Jammu and Kashmir doubles medical interns’ stipend to Rs 25,000

The Jammu and Kashmir government has officially increased the monthly stipend for MBBS and BDS interns, including foreign medical graduates (FMGs), from Rs 12,300 to Rs 25,000. The revised amount is effective retrospectively from October 1, 2026.

The decision follows a period of agitation and a hunger strike by medical interns who argued that their remuneration had remained unchanged since 2019 despite rising living costs. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah intervened to direct the Health and Medical Education Department to implement the enhancement immediately, leading the interns to call off their protest.

The stipend increase applies to all medical and dental interns across the Union Territory. These professionals provide essential services in emergency departments, outpatient departments, and operation theatres as part of their mandatory practical training.