The Best Medical Colleges in India
Looking to pursue a career as a medical professional? Are you on the hunt for the best medical colleges in India? You are at the perfect place.
For science-oriented minds who wish to have a career in public service, medicine has always been their top choice. With time, the medical field has undergone several layers of transformations and has turned out to be a great option for having a professional career.
With the continuously increasing list of diseases and illnesses, the demand for doctors has also been on a continuous rise across the globe. Yet, our country is still advancing on the lines of medical education with the foundation of medical colleges in India.
Contemporarily, specialised hospitals are also budding within the country and abroad as well which are creating well-furnished employment opportunities, which when paired with the reduced restrictions in economy give a scope of much better conditions for these professionals on the grounds of earnings, research and working provisions.
There are numerous medical colleges in India offering a wide range of courses, some of which are affiliated to state universities while others conduct their own entrance exams.
The below given list of the best medical colleges in India is based on a variety of factors, few of which are academics, fees, infrastructure, reputation, student care and placements.
With the limited seats in these top colleges and high competition, in today’s date it is a dream for many aspirants to get through these examinations and secure a seat in these institutes as a result of which most of them have to settle for private medical colleges, spread across the country.
Despite this, one should never stop dreaming as only those who dream can make the efforts to fulfill it.
The List →
All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi
Founded by Rajkumari Amrit Kaur, India’s first Health Minister, in 1956, AIIMS has been ranked no. 1 constantly over the years, by several organisations and publications. Given that the hospital treats over 3.5 million patients a year, the clinical exposure available to students is unrivalled.
Functioning directly under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the institute charges subsidised tuition fees and has recorded several achievements under its name.
Courses offered cover a wide range of variety including Bachelor of Surgery & Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Optometry, Master of Surgery (MD/MS) and some other streams as well like Anatomy, Biochemistry, Nursing, Nuclear Medicine Technology, etc.
Maulana Azad Medical College (MAMC), New Delhi
Established in 1958, the college is named after freedom fighter Maulana Azad and is a government medical college affiliated to the Delhi University. The institute accommodates some other institutes as well, including Maulana Institute of Dental Sciences, Guru Nanak Eye Centre, Lok Kalyan Hospital and GB Pant Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, which offers nursing and pharmacy degrees as well.
Students need to perform excellently in the NEET examination to secure their position in the MBBS degree of this institute.
Christian Medical College (CMC), Vellore
CMC was founded by Ida Scudder in 1900 and is amongst the few private colleges which have consistently maintained their position in the top 10. The institute is now more than a century old and is a Christian non-profit institution run by a council with members from churches across the nation.
The college offers specialised undergraduate courses along with others such as Bachelor in Prosthetic and Orthotics (BPO), Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (BOT), MBBS, Postgraduate and Diploma.
Notable contributions by the college to the field comprise of the performing world’s first reconstructive surgery for leprosy, establishing India’s first nursing home and carrying India’s first, that too successful, open heart surgery.
Kasturba Medical College (KMC), Manipal
Established in 1953 by Dr. T.M.A. Pai, KMC is the first self-financed private medical college in India.
It is affiliated with the Manipal Academy of Higher Education which is a deemed University. The courses offered at the institute include MBBS, M. Sc., MD, M.S., PhD, etc. The MBBS course in this college is acknowledged across the world and the admission to this institute takes place through the student’s score in MBBS NEET Entrance Examination.
King George’s Medical University (KGMU), Lucknow
The plan to build this college came into action when George V, then Prince of Wales, wished to celebrate his visit to India in 1905 but it became officially functioning only in 1912.
Formerly known as Chhatrapati Shahuji Maharaj Medical University, KGMU is one of the best medical colleges in India.
It started with just two departments and has expanded a great deal over a span of 100 years. Along with quality courses for both undergraduate and postgraduate, the institute is known for its good infrastructure and facilities.
Lady Hardinge Medical College (LHMC), New Delhi
Obvious by the name, LHMC was founded by Lady Hardinge in 1916 with an aim to inspire more women towards medicine. Hence, only women were eligible for post-graduate courses. It was only in 1970, when the entrance was opened for both men and women.
Affiliated with Delhi University, the institute has come a long way since its establishment. LHMC has one of the oldest medical libraries in India. For practicing, the college has two teaching hospitals: namely, Kalawati Saran Child Hospital and Smt. Sucheta Kriplani Hospital. The college is also a surveillance centre for HIV-AIDS.
Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC), Pune
Affiliated to Maharashtra University of Health and Sciences, AFMC was established in 1948 and is the first medical college initiated and managed by an Armed forces Unit in Asia. The college provides for a complete set of specialists and super specialist doctors in the Armed forces and is listed among the top medical colleges in India.
