16/01/2026
January 2026, the National Medical Commission (NMC) withdrew its permission for the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence (SMVDIME) in Jammu and Kashmir to operate its MBBS course.
Key Reasons for Closure
Regulatory Non-Compliance: The NMC's Medical Assessment and Rating Board (MARB) revoked the college's Letter of Permission (LoP) following a surprise inspection that revealed "serious lapses in minimum standards". These included major shortages of faculty and doctors, poor patient flow in the hospital, and inadequate overall facilities.
Political and Religious Controversy: The closure occurred amidst intense protests by groups in Jammu. These protests targeted the admission of the inaugural batch (2025–26), where 42 out of 50 students were from the Muslim community. Protesters argued that an institution funded by the Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board should primarily serve Hindu students.
Status of Students
Relocation: The NMC has ordered that all 50 affected MBBS students be transferred to other recognized government medical colleges within the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir to ensure their education is not disrupted.
Government Response: J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah directed the Health Minister to ensure these students are adjusted in colleges near their homes.
Impact on J&K Medical Education
The closure reduces the total number of medical colleges in Jammu and Kashmir from 13 to 12. Critics of the closure, including political leaders, have noted that the region lost a newly established institution due to a combination of regulatory deficiencies and communal polarization.
