ESIC launches admissions for MBBS, BDS and B.Sc Nursing under Ward of IP quota — 783 seats announced for 2026-27

The Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC), under the Ministry of Labour and Employment, has invited applications for admission to MBBS, BDS and B.Sc Nursing courses for the academic session 2026-27 under the Ward of Insured Person (Ward of IP) quota.

The scheme is meant for children of workers covered under the Employees’ State Insurance (ESI) Scheme and aims to provide access to professional medical education at subsidised fees.

A total of 783 seats have been earmarked across 22 medical, dental and nursing institutions in India. This includes 695 MBBS seats, 28 BDS seats and 60 B.Sc Nursing seats. These seats are available in ESIC medical colleges and select state government institutions where seats have been reserved under the quota. Admissions will be conducted through the centralised counselling process of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).

Under this quota, students can pursue medical education at reduced cost. The annual tuition fee is fixed at Rs 24,000 for MBBS and BDS courses, while B.Sc Nursing candidates will pay Rs 10,000 per year.

How to apply for ESIC MBBS, BDS and B.Sc Nursing courses

To apply, the parent must be a registered Insured Person under the ESI Act and should have been an active contributor as on 30 September 2025. The applicant must be a dependent child who has appeared in NEET (UG) 2026 and must meet eligibility criteria set by the National Medical Commission, Dental Council of India, Indian Nursing Council, National Testing Agency and the Medical Counselling Committee.

As per rules, male candidates should not be above 21 years of age as on 8 March 2026. The age limit does not apply to dependent unmarried female wards of insured persons, as per provisions of the ESI Act, 1948.

Eligible candidates must obtain a Ward of IP Certificate issued by ESIC, which is mandatory for admission. The application process is completely online through the ESIC portal. Applicants need to upload documents such as photograph, age proof, NEET (UG) 2026 admit card and other required certificates.

The last date to apply for the Ward of IP Certificate is 21 June 2026. ESIC has advised applicants to ensure that the insured person’s mobile number is updated in its database, as OTP verification is required during the application process. After obtaining the certificate, candidates must register separately on the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) portal for counselling.

To apply, candidates can visit the official ESIC website at www.esic.gov.in and the MCC portal at www.mcc.nic.in.

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