Quick Summary
- Top Medical Colleges in India: Choose based on NEET scores or institutional entrance exams (e.g., AIIMS, JIPMER).
- Eligibility: 10+2 with Physics, Chemistry, Biology; age 17-25; minimum marks required.
- Key Institutions (NIRF Ranking):
- North: AIIMS Delhi, Maulana Azad Medical College.
- South: CMC Vellore, Kasturba Medical College.
- East: IPGMER Kolkata, R G Kar Medical College.
- West: AFMC Pune, Seth G S Medical College.
- Factors to Consider: Education quality, faculty, facilities, and career prospects.
Table of Contents
As Hippocrates once said, “Wherever the art of medicine is loved, there is also a love of humanity.” India has a rich history of medicine and healthcare. The top medical universities in India produce skilled doctors, serving the nation. This shows love for both medicine and humanity.
If you are someone who loves to serve humanity with the art of medicine, then you first need to find the best medical college in India. However, there is a course of action you need to follow if you wish to enrol in the best medical colleges in India.
The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET full form) is the most popular medical entrance exam in India. It is a must-have exam for getting an entry to undergraduate (UG) courses in all the best medical colleges in India. NEET is a highly competitive entrance exam with over 21 lakhs of students aiming for limited seats in 2023.
Besides NEET, some colleges conduct their entrance exams, such as AIIMS (All India Institute of Medical Sciences) and JIPMER (Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education & Research).
The types of UG courses offered by the best medical colleges in India include-
- Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS).
- Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS).
- Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery (BAMS).
- Bachelor of Homeopathic Medicine and Surgery (BHMS).
- Bachelor of Physiotherapy (BPT).
- Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (BOT), etc.
This article will provide the top 40 medical universities in India including a few region-wise. We will also discuss the eligibility criteria for the all-India ranking of medical colleges.
Apart from the above-mentioned, the top courses in Allied Health Sciences include:
- Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Technology (BMLT)
- Bachelor of Optometry (B.Optom.)
- Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) (Allied Health Sciences)
- Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) (Biotechnology)
- Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) (CardiacTechnology/Cardiovascular Technology)
- Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) (Industrial Microbiology)
- Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) (Medical Imaging Technology)
- Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) (Medical Laboratory Technology)
- Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) (Microbiology)
- Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) (NeuroPhysiology Technology)
- Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) (Nutrition and Dietetics)
- Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) (Operation Theater Technology)
- Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) (Radiology)
Top Medical Universities in India Eligibility Criteria
If you want to pursue a career in healthcare, studying at one of the best medical colleges in India is a great option. Before you set your sights on a top medical college, it’s important to understand the eligibility criteria. If you have completed your 12th grade with the required subjects and marks, you can apply for admission to leading institutions for healthcare education.
But, to get admission into the best medical colleges in India, you also need to meet the eligibility criteria below:
| Eligibility Factors | Details |
| Minimum Age | • Candidates must be at least 17 years of age at the time of admission. • Or should complete the age of 17 on or before 31st December of the year of admission. |
| Maximum Age | • The maximum age for candidates seeking admission to MBBS/BDS seats is 25 years as of the date of examination. • The same applies to the reserved categories (SC/ST/OBC) with a 5-year relaxation |
| Education Qualifications | Candidates should have passed the 10+2 or equivalent examination with Physics, Chemistry, and Biology (PCB) from a recognized board |
| Minimum Marks in 10+2 | • General category candidates must have secured a minimum of 50% marks. • While reserved category candidates require a minimum of 40% marks. |
| Entrance Exams | • Candidates must appear for and qualify for the NEET UG medical entrance exams. • For getting entry into AIIMS or JIPMER medical colleges, you need to clear their respective entrance exams. |
It is important to note that eligibility criteria may vary from college to college and their respective admission processes. Thus, check the eligibility criteria properly before applying to NEET colleges.
