The recent closure of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Medical Institute (SMVDMI) in Indian-administered Kashmir exposes a troubling intersection of communal bias, political influence, and institutional failure in India’s higher education system. Despite students gaining admission through India’s rigorous National Entrance Examination Test (NEET), the dominance of Muslim students in the college’s first MBBS batch triggered protests from right-wing Hindu groups, ultimately leading authorities to revoke the college’s recognition. This episode raises serious questions about the impartiality of regulatory bodies and the prioritisation of identity over merit in education.
Communal Pressure Overrides Merit
Of the 50 students admitted in November 2025, 42 were Muslims, reflecting Kashmir’s demographic composition and the students’ academic performance. The protests claimed that, because the college was partly funded by a Hindu temple trust, Muslim students had “no business” being admitted. This reasoning not only violates basic principles of fairness but sets a dangerous precedent in a country where access to education should be governed by merit, not religion. By acceding to these protests, the National Medical Commission (NMC) has effectively legitimised communal pressure over institutional standards, undermining confidence in the regulatory system.
Institutional Failures and Political Complicity
The NMC cited deficiencies in infrastructure and faculty as grounds for revocation, yet students, parents, and independent observers reported that the college was well-equipped and capable of running its medical programme. The sudden withdrawal of recognition, coinciding with political agitation led by local BJP legislators, suggests that administrative decisions were influenced by communal politics rather than objective assessment. When regulatory authorities capitulate to political pressure, the message to students and educators alike is clear: religion matters more than competence or academic achievement.
The Human Cost
The students of SMVDMI now face disrupted studies and uncertain futures. For students like Saniya Jan, who worked years to clear one of India’s most competitive exams, the closure represents a profound injustice. Families who invested time, money, and hope into securing higher education for their children now confront the arbitrary consequences of identity-based decision-making. This is not just an academic setback; it is a societal failure that undermines the principle of equal opportunity and damages the credibility of the education system.
Communalisation of Education
The controversy highlights the risk of communalising education in regions like Kashmir, where demographic composition is already politically sensitive. Indian-administered Kashmir has seen repeated attempts to reshape educational narratives through religious identity, threatening to institutionalise exclusion and erode meritocracy. While authorities have promised to relocate students to other colleges, the broader precedent is troubling: when communal sentiment trumps merit, education becomes a tool of division rather than empowerment.
A Call for Reform
India’s handling of the SMVDMI case underscores the urgent need for regulatory and political reform. Merit-based systems must be insulated from communal agitation, and authorities must ensure that decisions about academic institutions are grounded in transparent evaluation rather than religious or political pressure. Protecting students’ right to education, regardless of faith, is essential not only for fairness but also for the credibility of India’s higher education sector.
The closure of SMVDMI is more than a localized dispute; it is a stark reminder that when education is subordinated to identity politics, society pays a high price. Merit, fairness, and equal access must remain non-negotiable, or the very purpose of academic institutions risks being undermined.
India Shuts Medical College in Indian Illegal Occupied Jammu and Kashmir After Muslim Students Top Admissions
The recent closure of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Medical Institute (SMVDMI) in Indian-administered Kashmir exposes a troubling intersection of communal bias, political influence, and institutional failure in India’s higher education system. Despite students gaining admission through India’s rigorous National Entrance Examination Test (NEET), the dominance of Muslim students in the college’s first MBBS batch triggered protests from right-wing Hindu groups, ultimately leading authorities to revoke the college’s recognition. This episode raises serious questions about the impartiality of regulatory bodies and the prioritisation of identity over merit in education.
Communal Pressure Overrides Merit
Of the 50 students admitted in November 2025, 42 were Muslims, reflecting Kashmir’s demographic composition and the students’ academic performance. The protests claimed that, because the college was partly funded by a Hindu temple trust, Muslim students had “no business” being admitted. This reasoning not only violates basic principles of fairness but sets a dangerous precedent in a country where access to education should be governed by merit, not religion. By acceding to these protests, the National Medical Commission (NMC) has effectively legitimised communal pressure over institutional standards, undermining confidence in the regulatory system.
Institutional Failures and Political Complicity
The NMC cited deficiencies in infrastructure and faculty as grounds for revocation, yet students, parents, and independent observers reported that the college was well-equipped and capable of running its medical programme. The sudden withdrawal of recognition, coinciding with political agitation led by local BJP legislators, suggests that administrative decisions were influenced by communal politics rather than objective assessment. When regulatory authorities capitulate to political pressure, the message to students and educators alike is clear: religion matters more than competence or academic achievement.
The Human Cost
The students of SMVDMI now face disrupted studies and uncertain futures. For students like Saniya Jan, who worked years to clear one of India’s most competitive exams, the closure represents a profound injustice. Families who invested time, money, and hope into securing higher education for their children now confront the arbitrary consequences of identity-based decision-making. This is not just an academic setback; it is a societal failure that undermines the principle of equal opportunity and damages the credibility of the education system.
Communalisation of Education
The controversy highlights the risk of communalising education in regions like Kashmir, where demographic composition is already politically sensitive. Indian-administered Kashmir has seen repeated attempts to reshape educational narratives through religious identity, threatening to institutionalise exclusion and erode meritocracy. While authorities have promised to relocate students to other colleges, the broader precedent is troubling: when communal sentiment trumps merit, education becomes a tool of division rather than empowerment.
A Call for Reform
India’s handling of the SMVDMI case underscores the urgent need for regulatory and political reform. Merit-based systems must be insulated from communal agitation, and authorities must ensure that decisions about academic institutions are grounded in transparent evaluation rather than religious or political pressure. Protecting students’ right to education, regardless of faith, is essential not only for fairness but also for the credibility of India’s higher education sector.
The closure of SMVDMI is more than a localized dispute; it is a stark reminder that when education is subordinated to identity politics, society pays a high price. Merit, fairness, and equal access must remain non-negotiable, or the very purpose of academic institutions risks being undermined.
News Desk