India, July 24 -- Students applying to private medical colleges for undergraduate admission are concerned at the introduction of reservations for the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) within the open category - a first.

While the move aligns with constitutional mandates and has already been implemented in government and aided institutions, there was no formal announcement for private medical colleges. Instead, the new quota - 10% of the seats in the open category - came to light when students and their parents noticed its mention in the admission brochure released by the Maharashtra Common Entrance Test (CET) cell.

They say the introduction of the quota without a corresponding increase in the total seat intake would reduce the number of...