Intern doctors across Madhya Pradesh are protesting for a stipend hike, affecting outpatient services in government hospitals. Patients, especially those requiring specialised treatment, are facing difficulties.

The strike by intern doctors in Madhya Pradesh entered its third day on Wednesday, with protests over a demand for a stipend increase affecting healthcare services in several government hospitals across the state.The biggest demonstration is being held near Kamla Park in Bhopal, where a large number of intern doctors are sitting on the road as part of their protest. The agitation has also affected traffic movement in the area, with authorities making temporary arrangements to manage congestion.

OPD services affected at Hamidia Hospital

The impact of the strike was visible at Hamidia Hospital in Bhopal, one of the state’s largest government medical facilities.According to the report, the hospital’s outpatient department (OPD) functioned only for a limited period on Wednesday morning. From 10 am to 12 noon, senior doctors attended to patients, after which OPD services were stopped.

The number of surgeries also declined significantly. The hospital reportedly conducted only two surgeries on Wednesday, compared with more than 20 procedures on regular days.Patients suffering from kidney and liver-related ailments were among those facing difficulties due to reduced services.

Doctors continue protest over stipend demand

Intern doctors have maintained that their protest will continue until their demand for a stipend hike is addressed.Intern doctor Saurabh Soni said the agitation would continue until their demand was fulfilled. Another protesting doctor, Dr Shalini Khanna, said doctors were facing difficulties due to heat and outdoor conditions but were receiving support from fellow doctors and local residents.According to the protesting doctors, food and other basic support are being arranged by senior doctors, colleagues and people from Bhopal.

Administration holds talks

Police and administrative officials are in talks with the protesting doctors to minimise inconvenience to patients and maintain law and order.The government’s response and the outcome of discussions will determine the next course of action. Meanwhile, patients visiting government hospitals continue to face uncertainty over regular medical services.

Bhubaneswar: Poor and meritorious students from Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) communities in Odisha will not have to arrange admission fees upfront when joining government medical and engineering colleges, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has directed.Under the new arrangement, eligible students will be allowed to take admission without depositingadmission, tuition and other prescribed fees at the time of admission and for up to six months thereafter. The state government will issue detailed guidelines on the eligibility criteria and implementation process shortly.The decision is aimed at students who clear highly competitive entrance examinations but face difficulty arranging money immediately after securing a seat. The government said the gap between admission and the release of scholarship funds can create a financial hurdle for students from economically weaker families.

Why Odisha has taken the decision

According to the Chief Minister's Office, SC and ST students generally receive scholarships from both the Central and Odisha governments. However, scholarship processing and disbursement can take around three to four months after the required formalities are completed.The new system is intended to bridge that gap. Students can complete their admission first and pay the applicable fees after receiving their scholarship money, rather than arranging the entire amount immediately.This is particularly relevant for students entering professional courses such as medicine and engineering, where admission-related expenses can become an immediate financial burden for families with limited resources.

Fee payment will be deferred, not permanently waived

The announcement is important to understand correctly.The government has directed that eligible SC/ST students will not have to deposit the fees upfront and can defer payment for up to six months. Available information does not establish a blanket permanent waiver of all college fees. Students are expected to deposit the applicable admission and tuition fees after receiving their scholarship funds.The exact list of fees covered and the procedure students will need to follow will become clearer once the Odisha government issues its detailed guidelines.

Move follows reports of students struggling at admission

The decision comes after concerns over meritorious students being unable to immediately arrange admission money despite qualifying for professional coursesThe New Indian Express reported the case of 19-year-old Soumya Ranjan Sahu, from a financially disadvantaged family in Kendrapara district, who had struggled to arrange money for counselling and admission to the MBBS course at SCB Medical College in Cuttack. The report said Majhi took note of the issue before issuing the directive.The government now intends to ensure that a temporary shortage of funds does not prevent eligible students from taking up seats they have earned through competitive examinations.

What happens next?

The Odisha government will issue detailed guidelines specifying how the fee-deferment facility will work and which students will be covered.Until those guidelines are released, students and colleges will need to wait for clarity on the documentation, eligibility requirements and payment procedure.The immediate policy direction, however, is clear: eligible poor SC/ST students entering government medical and engineering colleges will get up to six months to arrange their applicable fees instead of having to pay them at admission.

