Srinagar, Oct 21 (KNO): The Jammu and Kashmir government on Wednesday approved a substantial increase in the monthly stipend of MBBS and BDS interns, including Foreign Medical Graduates (FMGs), raising it from Rs 12,300 to Rs 25,000, following days of protests and an indefinite strike by medical interns across the Union Territory.
The Health and Medical Education Department issued a formal order sanctioning the enhancement, bringing an end to the uncertainty surrounding the long-pending demand.
According to the order, accessed by the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the revised stipend will be applicable with effect from October 1, 2026.
The increase of Rs 12,700 per month more than doubles the existing remuneration of interns and is expected to provide financial relief to hundreds of medical graduates undergoing compulsory rotating internships at Government Medical Colleges and other designated healthcare institutions across Jammu and Kashmir.
Following the government's decision, the All India Medical Students' Association (AIMSA) announced the withdrawal of the ongoing strike, saying the formal issuance of the order had fulfilled the principal demand that prompted the agitation. However, the association said it would now shift its focus towards the demand for a stipend hike for postgraduate resident doctors pursuing MD, MS, MDS and DNB courses in Jammu and Kashmir.
The stipend enhancement comes after a prolonged campaign by MBBS and BDS interns, who had been pressing the government to revise their monthly remuneration in view of their clinical responsibilities, working hours and financial challenges. The demand gained momentum after the government provided a written assurance regarding the proposed hike. However, the interns alleged that the promised timeframe had expired without the issuance of a formal order, prompting widespread resentment among the medical fraternity.
The issuance of the order on Wednesday has now provided a breakthrough, with the enhanced stipend of Rs 25,000 becoming applicable from October 1, 2026. Following the decision, AIMSA announced that MBBS and BDS interns across Jammu and Kashmir would call off their strike, saying the decision followed the formal issuance of the government order, which addressed the principal demand behind the protests.
AIMSA expressed gratitude to the government, administrative officials, political representatives and other supporters who backed the interns during their campaign, maintaining that the outcome demonstrated the importance of collective efforts and sustained engagement with the authorities.
While welcoming the decision on internship stipends, AIMSA said its next priority would be the demand for an enhancement in the monthly stipend of postgraduate resident doctors pursuing MD, MS, MDS and DNB courses in Jammu and Kashmir. The association said it would now take up the concerns of postgraduate medical residents, who form an essential part of the healthcare workforce and contribute to patient care while undergoing specialised medical training.
J&K intern doctors also expressed gratitude to political representatives from both ruling and opposition parties, bureaucrats and other individuals who supported their demand, acknowledging the support extended by leaders including Aga Ruhullah, Waheed Para, Sajid Yousuf Shah, Nasir Sogami, Altaf Bukhari and Sunil Sharma, among others.
Dr Mohammad Momin Khan, President of AIMSA J&K, said the achievement belonged to all medical interns who remained united and continued to raise their voices for the fulfilment of their demand. He also acknowledged the contribution of AIMSA representatives who played an important role in mobilising interns, coordinating the agitation and pursuing the matter with the concerned authorities—(KNO)