The Supreme Court of India has ruled that no MBBS degree from a foreign medical college will be considered valid unless the student has cleared the NEET-UG exam. This decision will have a far-reaching impact, particularly on medical aspirants from Kashmir, where students often seek medical education abroad due to limited seats and high competition in Indian medical colleges. For years, a significant number of Kashmiri students have pursued MBBS in countries like China, Russia, Bangladesh, and Central Asian nations. These destinations offer affordable medical education compared to private medical colleges in India, where fees are exorbitantly high. However, the Supreme Court’s ruling means that students who have not cleared NEET-UG will now find their foreign MBBS degrees invalid, leaving them in a precarious situation. Kashmir’s students already face immense challenges in appearing for competitive exams like NEET-UG. Other factors like the lack of coaching facilities in remote areas often make it difficult for many to prepare effectively. Consequently, some students opt to enroll in foreign medical colleges without taking NEET-UG, hoping to return and clear the Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE) to practice in India. The new ruling effectively shuts this door, leaving them without a viable career path in the country. Moreover, the lack of enough government medical seats in Kashmir forces thousands of aspirants to explore opportunities abroad. In 2023 alone, around 4,000 students from Kashmir reportedly pursued MBBS in foreign universities. With the new ruling, those who enrolled without NEET-UG are now left in limbo, facing uncertainty about their degrees’ validity and future employment prospects in the country. The long-term impact of this decision could also be detrimental to Kashmir’s healthcare sector. Many doctors who complete their education abroad return to serve in local hospitals and rural health centers, which are already grappling with staff shortages. With fewer students being able to pursue foreign medical education, Kashmir could face a more severe doctor shortage in the coming years, exacerbating the existing healthcare crisis. While the intent behind the Supreme Court’s ruling is to maintain educational standards, the government must also recognize the unique challenges faced by students from regions like Kashmir. Authorities should consider transitional measures, such as allowing students already studying abroad to complete their education without this retrospective condition. Additionally, increasing medical seats in Kashmir and improving local medical coaching facilities would provide students with better opportunities without forcing them to seek alternatives abroad. Without such interventions, this ruling could end up being a major setback for Kashmir’s aspiring doctors and its already fragile healthcare system.