All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi

All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, remains the pinnacle of medical education and healthcare in India for 2026. Located in the heart of South Delhi at Ansari Nagar, it continues to set the benchmark for clinical care, research, and medical training.

• Establishment: 1956 (Autonomous Institute of National Importance)
• Location: South Delhi, well-connected by the AIIMS Metro Station (Yellow Line).
• NIRF Ranking 2026: Consistently ranked #1 in the Medical category.
• Campus Size: Over 100 acres across various specialized centers.
• Patient Load: One of the highest in the world, providing students with unparalleled clinical exposure.
• Regional Context: Proximity to Safdarjung Hospital and various research bodies in South Delhi fosters a unique academic ecosystem.

AIIMS New Delhi offers a range of undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral programs that are highly sought after by medical aspirants across the globe.

• MBBS: The flagship program known for its rigorous curriculum and clinical training.
• MD/MS: Postgraduate specializations in various clinical and non-clinical branches.
• DM/M.Ch: Super-specialty programs that are considered the gold standard in Indian medical education.
• B.Sc (Hons) Nursing: A premier nursing program with high employability in South Delhi's private healthcare hubs.
• Master of Biotechnology: A research-heavy program catering to the growing biotech sector in the NCR region.

Admission to AIIMS New Delhi is strictly merit-based through national-level entrance examinations.

Candidates must participate in the centralized counseling process conducted by the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) for MBBS and AIIMS Exams portal for PG courses.

Students consistently rate AIIMS New Delhi as a life-changing experience. Key highlights from reviews include:

• Clinical Exposure: Students mention that the volume and variety of cases seen here are unmatched anywhere else in India.
• Campus Life: Despite the academic pressure, the South Delhi location offers great recreational avenues, from Hauz Khas Village to various malls in Saket.
• Peer Group: Being surrounded by the top 0.01% of students in the country fosters a highly competitive yet collaborative environment.
• Hostels: Affordable and located within the campus, though some older blocks are noted for being crowded.

The cutoff for AIIMS New Delhi is the most competitive in India. For 2026, the expected closing ranks for the MBBS program are as follows:

• General Category: Top 50 - 100 AIR (All India Rank).
• OBC Category: Top 250 - 300 AIR.
• SC/ST Category: Top 1000 - 1200 AIR.
• EWS Category: Top 200 - 250 AIR.

Note: These are estimates based on previous trends and the high difficulty level of the NEET-UG examination.

AIIMS New Delhi continues to dominate national and international rankings in 2026.

• NIRF Medical (India): Rank 1
• India Today: Rank 1
• QS World University Rankings (Life Sciences & Medicine): Top 150 globally.
• Outlook ICARE: Rank 1 among medical institutes in India.

While AIIMS is not a traditional "placement" oriented institute, its graduates are the most sought-after medical professionals globally.

• Higher Studies: Over 90% of MBBS graduates secure seats in top-tier PG programs in India (AIIMS, PGI) or abroad (USMLE, PLAB).
• Residency Stipends: Junior Residents (PG students) receive a stipend of approximately INR 1,00,000 to 1,10,000 per month as per the 2025 pay scales.
• Global Demand: AIIMS alumni are heavily recruited by private hospital chains in South Delhi and Gurugram, such as Max Healthcare, Fortis, and Medanta, often starting at consultant-level roles after super-specialization.

Because the tuition fees at AIIMS New Delhi are nominal, formal scholarships are less common than in private colleges. However, the following supports are available:

• National Scholarship Portal (NSP): Students can apply for various Central Government scholarships for SC/ST/OBC and Minority students.
• Institute Stipends: All interns and residents receive a mandatory stipend which covers all living expenses.
• Merit Awards: Small cash prizes and medals are awarded to toppers in various subjects during the annual convocation.

The most popular courses at AIIMS New Delhi for 2026 include:

• MBBS: 5.5 years including internship.
• MD Radiodiagnosis: Extremely high demand due to technological advancements.
• M.Ch Neurosurgery: A prestigious 6-year direct course after MBBS.
• DM Cardiology: Known for its high-volume cardiac center.
• B.Sc (Hons) Nursing: Renowned for clinical excellence.

AIIMS New Delhi is famous for its heavily subsidized fee structure, making world-class education accessible to all.

The fees include tuition, hostel, and laboratory charges, making it the most affordable premier medical college in the world.

Comparing AIIMS New Delhi with other top medical colleges:

• Vs MAMC (Maulana Azad Medical College): While MAMC is excellent and also in Delhi, AIIMS offers better research facilities and an "Institute of National Importance" status.
• Vs VMMC (Vardhman Mahavir Medical College): VMMC has the advantage of the massive Safdarjung Hospital next door, but AIIMS has superior infrastructure and global recognition.
• Vs CMC Vellore: CMC is known for its community health and ethics, but AIIMS New Delhi has a higher patient load and more advanced super-specialty departments.

The application process for 2026 follows the PAAR (Prospective Applicants Advanced Registration) system.

1. Basic Registration: Generating a unique registration ID on the AIIMS Exams portal.
2. Code Generation: Generating an Examination Unique Code (EUC) for the specific course.
3. Final Registration: Filling in educational details and paying the nominal application fee.
4. Admit Card: Downloading the admit card 2 weeks prior to the exam.

For MBBS, students must apply through the NTA NEET-UG portal and then register for MCC counseling.

The infrastructure at AIIMS New Delhi is a mix of heritage buildings and state-of-the-art specialized centers.

• Specialized Centers: Includes the Cardiothoracic Sciences Centre, Neurosciences Centre, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Institute Rotary Cancer Hospital, and the Jai Prakash Narayan Apex Trauma Centre.
• Convergence Block: A dedicated block for multi-disciplinary research and diagnostic labs.
• Library: One of the largest medical libraries in Asia, with access to thousands of high-impact journals.
• Hostels: Separate hostels for UG, PG, and PhD students with 24/7 mess facilities.

AIIMS New Delhi houses over 50 departments, including:

• Clinical: Cardiology, Neurology, Gastroenterology, Oncology, Pediatrics, Psychiatry.
• Surgical: CTVS, Neurosurgery, Orthopaedics, ENT, Ophthalmology.
• Para-clinical: Pathology, Microbiology, Pharmacology, Forensic Medicine.
• Pre-clinical: Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry.

While AIIMS is primarily an on-campus clinical institute, students often supplement their learning with:

• Coursera/edX: Courses in Health Data Science and Epidemiology.
• NPTEL: Biomedical Research courses by IITs and IISc.
• Marrow/Prepladder: Essential digital platforms for PG entrance preparation.

The faculty at AIIMS New Delhi consists of some of the most cited researchers and renowned clinicians in the world. Many faculty members serve as advisors to the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, India. The student-to-faculty ratio remains excellent, ensuring personalized mentorship for research and clinical skills.

AIIMS New Delhi offers several specialized online and hybrid modules for working professionals:

• Tele-medicine workshops: Training for rural healthcare providers.
• Online CMEs: Continuing Medical Education modules for registered medical practitioners.
• Research Methodology: Short-term online certifications for MD/MS students across India.

AIIMS New Delhi has produced global leaders in healthcare:

• Dr. Randeep Guleria: Former Director of AIIMS and a key figure in India's COVID-19 response.
• Dr. Soumya Swaminathan: Former Chief Scientist at the WHO.
• Dr. Deepak Chopra: Renowned author and alternative medicine advocate.
• Dr. Sanduk Ruit: Famous ophthalmologist known for restoring sight to over 120,000 people.