Jammu, 22 January 2026- The Jammu and Kashmir Board of Professional Entrance Examinations (BOPEE) has announced a special counselling session to fill 50 MBBS seats after the controversial admissions at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence (SMVDIME) last year.
The step follows the withdrawal of the Letter of Permission (LoP) by the National Medical Commission (NMC), which had earlier allowed SMVDIME to admit 50 students for the 2025–26 MBBS batch. The withdrawal came due to non-compliance with minimum regulatory standards, leaving the admitted students in uncertainty.
BOPEE will conduct a physical counselling round on 24 January 2026, where the 50 students will be redistributed across government medical colleges in Jammu and Kashmir through newly created supernumerary seats. Allocation will be based on NEET-UG merit and candidate preferences, ensuring a fair and transparent process.
The distribution of the 50 supernumerary MBBS seats is as follows:
- GMC Anantnag – 8 seats
- GMC Baramulla, Doda, Handwara, Kathua, Rajouri, Udhampur – 7 seats each
Candidates are required to report to the BOPEE offices in Jammu or Srinagar on the counselling day with original documents, including NEET scorecards, domicile certificates, and other relevant certificates. Registration will start at 10:00 AM.
The controversy began when the initial admissions at SMVDIME drew criticism over the religious composition of the batch, with 42 out of 50 students being Muslims and only eight from other communities. This sparked debates and protests, with calls for seat reservation for Hindu students.
BOPEE earlier stated that it cannot conduct fresh counselling beyond the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) schedule, and the creation of supernumerary seats would require coordination with the UT government and NMC. The government has assured that the education of affected students will not be disrupted and will be facilitated through this special counselling.
This move by BOPEE aims to resolve the admission impasse and ensure that students secure placements in medical colleges without further delay.
