India Revokes Recognition of Medical College in Kashmir After Protests Over Student Admissions
India’s federal medical regulator has revoked the recognition of a newly opened medical college in Indian-administered Kashmir following protests by right-wing Hindu groups over the admission of a predominantly Muslim student cohort.
The National Medical Commission (NMC) announced on January 6 that it had withdrawn approval for the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Medical Institute (SMVDMI) in Reasi district, citing failure to meet minimum standards for medical education. The decision came weeks after demonstrations erupted over the religious composition of the college’s first batch of students.
Of the 50 students admitted to the five-year MBBS programme in November, 42 were Muslims, mostly from Kashmir, alongside seven Hindus and one Sikh. Admissions were conducted through the nationwide National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), a centralized, religion-neutral system used for all medical colleges in India.
Protesters argued that the college, founded by a Hindu religious trust and partly government-funded, should not admit a majority of Muslim students. Some BJP lawmakers petitioned the region’s lieutenant governor, calling for restrictions on admissions, and later demanded the college’s closure.
The NMC said inspections found deficiencies in faculty strength, hospital bed occupancy, patient flow, and infrastructure, prompting the withdrawal of both recognition and permission to operate. Students, however, disputed these claims, saying facilities were adequate.
Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said affected students would be accommodated in other medical colleges to ensure their education continues. The episode has raised concerns about political pressure, communal tensions, and the impact on merit-based education in the region.
