if Telangana joints the national pool for MBBS seats, then the state will have to give its share of 127 MBBS seats to the national pool, while it will gain access to about 3750 medical seats across the country. Same is the case for Andhra Pradesh; if AP joins national pool then it should part its 232 medical seats to the national pool, while it will gain access to more than 15 times its share from the national pool.