Representative image
NEW DELHI: National Medical Commission (NMC) has turned down a proposal from Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence (SMVDIME), Katra, seeking to place 100% of its 50 MBBS seats under the All-India Quota (AIQ) through the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC).An NMC official said the commission did not approve the request as it would go against policy. Such decisions require broader consultation with states and stakeholders, and existing regulations cannot be amended for a single institution. Under current rules, 85% of MBBS seats are reserved for the state quota and 15% for the All-India Quota. “This is not just about SMVDIME. Any change will have to be worked out with all states and stakeholders on board,” the official said.The proposal may be placed before the board for further deliberation if needed, but the commission has declined it for now.The SMVDIME proposal comes at a time when the institution has found itself at the centre of controversy. Several Hindu organisations, including Sanatan Dharam Sabha and Vishwa Hindu Parishad, have protested over 43 out of the first batch of 50 MBBS students reportedly being from a particular community. The groups hold that since the institute is funded by devotees of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi, it should attract students from across the country rather than just one community or region.”As of now, 100% of candidates are from the state,” an official confirmed, adding the college was seeking all-India quota allocation to widen the pool for intake of students.On Sept 8 last year, SMVDIME – located at the base camp of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi shrine – was sanctioned 50 MBBS seats, paving the way for admissions to its first batch in the 2025-26 academic session. The institute began functioning in Nov last year from the administrative block of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University.
