ESIC Invites Applications for Admission to MBBS, BDS and B.Sc. Nursing Courses under Ward of Insured Person Quota for Academic Session 2026-27

783 Seats Allocated Across 22 Medical Colleges Pan-India to Empower Children of ESI Covered Workers

Online Portal For Ward Of IP Certificate Closes on 21st June, 2026

The Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC), under the Ministry of Labour & Employment, Government of India, has invited applications for admission to undergraduate medical and nursing courses for the academic session 2026-27 under the Ward of Insured Person (Ward of IP) quota. The admission opportunity is available exclusively for the dependent children of workers covered under the Employees’ State Insurance (ESI) Scheme and reflects ESIC’s continued commitment towards extending meaningful social security and educational benefits to the families of insured workers across the country.

A total of 783 seats have been provisionally earmarked under the Ward of IP quota for the academic session 2026-27, comprising 695 MBBS seats, 28 BDS seats and 60 B.Sc. Nursing seats across 22 medical, dental and nursing institutions. These include ESIC Medical Colleges located in various States and select State Government Medical Colleges where seats have been reserved for eligible Wards of Insured Persons. The admissions will be conducted through the centralized counselling process administered by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

The Ward of IP quota is one of the flagship welfare initiatives of ESIC aimed at supporting the educational aspirations of workers’ families. The scheme enables eligible students to pursue professional medical and nursing education at highly subsidized tuition fees. Students admitted under the quota are required to pay an annual tuition fee of only ₹24,000 for MBBS and BDS courses and ₹10,000 for B.Sc. Nursing courses, making quality medical education accessible and affordable for beneficiaries of the ESI Scheme. No capitation fee or donation is permitted for admission under this quota.

To be eligible, the parent must be a registered Insured Person under the ESI Act and should have been an active contributor to the ESI Scheme as on 30 September 2025. The applicant must be a dependent child of the Insured Person, should have appeared in NEET (UG) 2026 and must satisfy the eligibility requirements prescribed by the National Medical Commission, Dental Council of India, Indian Nursing Council, National Testing Agency and Medical Counselling Committee. Male candidates should not be above 21 years of age as on 08 March 2026, while the age restriction is not applicable to dependent unmarried female Wards of Insured Persons in accordance with the provisions of the ESI Act, 1948.

Eligible candidates are required to obtain a valid Ward of IP Certificate issued by ESIC, which is mandatory for participation in the admission process. The entire application process for obtaining the certificate is online and can be completed through the ESIC portal. Applicants are required to submit the prescribed details and upload the necessary documents, including photographs, proof of age, NEET (UG) 2026 Admit Card and other relevant certificates, wherever applicable.

The last date for submission of online applications for the Ward of IP Certificate is 21 June 2026. Candidates are advised to ensure that the mobile number of the Insured Person is correctly updated in the ESIC database, as the application process involves OTP-based authentication. After obtaining the Ward of IP Certificate, candidates must separately register on the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) portal for participation in the centralized counselling process.

ESIC has appealed to all stakeholders, including employers, Insured Persons, Regional Offices, Branch Offices, hospitals and State ESI authorities, to actively disseminate information about the admission process among eligible beneficiaries. Employers covered under the ESI Scheme have been requested to inform their employees about this opportunity, display the admission notice prominently at workplaces and facilitate verification and updation of mobile numbers in ESIC records. Field offices have also been advised to organize awareness campaigns and provide assistance to applicants for timely submission and processing of applications.

The Employees’ State Insurance Corporation is one of the largest social security organizations in the world and provides a comprehensive package of social security benefits, including medical care, sickness benefit, maternity benefit, disablement benefit and dependants’ benefit to workers and their families. Through initiatives such as the Ward of IP quota, ESIC continues to strengthen its commitment to the welfare, empowerment and socio-economic advancement of India’s workforce.

For detailed information regarding eligibility, application procedures and admission-related updates, candidates may visit the ESIC website at www.esic.gov.in and the Medical Counselling Committee portal at www.mcc.nic.in.