Here’s an overview of the NEET UG exam in the table below
| Exam Name | National Eligibility cum Entrance Test Undergraduate (NEET-UG) |
| Conducting Body | National Testing Agency (NTA) |
| Exam Mode | Offline (Pen & Paper) |
| Courses Offered | MBBS, BDS, BAMS, BSMS, BUMS, BHMS, etc. |
| Exam Duration | 3 hours |
| Language | English, Hindi, Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Marathi, Odiya, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu |
| Number of Questions | 180 |
| Question Type | Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) |
| Marking Scheme | (+)4 for Correct Answer (-)1 for Incorrect Answer 0 for Unattempted |
| Total Marks | 720 |
| Safe Score | 650+ |
| Eligibility Criteria | Must have passed 10+2 or equivalent with Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Biotechnology, and English as compulsory subjects. Also, must have secured a minimum of 50% (for the general category) or 40% (for the reserved category) in the qualifying exam |
| Frequency of Exam | Once a year. |
Note: The information provided in the table above is based on the previous year’s NEET UG exam. Hence, refer to the official NTA website for the latest updates on the NEET exam.
40 Best Medical Universities in India with NIRF Ranking
To assess the richness of education and facilities of colleges, the National Institutional Rankings Framework (NIRF) came into play in 2015 by the Ministry of Education, Government of India. NIRF is a framework that ranks colleges in India. The NIRF ranks universities from many fields including medical universities ranking.
The NIRF ranking of medical universities in India is based on some factors, such as
- Teaching, Learning, and Resources.
- Research and Training.
- Outreach.
- Peer Views & More.
Have a look at the table below containing the top 40 NIRF-ranking medical universities in India:
| Rank | Name | City | State | Score |
| 1. | AIIMS | New Delhi | Delhi | 91.60 |
| 2 | Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research. | Chandigarh | Chandigarh | 79.00 |
| 3 | Christian Medical College | Vellore | Tamil Nadu | 72.84 |
| 4 | National Institute of Mental Health & Neuro Sciences, Bangalore. | Bangalore | Karnataka | 71.56 |
| 5 | Banaras Hindu University. | Varanasi | Uttar Pradesh | 68.12 |
| 6 | Jawaharlal Institute of Post-Graduate Medical Education & Research | Puducherry | Pondicherry | 67.64 |
| 7 | Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences. | Lucknow | Uttar Pradesh | 67.18 |
| 8 | Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham. | Coimbatore | Tamil Nadu | 66.49 |
| 9 | Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology, Thiruvananthapuram. | Thiruvananthapuram | Kerala | 65.17 |
| 10 | Kasturba Medical College. | Manipal | Karnataka | 63.89 |
| 11 | King George`s Medical University. | Lucknow | Uttar Pradesh | 61.68 |
| 12 | Madras Medical College & Government General Hospital, Chennai. | Chennai | Tamil Nadu | 60.71 |
| 13 | Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences. | New Delhi | Delhi | 58.79 |
| 14 | St. John’s Medical College. | Bengaluru | Karnataka | 58.49 |
| 15 | Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research. | Chennai | Tamil Nadu | 57.92 |
| 16 | All India Institute of Medical Sciences Jodhpur. | Jodhpur | Rajasthan | 57.47 |
| 17 | Dr. D. Y. Patil Vidyapeeth. | Pune | Maharashtra | 57.41 |
| 18 | Siksha O Anusandhan. | Bhubaneswar | Odisha | 57.21 |
| 19 | Vardhman Mahavir Medical College & Safdarjung Hospital. | New Delhi | Delhi | 57.15 |
| 20 | S.R.M. Institute of Science and Technology. | Chennai | Tamil Nadu | 57.05 |
| 21 | Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education & Research. | Kolkata | West Bengal | 57.02 |
| 22 | Aligarh Muslim University. | Aligarh | Uttar Pradesh | 56.19 |
| 23 | Maulana Azad Medical College. | Delhi | Delhi | 55.94 |
| 24 | Datta Meghe Institute of Medical Sciences. | Wardha | Maharashtra | 55.21 |
| 25 | Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences. | Chennai | Tamil Nadu | 54.73 |
| 26 | AIIMS Bhubaneswar. | Khordha | Odisha | 54.71 |
| 27 | Govt. Medical College & Hospital. | Chandigarh | Chandigarh | 54.02 |
