The newly established Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence (SMVDIME) in Reasi, Jammu and Kashmir, has been sanctioned 50 MBBS seats, marking a significant milestone in the Union Territory’s healthcare and medical education landscape.

The institute, owned by the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB), will begin admitting its first batch of MBBS students for the academic session 2025–26.

Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Health Minister J P Nadda for approving the seats. “This decision not only fulfils SMVDSB’s vision to provide world-class medical education in J&K but also strengthens healthcare access and cultivates highly skilled medical professionals in underserved regions,” he said on X.

The proposal for the medical college was initially approved in principle during the shrine board’s 71st meeting on August 19, 2023, with plans to expand to a 100-seat institution in the long term.

“Our goal is to enable more MBBS aspirants to study within the UT. Increasing MBBS seats over the past few years ensures greater access to specialised healthcare and builds a stronger medical ecosystem,” Sinha added.

The college, which started its operations in November last year within the administrative block of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University at Kakryal, is affiliated with SMVD University. The Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Narayana Superspeciality Hospital will serve as the teaching hospital, providing hands-on training across 26 specialties.

“The academic session is set to commence as counselling is underway,” said Executive Director Dr Yaspaul Sharma. The institute is expected to be fully operational soon, equipped with all facilities to provide a modern medical education experience.