NEET in J&K: When access falls short

The steady outflow of Kashmiri students to countries like Iran, Russia and Central Asia for medical education is not incidental. It reflects a gap between demand and available seats in India, particularly in Jammu and Kashmir. What appears as international mobility is, in most cases, a response to limited domestic options.

Jammu and Kashmir currently has around 11 government medical colleges with roughly 1,300–1,500 MBBS seats depending on yearly approvals and expansions. Even after recent increases, such as 190 additional MBBS seats approved in 2025, which increased the total MBBS intake in Government Medical Colleges of J&K from 1,185 to 1,375 seats, the system remains constrained. By comparison, nearly 49,000 students appeared for NEET from J&K in 2025 alone, while more than 50,000 have applicants, translating to a government seat conversion rate of barely 3%.

This imbalance is structural. Even if one considers total seats (government + private), the number reaches only about 1,400–1,500, placing J&K in a mid-tier nationally but far behind larger states with far greater capacity. The consequence is a large pool of qualified but unplaced aspirants.

NEET qualification itself is not the main bottleneck. Cut-off trends show that candidates with scores around 500+ still struggle to secure seats in open merit categories, especially in top institutions like GMC Srinagar or AIIMS Jammu. This creates a category of students who qualify but do not get admission, and many of them look abroad.

Private options offer little relief. Jammu and Kashmir has only one functioning private medical college, ASCOMS with about 100 seats, and fees are significantly higher than government institutions. For most middle-class families, this route is not feasible. In comparison, countries like Iran, Russia, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan offer MBBS-equivalent degrees at lower overall costs, often with simpler admission processes.

Recent regulatory developments have added to the uncertainty. In January 2026, the National Medical Commission revoked permission for the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence in Jammu to continue its MBBS programme, for what they stated to be non-compliance with minimum standards. The institute had an intake of 50 students, who were later adjusted in government colleges. While small in number, the case raised concerns about stability within the local system.

For many Kashmiri students, clearing NEET is only the first step. The main issue is securing a seat. This has created a steady pipeline of students to foreign universities, particularly in West Asia and Central Asia. Iran has been one such destination due to relatively lower fees and easier entry compared to Indian private colleges.

However, studying abroad comes with another requirement. Students trained outside India must clear the Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE), conducted by the National Board of Examinations, to practice in India. Pass rates have remained low, often between 10% and 25% depending on the session. This means a large number of students are unable to practice immediately after completing their degrees.

The proposed National Exit Test (NExT), which is expected to replace FMGE, will apply to both Indian and foreign graduates. Its rollout is still evolving, and students currently studying abroad face uncertainty about the exam structure and transition.

Recent geopolitical events have highlighted the risks of this pathway. The evacuation of Indian students from Ukraine in 2022 and the current situation affecting students in Iran show how external events can interrupt education. As highlighted in our report, students face disruption, financial strain, and delays in completing their degrees. Many also face challenges when trying to reintegrate into the Indian system.

In Kashmir, this pattern is clear. A large number of students qualify for NEET each year, but only a small percentage secure seats. Those who do not get admission look for options outside the country. The presence of Kashmiri students in places like Iran is therefore not accidental. It is linked directly to limited capacity, high competition, and cost barriers within India. When crises affect these countries, the impact on these students is immediate.

This is not just a story about students leaving. It is about a system where demand continues to exceed supply. Until the gap between NEET aspirants and available seats reduces, the movement of students from Kashmir to foreign medical colleges will continue.

Published – March 31, 2026 04:20 pm IST