The National Medical Commission has officially rejected a proposal from a prominent medical institution in Jammu and Kashmir that sought to place all its MBBS seats under the national quota system, citing policy conflicts and the need for broader consensus.
Commission Upholds Existing Quota Policy
The Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence in Katra had requested permission to place 100% of its 50 MBBS seats under the All-India Quota through the Medical Counselling Committee. However, NMC officials confirmed the commission declined the request as it would violate current regulations that reserve 85% of seats for state candidates and only 15% for the national pool.
An NMC official explained that such decisions require extensive consultation with all states and stakeholders. "This is not just about SMVDIME. Any change will have to be worked out with all states and stakeholders on board," the official stated, emphasizing that existing regulations cannot be amended for a single institution.
Background of the Controversy
The proposal comes at a time when the institute faces scrutiny over the composition of its first batch of medical students. Reports indicate that 43 out of the inaugural batch of 50 MBBS students belong to a particular community, sparking protests from several Hindu organizations including Sanatan Dharam Sabha and Vishwa Hindu Parishad.
These groups argue that since the institute is funded by devotees of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi from across the country, it should attract students from diverse regions and communities rather than being dominated by candidates from a single background.
"As of now, 100% of candidates are from the state," an official confirmed, noting that the college sought all-India quota allocation specifically to broaden its student intake pool and enhance diversity.
Institutional Timeline and Future Prospects
The SMVDIME, located at the base camp of the famous Shri Mata Vaishno Devi shrine, received approval for its 50 MBBS seats on September 8 last year. This clearance paved the way for admissions to begin with the 2025-26 academic session marking the institution's inaugural batch.
The institute commenced operations in November last year, initially functioning from the administrative block of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University. While the NMC has declined the quota proposal for now, officials indicated that the matter could be placed before the board for further deliberation if necessary, keeping the door open for future discussions.
The decision highlights the challenges in balancing institutional autonomy with national education policies, particularly when addressing regional representation concerns in medical education.
