Protests erupt at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Medical College after 42 of 50 MBBS seats go to Kashmir-based Muslim students

Protests have erupted in Jammu following the admission of 42 out of 50 MBBS students from Kashmir's Muslim community to the newly established Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence (SMVDIME). The college, funded entirely by donations from Hindu pilgrims, has been accused of religious and regional imbalance in its inaugural batch for the 2025-26 academic year. Hindu organisations like the VHP and Bajrang Dal are demanding the immediate cancellation of the list and seeking a Hindu-specific reservation policy, similar to minority institutions. The controversy pits the merit-based NEET process against the strong religious and regional sentiments of the donor base. This development is crucial for future medical aspirants in Jammu and Kashmir.

A significant controversy has engulfed the newly inaugurated Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence (SMVDIME) in Katra, Jammu and Kashmir, following the release of its first MBBS batch admission list for the 2025-26 academic session. The college, an ambitious project funded entirely by the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB)—an institution sustained by the offerings of Hindu pilgrims—has seen 42 out of its 50 MBBS seats allotted to students predominantly from the Kashmir Valley's Muslim community. The stark ratio, which stands at approximately 84% for Muslim students compared to only 7 Hindu and 1 Sikh student, has triggered immediate and large-scale protests across the Jammu region. The core of the agitation, which began around the second week of October 2025, rests on the argument that an institution established through Hindu donations must reflect the demographic and religious sentiments of its primary donor base and the local community. This unprecedented situation puts the national mandate of merit-based NEET admissions directly at odds with regional and religious expectations, posing a major challenge to the college management and the Union Territory's administration.

​The Spark: Details of the Admission Controversy

​The protests stem from the seat allocation figures for the inaugural MBBS batch at the SMVDIME, a college intended to boost medical education and healthcare infrastructure in the region. Medical aspirants and stakeholders must understand the exact context of the contentious list.

• ​The Disproportionate Allocation:
  • ​Out of the total 50 MBBS seats for the 2025-26 batch, the admission list released by the J&K Board of Professional Entrance Examinations (JKBOPEE) showed a significant skew towards one community.
  • ​42 candidates (approx. 84%) were Muslim students, largely hailing from the Kashmir region.
  • ​Only 7 seats were allotted to Hindu students and 1 seat to a Sikh student.
• ​The Funding Argument: The most vocal point of contention raised by the protesting groups, including the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and the Bajrang Dal, is the college’s source of funding. SMVDIME is run by the Shrine Board and is financed solely by the donations and offerings made by Hindu devotees visiting the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine from across India.
• ​Regional Imbalance Allegations: While the official criteria is NEET merit under the J&K domicile quota (85% of total seats), protestors allege a systematic regional imbalance, claiming the process disproportionately favoured high-scoring candidates from the Kashmir Valley over those from the Jammu region.

​Demands and Legal/Policy Conflict for Aspirants

​The intense protests have culminated in specific, non-negotiable demands from various political, religious, and social organisations. These demands bring into sharp focus the existing legal framework for medical admissions, which is critical for future aspirants to track.

• ​Key Demands of Protesting Groups:
  • ​Immediate Scrapping of the Admission List: The protestors demand that the first batch admission list be immediately revoked and a new counselling process initiated.
  • ​Reservation for Hindu Community: They are strongly pushing for the adoption of a specific Hindu reservation policy at SMVDIME, arguing that since the college is sustained by the community, it should be granted a minority institution status for Hindus in J&K, similar to the reservation policies at institutions like Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) or Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University (BGSBU). Some groups are demanding up to 90% reservation for Hindus.
  • ​Intervention by the Shrine Board: Given that the Lieutenant Governor, as Chairman of the Shrine Board, oversees the college, there is an urgent call for the SMVDSB to step in and correct the perceived "religious imbalance."
• ​The Legal and Regulatory Hurdle (NMC Guidelines): 
  • ​For medical aspirants, the current rules are crucial: Admissions to all medical colleges in the UT are strictly governed by NEET-UG merit and the specific reservation policy for SC, ST, and other categories as laid down by the J&K government and National Medical Commission (NMC).
  • ​There is no provision under current national or UT guidelines for reservation based purely on religion in a non-minority educational institution. The institute's management has affirmed that the admissions followed the rules set by the NMC and JKBOPEE.
  • ​The controversy highlights the tension between the all-India, merit-centric admission process and local, community-driven demands.

​ Implications for Future MBBS Admissions in J&K

​This ongoing controversy carries significant implications, particularly for MBBS aspirants targeting state quota seats in Jammu and Kashmir. The outcome of the protests will potentially shape future policies.

• ​Potential Policy Review: The intense political and social pressure may force the SMVDSB and the UT administration to review its admission or staffing policies. While a religious quota is legally challenging, the Shrine Board might explore legal avenues to grant the institution a minority institution status, though this would have to be for a nationally recognised minority or be constitutionally upheld.
• ​Shift in Regional Competition Dynamics: The high number of successful candidates from the Kashmir region, driven by higher NEET scores, suggests that Jammu-based aspirants face severe competition within the domicile quota pool. This situation reinforces the necessity for high academic performance in the NEET-UG examination.
• ​Importance of Merit vs. Regional Balance: For aspirants, the key takeaway is that the admission list strictly followed the merit principle based on NEET scores among J&K domiciled candidates. However, the political fallout could lead to a demand for greater geographical balance in seat distribution across the UT's two divisions—Jammu and Kashmir—to address regional disparities, separate from the religious angle. Any such policy change would be a major update for all future NEET candidates in the region.

​Conclusion

​The protests at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence represent a critical juncture in medical education in Jammu and Kashmir, pitting the established principle of NEET merit against powerful regional and religious sentiments. Datelined October 16, 2025, the situation remains volatile, with Hindu organisations demanding radical policy changes, including reservation, and the college administration upholding the process mandated by national bodies. For medical aspirants, the controversy underscores the rigorous competition for state-quota MBBS seats and highlights the political sensitivity surrounding educational equity and access in the Union Territory. The administration's final resolution will be a landmark decision, either solidifying the strictly merit-based approach or introducing new policy considerations to address regional and community-based concerns.

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