On January 6, 2026, the National Medical Commission (NMC) withdrew the MBBS seat approval for Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence (SMVDIME) in Jammu. The decision impacts the 50 seats approved for the 2025-26 academic year. Officials cited "non-compliance of minimum standards" found during a surprise inspection as the reason. Last year, 42 Kashmiri Muslim candidates secured admission out of these seats. The NMC's Medical Assessment and Rating Board (MARB) also pulled the Letter of Permission (LoP) for running the course immediately. To protect current students, authorities in the Union Territory are asked to transfer them to other medical colleges with supernumerary seats, following applicable rules. This move followed weeks of protests led by Hindu groups in Jammu, backed by BJP leaders, opposing Muslim students studying at the college, which receives donations from Hindu pilgrims. BJP legislator R.S. Pathania welcomed the decision, stating, "The NMC has revoked permission for 50 MBBS seats at SMVDIME due to a failure to meet essential standards. It reaffirms commitment to quality. Every affected student will be seamlessly transferred to a supernumerary seat in other UT colleges." The Mata Vaishno Devi University was established in 1999, receiving government grants and 80 kanals of state land in Katra, Jammu. Contrasting the BJP's stance, former J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah criticized the withdrawal. He said, "Admission cannot be granted without merit. Introducing religion into admissions would violate constitutional provisions. Once religion becomes a factor in institutional decisions, it could influence other areas of governance. Can similar principles be followed in social welfare schemes or policing?" Abdullah also challenged the university to seek minority status and forgo government concessions. This development highlights ongoing tensions around admission policies, religious identity, and governance in Jammu and Kashmir.