The 27 per cent quota for the Other Backward Classes will be implemented in Central government-run medical institutes over a period of two years, with 18 per cent seats reserved for students from backward castes, in this academic session.

The decision has been taken at a meeting of the heads of all institutes with Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Anbumani Ramadoss in New Delhi.

The institutes include the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, PGI, Chandigarh, JIPMER, Puducherry, Ram Manohar Lohia and Lady Hardinge Medical Colleges in Delhi, official sources said.

In view of the inadequate infrastructure available, the institutes have decided to implement only around 70 per cent of the total 27 per cent of the OBC quota from this year, they said.

Ramadoss directed all the institutes to submit their requirements to increase the infrastructure to the Expenditure Finance Committee by April 25.

The heads of the institutes said that within the next two years, the entire 27 per cent quota could be implemented.

The minister also asked the heads of the institutes to write letters to various universities to which they are affiliated to, seeking permission to increase the total number of seats,  in view of the implementation of the OBC quota.