| 28 | University College of Medical Sciences. | Delhi | Delhi | 53.62 |
| 29 | Lady Hardinge Medical College. | New Delhi | Delhi | 53.44 |
| 30 | Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology. | Bhubaneswar | Odisha | 53.05 |
| 31 | Kasturba Medical College | Mangluru | Karnataka | 52.83 |
| 32 | Maharishi Markandeshwar. | Ambala | Haryana | 52.81 |
| 33 | Jamia Hamdard. | New Delhi | Delhi | 52.51 |
| 34 | JSS Medical College. | Mysore | Karnataka | 52.47 |
| 35 | PSG Institute of Medical Sciences & Research. | Coimbatore | Tamil Nadu | 52.44 |
| 36 | Christian Medical College. | Ludhiana | Punjab | 51.89 |
| 37 | Gujarat Cancer & Research Institute. | Ahmadabad | Gujarat | 50.87 |
| 38 | M. S. Ramaiah Medical College. | Bengaluru | Karnataka | 50.70 |
| 39 | Chettinad Academy of Research and Education. | Kelambakkam, Chengalpattu District | Tamil Nadu | 50.35 |
| 40 | Dayanand Medical College | Ludhiana | Punjab | 50.32 |
Best Medical Universities in India: Region-wise
From North to South and East to West, there are many best medical universities in India. From AIIMS in the North and CMC in the South to IPGMER in the East and AFMC in the West, each region offers unique features for medical students.
Each of these top MBBS universities in India offers-
- Quality education.
- Qualified teachers and staff.
- Great campuses.
- Robust curriculum & more.
The tables below have the region-wise best medical universities in India. This will help you choose the one per your region and interests.
Top Medical Universities in North India
The table below shows the 5 best MBBS universities in India in North India:
| S.No. | Name |
| 1 | All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi. |
| 2 | Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi. |
| 3 | Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh. |
| 4 | King George’s Medical University, Lucknow. |
| 5 | Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi. |
Top Medical Universities in South India
The table below shows the 5 best universities for MBBS in North India:
| S.No. | Name |
| 1 | Christian Medical College, Vellore. |
| 2 | Kasturba Medical College, Manipal. |
| 3 | Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Puducherry. |
| 4 | Madras Medical College, Chennai. |
| 5 | Amrita Institute of Medical Science, Coimbatore. |
Top Medical Universities in East India
| S.No. | Name |
| 1 | R G Kar Medical College & Hospital, Kolkata. |
| 2 | The Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education & Research (IPGMER), Kolkata. |
| 3 | Regional Institute of Medical Science, Lamphelpat, Imphal. |
| 4 | Darbhanga Medical College – Dharbanga, Bihar. |
| 5 | Calcutta National Medical College, Kolkata. |
Top Medical Universities in West India
The table below shows the top 5 NIRF-ranking medical universities in West India:
| S.No. | Name |
| 1 | Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC), Pune. |
| 2 | Seth G S Medical College, Mumbai. |
| 3 | Dr. D Y Patil Education Society’s D Y Patil Medical College, Kolhapur. |
| 4 | K J Somaiya Medical College, Mumbai. |
| 5 | Grant Medical College, Mumbai. |
The 40 Best Medical universities in India: Take Your Pick
To sum up, India has many medical universities offering top-notch medical studies for those who wish to become doctors. The best medical universities in India have top-notch facilities and equipment to aid the practical knowledge of students. These colleges also have experienced faculty, providing top-class education and training to their students.
Having more than 600 medical universities in India, NIRF ranks the colleges based on different factors. These medical colleges in India’s ranking help you in choosing the best college. Per the NEET college’s rank, AIIMS, Delhi is the best medical college in India, offering top-notch medical education and training.
The NIRF rank-wise medical universities in India of distinct regions help you choose a college in your region. The best medical universities in India offer a wide range of UG and PG programs. These UG and PG courses include MBBS, BDS, MD, MS, MDS and more. These colleges are validated by accrediting bodies like The Medical Council of India (MCI).
