The Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) has announced admissions for the 2026–27 academic session under its special Ward of Insured Person (IP) quota, giving children of insured workers a chance to study medicine, dentistry and nursing at highly subsidised fees.
A total of 783 seats have been reserved across 22 medical, dental, and nursing colleges in India. This includes 695 MBBS seats, 28 BDS seats, and 60 B.Sc. Nursing seats. Admissions will be handled through the centralised counselling process of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
The biggest benefit for families is the low tuition cost. Students admitted under this quota will pay only Rs 24,000 per year for MBBS and BDS courses, and Rs 10,000 per year for nursing courses. No donation or capitation fee is allowed, making professional education far more accessible for workers’ children.
To qualify, the parent must be a registered Insured Person under the ESI Act and an active contributor as of 30 September 2025. Applicants must be dependent children, have appeared for NEET (UG) 2026, and meet eligibility rules set by national medical, dental, and nursing authorities. Male candidates must be under 21 years of age as of 8 March 2026, while unmarried female dependents have no age limit.
Applications for the Ward of IP Certificate, which is mandatory for admission, must be submitted online by 21 June 2026. ESIC has asked employers and field offices to spread awareness and help workers’ families complete the process on time.