Jammu, Oct 15: Jammu and Kashmir’s medical education sector has witnessed a significant boost, with MBBS seats increasing threefold from 500 in 2018 to 1,525 in 2025. However, despite this surge, gaps in infrastructure and faculty continue to constrain the full potential of the expansion.
In 2018, the Union Territory had only two government medical colleges GMC Jammu and GMC Srinagar alongside SKIMS Medical College and the private ASCOMS Jammu. The first major addition came in 2019 when the National Medical Commission (NMC) approved 100 seats each for GMC Anantnag and GMC Baramulla.
Over the following years, new government colleges and seats under the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) quota steadily increased MBBS intake. By 2024-25, J&K had around 1,185 seats, including 100 in ASCOMS.
In September 2025, the NMC sanctioned another 190 seats across GMC Baramulla, Doda, Kathua, Jammu, and Srinagar, raising the government’s total to 1,375. Additionally, the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence (SMVDIME) in Katra received 50 seats, bringing the private sector tally to 150.
Despite the progress, approvals fell short of the 450-seat expansion proposed by the Health and Medical Education Department. Officials cited pending infrastructure upgrades and faculty shortages as the primary reasons for the limited sanction but remain optimistic that the required standards will be met in the coming years.