Majority of first MBBS batch from Muslim community at shrine-funded institution; experts call for regulatory clarity and inclusive framework

Northlines Correspondent

Jammu Tawi, Nov 5: The release of the maiden MBBS admission list for the newly established Sri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence (SMVDIME) in Katra has sparked an intense public debate across Jammu and Kashmir. Questions are being raised over the selection process, the role of the J&K Board of Professional Entrance Examinations (JK BOPEE), and the religious composition of the inaugural batch at an institution funded entirely by the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) — a statutory Hindu religious body.

According to the J&K NEET-UG 2025 admission list issued by BOPEE, out of the 50 students selected

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