The uncertainty surrounding the future of 50 MBBS students from the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence (SMVDIME), Katra, has been resolved. The Jammu and Kashmir Board of Professional Entrance Examinations (JKBOPEE) has issued a fresh counselling schedule, enabling the students to continue their medical education without further delay.
This follows the National Medical Commission (NMC)’s earlier decision this month to withdraw the Letter of Permission (LoP) for the institute’s 50 MBBS seats for the 2025-26 academic session, due to non-compliance with essential standards. The move came amid protests in Jammu over the admission process and the composition of the inaugural batch.
— Office of Chief Minister, J&K (@CM_JnK) January 22, 2026
The NMC directed that the affected students be accommodated as supernumerary seats in other government medical colleges within the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
Initially, on January 21 or 22, 2026, JKBOPEE informed the Health and Medical Education Department that it lacked the authority to conduct fresh counselling beyond the schedule set by the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The Board noted that data for 1,410 MBBS candidates—including the 50 from SMVDIME—had already been updated on the MCC portal, with the joining deadline having passed on December 31, 2025. It emphasized that creating and allotting supernumerary seats fell outside its purview and required government-level action in consultation with the NMC and relevant colleges.
However, following directives from the Health and Medical Education Department (Communication No. ME/1/2026-02 (CC-7718124) dated January 21, 2026), JKBOPEE reversed its stance and announced a physical counselling round.
Counselling Details
The counselling will take place on January 24, 2026, starting at 10:00 AM, to allocate the 50 supernumerary seats strictly based on NEET-UG merit and candidates’ preferences. The seats are distributed across the following government medical colleges:
Government Medical College, Anantnag: 8 seats
Government Medical College, Baramulla: 7 seats
Government Medical College, Doda: 7 seats
Government Medical College, Handwara: 7 seats
Government Medical College, Kathua: 7 seats
Government Medical College, Rajouri: 7 seats
Government Medical College, Udhampur: 7 seats
This allocation affects students previously provisionally allotted seats at SMVDIME through JKBOPEE notifications dated October 25, November 18, and December 22, 2025.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah welcomed the development, stating that the government had taken necessary steps to address the students’ concerns.
“The Government has resolved the college allocation issue for selected MBBS candidates of SMVD College. With BOPEE now issuing the counselling schedule, students can move ahead with their studies,” he said.
The resolution ends weeks of uncertainty for the students and clears the path for them to resume their medical education in established government institutions across the UT.1.5sFast30 sources
