AIMSA Seeks Abolition of ‘Common Pool Quota’ and Rule 17 in J&K BOPEE Admissions
Srinagar: The All India Medical Students Association (AIMSA) has called on the Jammu and Kashmir Board of Professional Entrance Examinations (JKBOPEE) to abolish the ‘Common Pool Quota’ and Rule 17 from its admission framework, describing these provisions as discriminatory and inconsistent with national norms.
AIMSA Vice President Dr. Mohammad Momin Khan urged the board to take corrective action to bring J&K’s admission system in line with the rest of India. “We request JKBOPEE to abolish the Common Pool Quota and Rule 17—provisions that exist nowhere else in India. This is necessary for fairness, merit, and equal opportunity,” Dr. Khan said.
He added that the continued implementation of these rules undermines merit-based selection and deprives deserving students of rightful opportunities in medical and other professional courses. “Admissions must be based solely on national merit lists and the eligibility criteria prescribed by the National Medical Commission (NMC) and National Testing Agency (NTA),” he emphasized.
According to AIMSA, Rule 17 allows administrative discretion in allocating certain seats, reducing opportunities for open merit candidates and creating ambiguity in the admission process. Similarly, the Common Pool Quota pools seats across different regions or institutions, a system not practiced anywhere else in India.
Critics argue that both provisions distort the merit list and conflict with the transparent, merit-driven model mandated under the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) framework.
Dr. Khan said AIMSA has received several complaints from students across Jammu and Kashmir, reflecting growing dissatisfaction with the existing policy. “The goal should be a transparent, merit-based system that treats every candidate equally,” he said, urging JKBOPEE to align its regulations with NMC and Ministry of Education guidelines.
