India has a rich tradition of medical education and research, dating back to ancient times. The country boasts of some of the best medical colleges in the world, offering a variety of courses and degrees in various fields of medicine. Here are some of the top medical colleges of India, based on their academic excellence, infrastructure, faculty, research output and reputation.

All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi: Established in 1956, AIIMS is the premier medical institution in India and a leader in medical research and innovation. It offers undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral courses in medicine, nursing, dentistry and allied health sciences. It has 42 departments, 25 clinical disciplines and 8 centres of excellence. It also runs a network of six other AIIMS across the country.

Christian Medical College (CMC), Vellore: Founded in 1900 by Dr. Ida S. Scudder, CMC is one of the oldest and most respected medical colleges in India. It is affiliated to the Tamil Nadu Dr. M.G.R. Medical University and offers undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral courses in medicine, nursing, allied health sciences and bioengineering. It has 39 departments, 10 units and 7 centres of excellence. It is known for its holistic approach to health care and social service.

Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC), Pune: Established in 1948, AFMC is a premier medical college run by the Indian Armed Forces. It is affiliated to the Maharashtra University of Health Sciences and offers undergraduate and postgraduate courses in medicine and nursing. It has 29 departments and 6 centres of excellence. It is known for its high standards of discipline, training and research.

Maulana Azad Medical College (MAMC), New Delhi: Established in 1958, MAMC is one of the largest and most reputed medical colleges in India. It is affiliated to the University of Delhi and offers undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral courses in medicine and dentistry. It has 28 departments and 4 centres of excellence. It is known for its academic excellence, clinical expertise and research output.

Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), Puducherry: Established in 1823 as Ecole de Medicine de Pondicherry, JIPMER is one of the oldest medical colleges in India. It is an autonomous institution under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and offers undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral courses in medicine and allied health sciences. It has 37 departments and 10 centres of excellence. It is known for its quality education, patient care and research activities.