When choosing medical universities, it’s crucial to consider not just the quality of education but also the potential financial rewards of different specializations. For those aspiring to understand the financial aspects of a medical career, it’s insightful to explore which doctors earn the most in India to better align your career goals with potential income opportunities.
Evaluate numerous career choices to choose the right career path for yourself. Dive into our guide on Career Advice.
Frequently Answered Questions (FAQs)
1. Which is the No. 1 medical college in India?
The No. 1 medical college in India is the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi. AIIMS is placed first among the top 100 medical colleges in the NIRF Rankings 2022.
2. What are the top 5 medical universities in India?
From north to south, the top 5 medical universities in India are:
1. AIIMS, Delhi.
2. Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh.
3. Christian Medical College, Tamil Nadu.
4. National Institute of Mental Health & Neuro Sciences, Karnataka.
5. Banaras Hindu University, Uttar Pradesh.
3. Which college is best after NEET?
Many top colleges in India accept NEET scores for admission to their medical programs. The top ten medical universities in India among them are:
1. AIIMS, New Delhi.
2. Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh.
3. Christian Medical College, Vellore.
4. National Institute of Mental Health & Neuro Sciences, Bangalore.
5. Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi.
6. Jawaharlal Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education & Research, Puducherry.
7. Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow.
8. Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Coimbatore.
9. Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology, Thiruvananthapuram.
10. Kasturba Medical College, Manipal.
4. Which is India’s toughest medical university?
AIIMS (All India Institute of Medical Sciences) is the oldest and top-ranked medical college. But AIIMS is also the most challenging college. Founded in 1956, AIIMS is a group of autonomous public medical colleges that offer UG, PG and doctoral courses. The entrance exam for AIIMS is tough, and only a small fraction of applicants are selected based on their scores in the NEET exam.
5. What are the top 3 medical universities in India?
The top 3 medical schools in India as per the latest NIRF Rankings 2022 are
1. AIIMS, New Delhi.
2. Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research. Chandigarh.
3. Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamil Nadu.
6. Which is the No 1 Medical College in the world?
With a global score of 100 and a rating of AAA, Havard University (or Harvard Medical School), USA is not only the best Global University but also stands in first place among the best universities for Clinical Medicine as per the U.S News Rankings.
7. Is 650 a good score in NEET?
Yes, 650 is a good score in NEET from a total mark of 750. A score of 650 to 700 places you among the best medical colleges in India. But, the cutoff varies from year to year and state to state.
8. Which doctor earns the most in India?
On average, Surgeons, Gynecologists, and Prosthodontists in India earn the highest among doctors in India. Their yearly salary amounts to INR 1.91 crore, INR 1.77 crore, and INR 1.67 crore, respectively.
9. Which entrance exam is acceptable for admission to medical colleges in India?
NEET UG exam is the all-India medical entrance exam for getting through medical colleges in India. You will have to clear NEET to enroll in UG courses like MBBS, BHMS, BSc Nursing, etc, of the best medical colleges in India. The exam is pen and paper-based and is held once a year. NEET is a must exam for both private and government medical colleges. Along with your NEET score, you must have secured at least 50% in your 10+2 with PCB subject. You must be at least 17 years of age.
10. What is the significance of NIRF rankings?
NIRF (National Institutional Rankings Framework) is a framework that gives ranks to colleges based on some ranking factors like faculty quality, education quality, and more. The higher the NIRF the better the institution.
The significance of NIRF rankings is as follows:
1. For universities: Higher NIRF rankings for a college drive more applicants.
2. For Students: NIRF rankings fuel the search of students and give them the chance to choose the best colleges
11. What are the average fees for government medical colleges?
The fees for government medical colleges are cheaper than that of private medical colleges in India. The average fees for government medical colleges range between 10,000 and 1,00,000 per annum. It is worth noting that this fee varies from state to state and college to college.
12. How many medical colleges offer admission into MBBS through the NEET UG Exam?
There are 612 Medical, 317 Dental, 914 AYUSH, and 47 BVSc & AH medical colleges ranking in India that accept NEET for MBBS admission. Plus, 19 AIIMS and two JIPMER campuses also accept admission through the NEET exam score.
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