Admission to AFMC takes place through NEET Examination and the students are liable to serve the Indian Armed forces for a minimum of 7 years. Along with this, it is the only college across the country where the all the expenses of the student including uniform, books, tuition and accommodation, are borne by the Ministry of Defence. The institute offers various courses including MBBS, MD, MS, PhD and diploma.
University College of Medical Sciences (UCMS), New Delhi
Affiliated with the University of Delhi, UCMS was founded in 1971. Despite the existence of two major government medical colleges, namely LHMC and MAMC, the Health Ministry felt a need to increase the number of opportunities for medical aspirants. As a result, the college was established in the north campus of Delhi University and has come a long way since. Guru Teg Bahadur (GTB) Hospital serves as the teaching hospital for UCMS. The institute offers courses in MBBS, MD and MS and is part of the nationwide network of the National Brain Research Centre. Admission to UCM takes place through scores in NEET Exam.
Sri Ramachandra Medical College (SRMC), Chennai
One of the eminent medical colleges in south India, SRM College and Research Institute was established in 1985 and over the years it has made remarkable achievements. The medical college is affiliated with Sri Ramachandra University (deemed) and has an inter-institutional alliance with the Harvard Medical College. SRMC offers a range of courses including MBBS, MS and MD. Foundation of centre for advanced research on air quality, health and climate are few of its milestones.
The Institute of Medical Sciences (IMS-BHU), Varanasi
Founded in 1960 under the leadership of K.N. Udupa, the Institute of Medical Sciences (IMS-BHU) is one of the six institutes of the Banaras Hindu University in Varanasi. It is the medical school of the university and has 33 departments of modern medicine, including eleven departments of Ayurveda, four departments of dentistry, a school of nursing, and 10 departments of super-specialities. It has a large campus which contains the medical college, student and resident hostels, hospital, staff quarters, the BHU Vishwanathji temple, post office, and sporting grounds.
The IMS aims to impart high quality education in undergraduate and postgraduate medical and paramedical courses, offer outstanding patient care, and reach new heights of success in the field of medical research. Apart from academics, IMS also gives a lot of importance to extracurricular activities. It holds an inter-collegiate sports, cultural, and literary festival known as Elixir in mid-March every year.
Jawaharlal Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education & Research (JIPMER), Puducherry
JIPMER is one of the institutes of national importance under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. Founded in 1823, it has a campus spread out over 195 acres of land and presently has more than 300 faculty members, more than 700 resident physicians, and more than 800 administrative, nursing, and support staff. It admits 150 undergraduate students and 200 postgraduate students every year for admission in various medical, nursing, and paramedical courses.
JIPMER is also renowned for its outstanding research in medicine, medical health, and public health. It conducts various seminars, workshops, conferences, and training courses every year. The institute’s faculty, students, and residents consistently publish quality research papers in various journals of national and international fame, along with present research abstracts at both national and international conferences.
Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Aligarh
Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College is the constituent medical college of Aligarh Muslim University, which is situated in Aligarh (Uttar Pradesh). It was established in 1962, with an aim of imparting quality medical knowledge and dedicated training to enable students to meet various clinical, professional, and scientific challenges. It boasts of world-renowned faculty, medical education, patient care, and research facilities.
As of now, the college admits 150 MBBS and 146 postgraduate students in undergraduate and postgraduate programs in various specialties. Apart from this, it also offers paramedical courses and a diploma in nursing. It consists of three centers and 25 departments, along with one of the oldest institutes of ophthalmology in India. Each of these departments has renowned teaching faculties and is equipped with high-quality laboratories and departmental libraries. There are five state-of-the-art lecture theatres and a massive faculty library, which is spread over three floors and harbors over 55,000 books covering all medical subjects.
Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi
The Vardhman Mahavir Medical College (VMMC) was established in 2001 at the Safdarjung Hospital, which is one of the largest hospitals in India dating back to World War II. It is affiliated to the Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University. Within a few years of its inception, the college became one of the most coveted destinations for aspiring Indian medicos. It was ranked 8th among Indian medical colleges in 2020 by India Today.
Despite its modest infrastructural roots in parts of the Safdarjung Hospital, the VMMC has grown tremendously to become one of the most wholesome and reputed medical colleges in India. Today, it boasts of a sprawling campus with world-renowned medical faculties and a separate library building with a rich collection of medical books and journals. In 2004, it started its official annual literary, sports, and socio-cultural festival known as Nirvana.
Grant Government Medical College, Mumbai
The Grant Government Medical College was founded in 1845 and is one of the oldest South Asian medical institutions in existence. It is affiliated to the Maharashtra University of Health Sciences and has been regularly ranked among the top ten medical colleges in India. Its campus is the largest among all the medical colleges in Mumbai, spread out over 44 acres in the Byculla area of Southern Mumbai. It offers undergraduate courses (MBBS), postgraduate courses, super-speciality courses, and various other technical courses.