The National Testing Agency (NTA) declared the NEET UG 2026 Result on July 16, bringing relief and anxiety to lakhs of medical aspirants. While candidates scoring above 600 marks are eyeing government medical colleges, those with 100 to 300 marks are exploring admission opportunities in private and deemed medical institutions. Admission at this score range largely depends on category, state quota, seat availability, counselling rounds, and institutional quotas.

Candidates with lower NEET scores may still secure admission through NRI quota or deemed university paid seats in select medical colleges. Previous year's counselling data indicates that several institutions admitted candidates with ranks corresponding to the 100–300 score range.

Some of the prominent colleges include:

• Symbiosis Medical College for Women, Pune
• Santosh Medical College & Hospital, Ghaziabad
• Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Kochi
• Bharati Vidyapeeth Medical College, Pune
• RajaRajeswari Medical College, Bengaluru
• JLN Medical College, Wardha
• Sri Ramachandra Medical College, Chennai
• Dr. D.Y. Patil Medical College, Navi Mumbai
• Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhubaneswar
• JSS Medical College, Mysuru

Previous Year's Cutoff Trend

According to the previous year's counselling data, admissions under the NRI quota in several deemed universities closed at All India Ranks ranging from around 7.9 lakh to 10.9 lakh. Similarly, deemed university paid seats recorded closing ranks between approximately 4.4 lakh and over 7.3 lakh, depending on the institution and counselling round.

These figures are only indicative, and the 2026 closing ranks may vary based on the number of applicants, seat matrix, reservation policy, and counselling outcomes.

Factors Affecting Admission

Admission with a NEET score between 100 and 300 depends on several factors, including:

• Category (General, OBC, SC, ST, EWS)
• State or All India Quota
• Deemed University or Private College quota
• NRI quota availability
• Number of counselling rounds
• Seat vacancy after mop-up rounds

Candidates are advised to participate in all counselling rounds, including stray vacancy rounds, to maximize their chances of securing an MBBS seat.

Counselling Advice

Students should carefully evaluate tuition fees, hostel expenses, location, infrastructure, hospital facilities, and internship opportunities before locking their college choices. Using the official counselling portals and rank predictors can help candidates make informed decisions during choice filling.

The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) is expected to conduct NEET UG 2026 counselling in multiple phases, including Round 1, Round 2, the Mop-Up Round and the Stray Vacancy Round. While the detailed counselling schedule is awaited, officials have indicated that all announcements and notifications will be released through the official MCC portal.

The Stray Vacancy Round is conducted to fill seats that remain vacant after all regular counselling rounds are completed. These seats may arise because candidates fail to report, withdraw before the final deadline, or because some institutions continue to have unfilled vacancies after the Mop-Up Round.

Unlike the earlier rounds, the Stray Vacancy Round comes with stricter eligibility conditions. Candidates who have already joined a medical college through previous counselling rounds are generally not eligible to participate. The round is primarily meant for students who are still without an allotted seat and meet the eligibility criteria prescribed by the counselling authorities.

Candidates are advised to carefully read the counselling bulletin before registering because the rules governing participation, seat acceptance and reporting differ from earlier rounds. Missing deadlines or failing to comply with reporting requirements may result in the loss of the allotted seat, while applicable security deposit rules may also come into effect depending on the counselling authority's regulations.

The counselling process generally begins with online registration, followed by payment of the prescribed fee, choice filling, choice locking, seat allotment and physical reporting at the allotted institute. Once the Stray Vacancy Round concludes, the admission process for the academic session is considered complete and no further regular counselling rounds are conducted.

Medical education experts advise candidates to prepare all required documents well in advance. These typically include the NEET UG admit card, scorecard, counselling registration documents, identity proof, Class 10 and 12 certificates, category certificates wherever applicable, domicile documents, photographs and other certificates specified by the counselling authority. Any discrepancy during verification may affect admission.

Students should also remember that the Stray Vacancy Round usually offers limited choices because only the remaining vacant seats are available. As a result, flexibility while filling preferences can significantly improve the chances of securing a seat.

The National Medical Commission (NMC) and MCC have repeatedly emphasised that admissions must strictly follow the notified counselling schedule and approved guidelines. Candidates have been advised not to rely on unofficial information circulating on social media and instead monitor only official notifications for updates regarding counselling dates, eligibility and reporting instructions.

With NEET UG 2026 admissions entering their final stages in the coming weeks, the Stray Vacancy Round is expected to become a crucial opportunity for thousands of aspirants still hoping to secure admission into medical colleges across the country.