ESIC Opens Applications for MBBS, BDS and B.Sc Nursing Admissions Under Ward of Insured Person Quota for 2026-27

New Delhi, June 5: 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 under the Ward of Insured Person (IP) quota for the academic session 2026-27.

The initiative is aimed at providing affordable professional education opportunities to the dependent children of workers covered under the Employees’ State Insurance (ESI) Scheme.

According to ESIC, a total of 783 seats have been provisionally earmarked under the Ward of IP quota, including 695 MBBS seats, 28 BDS seats and 60 B.Sc Nursing seats across 22 medical, dental and nursing institutions nationwide.

Admissions will be conducted through the centralized counselling process managed by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

Affordable Medical Education for Workers’ Families

Under the scheme, eligible students can pursue professional courses at highly subsidized fees. Students admitted under the quota will pay only:

• ₹24,000 per year for MBBS and BDS courses
• ₹10,000 per year for B.Sc Nursing courses

ESIC has clarified that no capitation fee or donation is allowed for admission under this category.

Eligibility Criteria

To qualify for the Ward of IP quota:

• The parent must be a registered Insured Person under the ESI Act.
• The parent should have been an active contributor to the ESI Scheme as of September 30, 2025.
• The applicant must be a dependent child of the insured person.
• Candidates must have appeared in NEET (UG) 2026.
• They must satisfy all eligibility conditions prescribed by relevant regulatory bodies.

Male candidates should not be above 21 years of age as on March 8, 2026. However, the age restriction does not apply to dependent unmarried female wards under provisions of the ESI Act.

Application Process

Candidates must first obtain a valid Ward of IP Certificate from ESIC, which is mandatory for admission under the quota.

The certificate application process is completely online through the ESIC portal. Applicants need to upload required documents, including:

• NEET (UG) 2026 Admit Card
• Proof of age
• Photograph
• Other relevant certificates, if applicable

ESIC has advised applicants to ensure that the mobile number of the insured person is correctly updated in ESIC records, as OTP verification is required during the application process.

Important Deadline

The last date for submitting online applications for the Ward of IP Certificate is June 21, 2026.

After obtaining the certificate, candidates must separately register on the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) portal to participate in the centralized counselling process.

ESIC Appeals for Wider Awareness

ESIC has urged employers, hospitals, regional offices and state authorities to spread awareness about the scheme among eligible beneficiaries. Employers have been requested to display admission notices at workplaces and assist employees in updating their records where necessary.

The corporation stated that the initiative reflects its continued commitment to social security, educational empowerment and the socio-economic advancement of workers’ families across India.