The Maharashtra cabinet on Monday took a series of decisions ahead of the state polls and the implementation of the model of conduct. It cleared 37 proposals that extended sops and welfare to voters cutting across classes. One of it aims at strengthening government health services. Students who pledge to serve the government at least for five years in rural areas would get a 10 per cent quota in the medical admissions at the degree level.

This means around 410 MBBS seats of the state would go to the students who swear on affidavit (write a bond) for five years of rural postings. In case of violation, the students would not get their degree, their registration/license will be scrapped and they will be tried for the offence which would attract a prison sentence of six months and a penalty of Rs 25,000.