The reservation policy in AIIMS (All India Institute of Medical Sciences) follows the guidelines set by the Government of India to ensure equal opportunities for different socio-economic groups in the country. This policy is aimed at promoting educational access to candidates from Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), Other Backward Classes (OBC), and Economically Weaker Sections (EWS), while also ensuring a representation of Persons with Disabilities (PwD) in the medical education system.
The reservation policy is applicable for both Undergraduate (MBBS) and Postgraduate (MD/MS) admissions. Here's a comprehensive breakdown of the reservation policy for AIIMS:
1. Reservation for Categories
The reservation for various categories in AIIMS MBBS admissions (as of 2025) is based on the following:
A. General Category (Unreserved):
- 50% of total seats are available for candidates in the General Category (Unreserved), who do not belong to any of the reserved categories.
B. Other Backward Classes (OBC):
- 27% of total seats are reserved for candidates belonging to the Other Backward Classes (OBC).
- OBC Non-Creamy Layer: This reservation is only applicable to candidates who belong to the OBC non-creamy layer, meaning those whose family income is below a certain threshold set by the Government of India.
- OBC Creamy Layer candidates are not eligible for the OBC reservation and must apply under the General category.
C. Scheduled Castes (SC):
- 15% of total seats are reserved for candidates belonging to the Scheduled Castes (SC) category.
- The SC candidates are eligible for this reservation if they meet the eligibility criteria and possess the relevant caste certificate.
D. Scheduled Tribes (ST):
- 7.5% of total seats are reserved for candidates belonging to the Scheduled Tribes (ST) category.
- The ST candidates are eligible for this reservation if they meet the eligibility criteria and possess the relevant caste certificate.
E. Economically Weaker Section (EWS):
- 10% of total seats are reserved for candidates from the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) of the General category.
- EWS candidates must provide a valid EWS certificate issued by the government to avail of this reservation.
F. Persons with Disabilities (PwD):
5% of total seats are reserved for Persons with Disabilities (PwD) across all categories.
PwD candidates are eligible for relaxation in eligibility and examination marks.
The PwD category is further sub-divided into:
PwD-UR (Unreserved): Reserved for PwD candidates from the general category.
PwD-OBC: Reserved for PwD candidates from the OBC category.
PwD-SC: Reserved for PwD candidates from the SC category.
PwD-ST: Reserved for PwD candidates from the ST category.
PwD candidates must meet the medical standards set by AIIMS and have the required certification from a Medical Board to verify their disability.
2. Horizontal and Vertical Reservation
The AIIMS reservation policy includes two types of reservation:
A. Vertical Reservation:
- This applies to the SC, ST, OBC, and EWS categories, where the seats are allocated vertically based on the category (e.g., 15% of seats for SC candidates, 7.5% for ST candidates, 27% for OBC candidates, and 10% for EWS candidates).
B. Horizontal Reservation:
Horizontal Reservation is applied within each category to allow a certain percentage of seats for Persons with Disabilities (PwD). These 5% seats are distributed among all categories (General, OBC, SC, and ST) on a horizontal basis, meaning that the PwD candidates within each category get 5% of the reserved seats.
For example, out of the 100 seats at an AIIMS institution:
- 5 seats (5%) will be allocated for PwD candidates.
- These 5 PwD seats will be divided across SC, ST, OBC, and General categories.
3. Application of Reservation in Counseling
- Reservation applies at each stage of the admission process, including the counseling process for AIIMS MBBS and other programs.
- During counseling, separate merit lists are prepared for each category (General, OBC, SC, ST, and PwD), and seats are allocated based on the candidate's rank within their category.
- For example, an OBC candidate will be considered for seat allocation in the OBC category's merit list, and only after the OBC candidates have been allocated seats will they be considered in the General merit list if they have not secured a seat in the OBC category.
4. Validity of Caste Certificates and Other Documents
Caste Certificates: Candidates applying under the SC, ST, or OBC categories need to submit valid caste certificates from the competent authorities. The certificates should be issued by the relevant government authority and must meet the guidelines set by AIIMS and the Government of India.
EWS Certificates: Candidates applying under the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) category must submit an EWS certificate issued by the relevant government authorities.
PwD Certificates: Candidates applying under the Persons with Disabilities (PwD) category need to submit a medical certificate issued by a government medical board to verify their disability.
Revalidation of Certificates: AIIMS may require candidates to present recently issued certificates, as outdated documents may not be accepted during the counseling process.
5. Important Notes Regarding AIIMS Reservation Policy
OBC Creamy Layer Exclusion: The OBC creamy layer is excluded from the OBC reservation. Candidates in the creamy layer of the OBC category (i.e., those whose family income exceeds the prescribed limit) are not eligible for OBC reservation and must apply under the General category.
No Reservation in AIIMS Delhi: While the reservation policy applies to all AIIMS campuses, AIIMS Delhi typically sees a significant portion of General category applicants due to its high prestige and the lower availability of seats compared to other AIIMS campuses. However, even in AIIMS Delhi, the standard reservation rules for SC, ST, OBC, EWS, and PwD categories are strictly followed.
Intra-Category Reservation: Within the reserved categories (SC, ST, OBC, EWS), AIIMS follows intra-category reservation, which means that PwD candidates are considered from within their respective categories. For example, a PwD-Sc candidate would be eligible for seats under the SC-PwD category.
Conclusion
AIIMS follows a comprehensive reservation policy to ensure that different socio-economic groups are given equal opportunities in accessing medical education. The key points regarding the reservation policy in AIIMS admissions are as follows:
- 50% of seats are for General (Unreserved) category.
- 27% of seats are reserved for OBC (Non-Creamy Layer).
- 15% of seats are reserved for SC candidates.
- 7.5% of seats are reserved for ST candidates.
- 10% of seats are reserved for EWS candidates.
- 5% of seats are reserved for Persons with Disabilities (PwD), with horizontal reservation across categories.
- Horizontal reservation applies to PwD candidates within each category (General, OBC, SC, and ST).
The reservation policy ensures fair access to medical education for candidates from diverse backgrounds, promoting social equity in the education system. Candidates must carefully verify their eligibility under the reserved categories and submit the required certificates during the application process.