Ministry of Education Clarifies Legality of MBBS Scholarship for Gen-Z Movement Protester

Kathmandu. The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology has clarified that providing a free MBBS study opportunity to Ekata Shah, who was injured during the Gen-Z movement, is not in violation of any laws or regulations.

While medical education scholarships are typically distributed based on merit and legal criteria under the Medical Education Commission, protests arose over claims that Shah was granted a quota against regulations after the selection process for MBBS seats had already concluded. The Ministry issued a press release today acknowledging the reports.

In the statement, the Ministry clarified that the scholarship was not taken from the free scholarship quota mandated by the National Medical Education Act, 2075, but was instead provided as an additional special scholarship quota for which the government has managed the budget.

According to the Ministry, this government decision does not restrict or hinder the opportunities available to others under existing laws. The statement notes that the decision was made in accordance with Section 11 of the Procedure for Providing Relief and Assistance to Injured and Disabled Persons during the Gen-Z Movement, 2082, following a request from the Medical Education Commission and a proposal from the Ministry.

Shah passed the MBBS entrance examination conducted by the Medical Education Commission for the academic year 2082/83 with 57.5 percent marks. The Council of Ministers meeting held on Chaitra 1 decided to allow her to study MBBS under an additional scholarship quota.