SRINAGAR: Students and parents in Kashmir are calling for establishing a dedicated examination centre in the region for those appearing in the Medical Council of India (MCI) screening test. This exam, mandatory for medical graduates from foreign institutions, is a critical step for practising medicine or pursuing higher studies in India.
Currently, students from Kashmir are required to travel to centres in Samba, Noida, or Amritsar to take the exam. This incurs significant costs for airfare, hotel accommodation, and other logistics, while also adding to the stress of families already facing financial difficulties. Many parents have voiced concerns over the strain this places on their resources, particularly at a time when joblessness and economic uncertainty are prominent issues for the region’s youth.
Advocates for the new centre argue that establishing a facility in the Kashmir Valley would alleviate these hardships, reduce costs, and provide much-needed convenience for students and their families. Parents have emphasised the importance of supporting aspiring doctors, noting that a local centre would ease the journey for candidates and demonstrate a commitment to improving educational infrastructure in the region.
The demand is gaining momentum, with more voices joining the call for authorities to address this pressing issue and ensure equitable access to resources for medical graduates in Kashmir.
