Vaishno Devi medical college's proposal to shift MBBS seats to all-India quota rejected

The National Medical Commission (NMC) has declined a proposal from Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence (SMVDIME), Katra, which sought to place all 50 of its MBBS seats under the All-India Quota (AIQ) through the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC), according to a Times of India report.

Currently, 85% of MBBS seats are reserved for the state quota, while 15% are allocated to the All-India Quota. The NMC indicated that the proposal could be placed before the board for further deliberation in the future, but has been declined for now.

"This is not just about SMVDIME. Any change will have to be worked out with all states and stakeholders on board," an NMC official told TOI. The official added that the request was not approved as it would go against policy, noting that such decisions require broader consultation and existing regulations cannot be amended for a single institution.


The SMVDIME request comes amid controversy over the composition of its first batch of students. Several Hindu organisations, including the Sanatan Dharam Sabha and Vishwa Hindu Parishad, have raised concerns that 43 of the first 50 MBBS students reportedly belong to a single community.

The groups argue that since the institute is funded by devotees of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi, it should attract students from across India rather than predominantly one community or region.

"As of now, 100% of candidates are from the state," sn official told TOI, adding that the college was seeking AIQ allocation to widen the pool for student intake.

SMVDIME, located at the base of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi shrine, was sanctioned 50 MBBS seats on September 8 last year, enabling admissions for its first batch in the 2025-26 academic session. The institute started functioning in November last year from the administrative block of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University.

(With inputs from TOI)