The college’s infrastructure includes well-equipped laboratories, hostels, lecture theatres, departmental museum, and a huge central library with over 45,000 medical text and reference books. There are also various sports and cultural activities organized by the college. The research society of the college sponsors various scientific conferences, symposia, and medical workshops. It awards postgraduate students for the best thesis and best research paper.
Seth GS Medical College & KEM Hospital, Mumbai
The Seth Gordhandas Sunderdas Medical College (GSMC) and the King Edward Memorial (KEM) Hospital are amongst the most renowned institutions in India dealing with medical education and patient care. Founded in 1926, it trains nearly 2,000 students in undergraduate, postgraduate, and super-speciality medical courses. It has around 390 staff physicians and 550 resident doctors with a 1,800 bedded hospital which treats about 1.8 million outpatients and 85,000 inpatients every year.
The GSMC and KEM have achieved some of the most important milestones in the medical history of India, including the first dedicated orthopaedic department in India, the first Indian hospital to perform heart transplant surgery in India, the first liver transplant in India (1968), the first documented test-tube baby in India, and much more. It is funded by the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai and is renowned for providing more or less free medical service to the underprivileged sections of the society.
Government Medical College and Hospital, Chandigarh
The Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Chandigarh was founded in 1991 with an intake of 50 students. Today, it admits 150 MBBS students every year and also offers postgraduate courses (MD/MS/M.Phil.) in various surgical and medical subjects. In 2019, Outlook India ranked it 17th among the medical colleges of India. It has a 36 acres campus with a dedicated college building and five blocks of hospital. It is affiliated to the Punjab University.
St. John’s Medical College, Bengaluru
St. John’s Medical College, founded in 1963, is a private religious minority medical college and hospital located in Bengaluru. Every year, it accepts 150 students for the undergraduate MBBS course and 100 postgraduate students (20 diploma and 80 MD) to various medical specialities. In 1994, it was renamed as St. John’s National Academy of Health Sciences, and includes the following institutes:
- St. John’s Medical College
- St. John’s Medical College Hospital
- St. John’s College of Nursing
- St. John’s Research Institute
- St. John’s Institute of Health Management and Paramedical Studies
Osmania Medical College, Hyderabad
Formerly known as the Hyderabad Medical School, the Osmania Medical College was founded in 1846 and is affiliated to the Kaloji Narayana Rao University of Health Sciences and the Osmania General Hospital. Notably, Dr. Rupa Bai Furdoonji – the world’s first female anaesthesiologist – graduated from this college in 1889.
Osmania Medical College was ranked 20th among the top medical colleges in India by India Today in 2020. According to the 2108 FSMB survey, it is the Indian school with the largest number of licensed physicians (2,159 physicians) in the United States. The college also hosts the OSMECON – a 3-day medical conference which witnesses the participation of almost 2,000 delegates from 17 states across India and five other countries as well.
Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata
The Calcutta Medical College, officially known as Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata, was established in 1835 by Lord William Bentinck. It holds the distinction of being the first institution to teach its courses in English, and the second oldest medical college to offer a degree in European medicine in Asia. The hospital associated with this college is the largest hospital in the state of West Bengal. It is affiliated to the West Bengal University of Medical Sciences, and offers three undergraduate degrees as of now. In 2019, it was ranked 19th among Indian medical colleges by Outlook India.
Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, Wardha
Founded in 1969 by Dr. Sushila Nayyar, the Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (MGIMS), Wardha is India’s first rural medical college. It is located in a small village known as Sevagram, about 8 kilometres away from the city of Wardha. The institute admits 100 students every year for its undergraduate MBBS course. It also offers postgraduate (MD/MS) degrees in most important disciplines of medical science, diploma courses in medicine and surgery, as well as various research programmes.
MGIMS is associated with the Kasturba Hospital, which was founded in 1944 by Sushila Nayar, the personal physician of Mahatma Gandhi himself. From a 770 bed hospital, it has grown into a teaching hospital with almost 1000 beds today and provides tertiary healthcare facilities to patients from rural areas. The institute is known for following Gandhian principles, including its strict vegetarianism policy and prohibition of alcohol in the campus.
It is no less than a blessing that India is equipped with such prestigious set of the best medical colleges where people from across the world come for their treatment and medications. In India, doctors are treated as gods by the patients, saving numerous lives on a daily basis.
With the increasing quality and number of colleges in medicine with a well-proven work record, we can confidently state that India has some world-class doctors who are consistently providing service to the community. The above list might not be an exhaustive set and if you think some prestigious name has been left out, do tell us in the comments.
Disclaimer: My content is reader-supported, meaning that if you click on some of the links in my posts and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. These affiliate links help me keep the content on gauravtiwari.org free and full of valuable insights. I only recommend products and services that I trust and believe will genuinely benefit you. Your support through these links is greatly appreciated—it helps me continue to create helpful content and resources for you. Thank you! ~ Gaurav Tiwari
