The National Medical Commission (NMC) has withdrawn the Letter of Permission (LoP) granted to the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence (SMVDIME) in Reasi, Jammu, to conduct an MBBS course for the academic session 2025-26. The decision, issued on January 6, 2026, and effective immediately, followed a surprise inspection by the NMC's Medical Assessment and Rating Board (MARB) on January 2, 2026. The inspection uncovered serious deficiencies in infrastructure, faculty strength, clinical material, and other essential minimum standards required for a medical college. The withdrawal has sparked a political row in Jammu and Kashmir. Former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah strongly criticized the decision and condemned those who celebrated it, stating that it was a "loss for Jammu" and blamed protesters for "destroying the future of students." Abdullah emphasized that the students had secured admissions based on merit and pledged that his government would ensure their accommodation in other government medical colleges within the Union Territory as supernumerary seats. He also questioned the university and its office-bearers for the college's failure to meet inspection standards. Conversely, BJP and Hindu groups, particularly the SMVD Sangharsh Samiti, celebrated the NMC's decision. These groups had been protesting against the admission of a majority of Muslim students (42 out of 50 in the inaugural batch) to the shrine board-run medical college, arguing for preference to Hindu students. They claimed the NMC's action was a direct result of their prolonged agitation. The People's Democratic Party (PDP) termed the development a "ruthless setback" for the Jammu region, accusing the BJP of communalizing the admissions issue. The 50 affected MBBS students from the 2025-26 batch are now slated to be transferred to other recognized government medical colleges in Jammu and Kashmir to continue their studies.