J&K Medical Interns’ Stipend Doubled to Rs 25,000 From October 1
Image: Daily Excelsior
The Jammu and Kashmir government has raised the monthly stipend of MBBS and BDS interns from Rs 12,300 to Rs 25,000, with effect from 1 October 2026. The Health and Medical Education Department issued the order on Wednesday, 21 October, and the interns’ association, AIMSA, called off its strike once the written order arrived. The order covers interns across the Union Territory, including foreign medical graduates, according to The Tribune and Daily Excelsior.
Rs 12,700 More Every Month
Every MBBS and BDS intern in J&K now gets Rs 25,000 a month instead of Rs 12,300, an increase of Rs 12,700. Because the order is effective from 1 October, it applies to this month’s stipend. The order says “sanction is hereby accorded to the enhancement of the monthly stipend payable to MBBS/BDS interns”, as quoted by Daily Excelsior. The reports do not say how many interns are covered.
Seven Years Without a Revision
Interns began protesting in September, asking for Rs 30,000 a month. They said the stipend had stayed at Rs 12,300 for nearly seven years while their workload and living costs went up. The protest grew into a 48-hour hunger strike, which was suspended after a meeting with Health Minister Sakina Itoo and senior department officials. On 8 September the government asked the interns to end the strike and gave itself a month to address their demands.
The interns resumed the agitation on Tuesday, 20 October, saying the deadline had passed and the assurance was not met. They said they would continue until a formal order was issued. The order came a day later.
Next Demand: Postgraduate Residents
AIMSA J&K president Mohammad Momin Khan said the outcome was “a victory of unity, persistence, and collective effort.” The association now plans to press for a higher stipend for postgraduate residents in MD, MS, MDS and DNB courses in J&K, according to Kashmir Patriot. No date for that demand to be taken up has been announced.
More stories on governance and public services are in the Daily Updates section.
Source: Based on reporting by The Tribune, Daily Excelsior and Kashmir Patriot.
Image: Daily Excelsior.
