NEW DELHI: The Consulate General of India released data showing a sharp rise in NRI certificates for medical admissions has sparked fraud concerns.
The data reveals that the number of NRI certificates issued for college admissions in India has doubled in just three years.
In 2021, the consulate issued 1,203 NRI certificates. This rose to 2,093 in 2022 and further increased to 2,394 in 2023. By 2024, the number had climbed to 2,878.
The surge is concerning. But an even bigger worry is forgery. Universities verifying NRI quota applications found nine fake certificates in 2023. In 2024, this jumped to 24 fake certificates.
Experts fear the actual number of fake certificates could be higher. Many may have gone undetected in previous years. The misuse of NRI certificates could be pushing deserving students out of medical colleges.
The NRI quota allows students with foreign residency to secure seats in Indian medical colleges. These seats are often available at higher fees. However, reports suggest fraudulent NRI certificates are being used to bypass merit-based admissions.
Dr. Lakshya Mittal, National President of the United Doctors Front, has demanded action. “This is a major scam in medical admissions,” Dr. Mittal said. “The Indian government must immediately initiate a high-level inquiry into all NRI certificates issued in recent years. The NMC, MEA, and PMO must ensure strict verification to prevent abuse of the system and protect the integrity of medical education.”
The scale of fraud remains unclear. Experts are calling for a nationwide audit of NRI admissions. They are also urging stricter measures to prevent manipulation.
Authorities, including the National Medical Commission (NMC), Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), and Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), are being urged to intervene.
This unfolding scam could become one of India’s biggest education frauds. Immediate government action and thorough investigation are needed to safeguard the system.
