The premier All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi will admit 100 students from the country for its undergraduate programme from next academic session, increasing the number of seats from the existing 72, its director announced on Monday. Besides, seven foreign nationals would also be admitted for the institute's MBBS course from 2017.
"In sixty years of its journey, AIIMS has grown in strength, thanks to the sheer dedication of our predecessors and former directors who shaped this institution. It has grown tremendously with time, both academically and in service delivery. We have decided to increase our UG intake, and, I am happy to announce that from next year onwards, we will be admitting 100 students for this course," AIIMS Director Dr M C Misra said. He was addressing a gathering on the occasion of the Foundation Day of AIIMS currently celebrating its diamond jubilee.
The medical college currently admits 77 students -- 72 Indian nationals and five foreigners -- for UG courses. The percentage of reserved seats under various categories would remain the same, he said.
AIIMS Registrar Dr Sanjeev Lalwani said relative share of seats meant for Schedule Caste, Schedule Tribe, OBC and physically handicapped reserved categories would remain the same.
AIIMS was established in 1956. It was the vision of Rajkumari Amrita Kaur, the first Health Minister of India, that led to the establishment of a medical institute of international repute in India. Besides, the main Delhi campus, AIIMS also has six regional centres in Bhopal, Patna, Bhubaneswar, Jodhpur, Raipur and Rishikesh.
"The regional centres currently admit 100 students each but no foreign nationals. So, the UG intake of AIIMS Delhi will be increased," Lalwani said.
"Besides, we have already increased by almost 90 per cent the intake for DM (Doctorate in Medicine) and MCh (Master of Surgery) programmes. We have been expanding facilities at our Masjid Moth campus here too and at Trauma Centre we have added 1,800 beds. In next 10 years, we target 6,000 beds for AIIMS," Misra said.
