Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC) is the premier and oldest public State Government Medical College in Himachal Pradesh. It was established in 1966 (originally as Himachal Pradesh Medical College) and was later renamed in 1984, honoring the former Prime Minister of India.
The college is academically affiliated with Himachal Pradesh University (HPU), Shimla, which is the state's main public university. All degrees (MBBS, MD/MS, DM/M.Ch) are awarded by HPU. It is the flagship medical institution for the state, known for its high standards and research in a challenging, high-altitude environment.
Type: State Government Medical College
Affiliation: Himachal Pradesh University (HPU), Shimla
Recognition: Fully recognized by the National Medical Commission (NMC)
Established: 1966
Accreditation: Accredited by NAAC.
Recognized for 100 seats. Permitted for increase of seats from 100 to 120 under EWS quota (103rd constitution amendment) for 2019-20. Annual renewal permission granted for 120 MBBS seats for AY 2024-25.
The college and its associated hospital are situated on a large, integrated campus within the city.
Location: The campus is located at Lakkar Bazar, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh. Due to the hilly terrain, the campus is spread across several blocks, often connected by steep roads or staircases.
Campus Vibe: The campus is substantial, featuring a blend of older, established buildings and modern specialty blocks. It operates as a functional academic and clinical environment integrated with its massive teaching hospital, benefiting from the unique climate and location.
Infrastructure & Facilities:
Academic Blocks: Features modern, air-conditioned lecture theatres (5 halls) and demonstration rooms.
Laboratories: Well-equipped labs for all pre-clinical and para-clinical departments.
Library: A large Central Library (4,000 sq. meters) provides students access to extensive medical collections (19,000+ books) and digital resources.
Residential Life: Separate hostel facilities are provided on campus for boys and girls (UGs, PGs, Interns).
Amenities: The campus includes canteens, mess facilities, an auditorium (650 capacity), a central research lab, and basic sports facilities.
Leading tertiary care hospital attached to the institution
The college is attached to its own large government hospital that serves as its primary teaching facility.
Flagship Hospital: The Indira Gandhi Medical College Hospital (IGMC Hospital) is the constituent teaching hospital, fully integrated with the medical college.
Scale & Services: This is the largest and most advanced tertiary care referral hospital for Himachal Pradesh, serving the entire state.
Capacity: A massive hospital with 1000+ beds (including specialized Critical Care beds).
Services: Provides comprehensive tertiary and super-specialty care across all clinical departments (Cardiology, Oncology, Neurosurgery, Urology, Nephrology, etc.). It features 24x7 Emergency & Trauma, extensive Critical Care units (ICUs), and modular Operation Theatres.
Patient Load: The hospital has the highest patient inflow in the state, providing students with extensive, high-volume patient exposure crucial for medical training.
Educational Engine: The IGMC Hospital is the core clinical training ground for all IGMC students.
State University Affordability
As a state government medical college, the fees are extremely low, but tied to a mandatory service bond.
Disclaimer: These are indicative 2024-2025 figures. Fees are subject to annual revision. A mandatory service bond (e.g., 2-7 years, penalty up to ₹40 Lakhs) applies to graduates. Always verify the precise, current fee structure and bond conditions directly from the official DMER HP counselling notifications.
Accommodation: Separate hostel blocks are available for male and female students (UGs, PGs, Interns).
Amenities: Hostels provide basic furnishings.
Dining: Mess facilities are available for all hostellers.
Cost: Hostel and mess fees are additional to the tuition fees but are highly economical.
Hostel Fee (Annual): Nominal (e.g., ~ ₹6,000 - ₹10,000).
Mess Charges (Monthly): Paid monthly based on actual expenses, typically ranging from ~₹3,500 to ₹4,500 per month.
Getting Admitted (MBBS/MD/MS): Admission is strictly and exclusively based on qualifying ranks in NEET-UG (for MBBS) or NEET-PG/SS (for MD/MS/DM/M.Ch).
State Counselling is Key (HP): Seat allotment for all categories (State Quota, Management Quota - if applicable, and NRI Quota - if applicable) is handled entirely through the Himachal Pradesh State Centralized Counselling Process. This is typically conducted by the HP University (HPU) or the Department of Medical Education and Research (DMER), HP.
15% All India Quota (AIQ): Seats are filled through the MCC (Medical Counselling Committee) counselling.
85% State Quota: Seats are reserved for students with Himachal Pradesh domicile and are filled through the HPU/DMER state counselling.
Always check the official HPU (hpuniv.ac.in) and MCC (mcc.nic.in) websites for counselling schedules and procedures.
Career Path: As the premier government medical college in the state, the career path for graduates is excellent.
Internship: MBBS graduates complete a mandatory 1-year rotatory internship at the IGMC Hospital, for which they receive a competitive stipend as per state government norms.
Bond: A mandatory service bond (e.g., 2-7 years, penalty up to ₹40 Lakhs) with a penalty clause applies to subsidized graduates.
Post-Graduation: The clinical exposure at IGMC makes graduates highly competitive for PG seats (via NEET-PG/SS) or immediately employable as Medical Officers in the state health service. The institute offers 173 of its own PG seats, providing a massive in-house pathway.
Well-equipped Library
Experienced Faculty
Computer Lab
Sports Activities
Heritage Campus