India shuts Kashmir medical college – after Muslims earned most admissions

Al JazeeraCenterEN 7 min read 100% complete by Al Jazeera StaffJanuary 15, 2026 at 07:12 AM

AI Summary

long article 7 min

India shut down the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Medical Institute (SMVDMI) in Indian-administered Kashmir in January 2026 after protests by right-wing Hindu groups. The National Medical Commission revoked the college's recognition following the admission of a predominantly Muslim student body. Of the 50 students admitted to the MBBS program in November 2025, 42 were Muslim, seven were Hindu, and one was Sikh. The college, founded by a Hindu religious charity and partly government-funded, admitted its first MBBS batch through the National Entrance Examination Test (NEET). Hindu groups protested that Muslims were unfairly benefiting from an institution funded by Hindu charity.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Bangladesh 30% Saniya Jan ×230% Ministry of Education 40% National Testing Agency (NTA) ×240% Jammu ×250% National Entrance Examination Test (NEET) ×250% National Medical Commission (NMC) 60% Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Medical Institute (SMVDMI) ×260% Hindu ×570% Muslim ×470% Kashmir ×680% India ×690%

Keywords

medical college closure 90% india 80% kashmir 80% muslim students 80% hindu groups 70% admissions 60% medical education 60% neet 50% religious charity 50%