India is building a massive network of elite medical universities to fix healthcare gaps

Countries & Cities · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: The All India Institutes of Medical Sciences, or AIIMS, represent a bold effort to decentralize top-tier medical training and tertiary care across India. What began as a single flagship institution in Delhi in 1956 has evolved into a nationwide project aiming to bring specialized healthcare to every corner of the country.

The original AIIMS in Delhi was established by an Act of Parliament in 1956, following a proposal that shifted the site from Calcutta to the capital. For decades, it stood as the singular premier institution for advanced medical research and super-specialty training. However, in 2003, the government launched the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana, an initiative designed to address regional disparities in healthcare access by establishing new institutes modeled after the Delhi original and upgrading existing medical colleges.

The expansion has been rapid and phased. By early 2023, twenty institutions were operational, with a goal to have twenty-four functional by 2025. This growth required significant legislative adjustments, including a 2012 amendment that granted these new centers the status of Institutes of National Importance. This designation provides the schools with greater operational autonomy, allowing them to function as independent hubs for medical excellence rather than mere extensions of the central government.

Admission to these institutions is notoriously competitive. Candidates typically face the Institute of National Importance Common Entrance Test, where acceptance rates for postgraduate positions often fall below 1%. While the government unified undergraduate entrance exams under the National Testing Agency in 2020 to streamline the process, some experts argue that the previous, more specialized entrance exams were better at identifying students with the deep logical and conceptual skills required for high-level scientific research.

Beyond training, these institutes serve as critical infrastructure for specialized care, offering services in fields ranging from cardiothoracic surgery to pediatric neurology. With further proposals for additional sites in states like Karnataka and Nagaland, the project continues to scale. By integrating research, specialized training, and public service, the network aims to redefine the standard of medical education and patient care across the Indian subcontinent.

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