Relief for Medical Trainees

SRINAGAR — Ending weeks of mounting pressure and localized strikes, the Jammu and Kashmir administration has issued a formal order authorizing a substantial 103.25 per cent increase in the monthly stipend for medical interns across the Union Territory. The newly revised remuneration elevates the monthly payout from the previous Rs 12,300 to Rs 25,000.

According to the notification released by the Civil Secretariat, the updated financial structure applies universally to all MBBS and BDS interns, as well as Foreign Medical Graduates (FMGs) undergoing mandatory training programs within the region. The policy change is formally effective retroactively from October 1, 2026.

Addressing Long-Standing Grievances

The stipend hike comes on the heels of sustained representations and demonstrations by medical graduates who argued that the previous statutory allowance of Rs 12,300 was severely inadequate given the escalating cost of living and the grueling hours demanded by clinical rotations in major public healthcare institutions.

Senior health administrators noted that bringing the Union Territory's stipend structure closer to national benchmarks is vital for retaining young medical talent and ensuring uninterrupted healthcare services in regional medical colleges and associated hospitals.

Key Highlights of the Order:

* Revised Amount: Rs 25,000 per month (up from Rs 12,300). * Beneficiaries: MBBS interns, BDS interns, and Foreign Medical Graduates (FMGs). * Effective Date: October 1, 2026. * Jurisdiction: Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

Medical fraternity representatives have cautiously welcomed the administration's decision, emphasizing that timely disbursement of the revised stipends will be critical in resolving persistent administrative bottlenecks and maintaining industrial harmony within the healthcare sector.