About NIMHANS Bangalore
Written by L K Monu Borkala · Founder, OneCity Technologies · publishing Karnataka education directories since 2006 Last Updated: June 30, 2026 · Verified with NMC, RGUHS and KEA data for 2026–27
National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS) in Bangalore is one of India's most distinguished medical institutions — an Institute of National Importance declared by the Government of India in 2012, a deemed university since 1994, NAAC A++ accredited (the highest grade), and ranked #7 nationally by NIRF in the medical category in 2025. Located at Hosur Road, Lakkasandra, Bengaluru 560029, NIMHANS is the world's only institution that integrates mental health and neurosciences under one campus with tertiary care, education and research functions. Established in 1974 by amalgamating the Mysore State Mental Hospital and the All India Institute of Mental Health, NIMHANS operates a 1,000-bed hospital with over 7 lakh patient contacts annually. NIMHANS does not offer MBBS. The DB record showing 60 seats refers to the speciality postgraduate and super-specialty programmes — not an MBBS programme. NIMHANS's academic portfolio is entirely postgraduate and super-specialty.
Understanding what NIMHANS actually offers is essential context for any student who finds it in a Karnataka medical college database. NIMHANS programmes include: MD Psychiatry (via INI-CET, the national examination for AIIMS, PGIMER, JIPMER and NIMHANS together); MD Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation; DM Neurology; DM Neuroimaging and Interventional Neuroradiology; MCh Neurosurgery; MSc in Neuroscience, Psychiatric Social Work, Psychiatric Nursing, Clinical Psychology, Biostatistics; MPhil in Psychiatric Social Work and Clinical Psychology; PhD across 16 departments; Fellowship and postdoctoral programmes. The undergraduate portfolio is limited to BSc Nursing, BSc Radiography, BSc Anaesthesia Technology and BSc Clinical Neurophysiology — none of which are MBBS.
The INI-CET examination is the entry pathway for NIMHANS's MD, DM and MCh programmes. INI-CET (Institute of National Importance Combined Entrance Test) is conducted by AIIMS Delhi and covers Psychiatry, Medicine, Surgery, Paediatrics, OBG and other specialties for MD/MS, and Neurology/Neurosurgery for DM/MCh. INI-CET 2025 General category closing rank for MD Psychiatry at NIMHANS was 306-1,683 (across rounds); MCh Neurosurgery closing rank was 68 (extraordinarily competitive — only the absolute top NEET PG performers access Neurosurgery at NIMHANS). DM Neurology closing rank was 107 in Round 1. These are among India's most competitive postgraduate medical seats — comparable to AIIMS Delhi MD seats in competition intensity.
NIMHANS's clinical scale is extraordinary in the context of Indian mental health and neuroscience. The 1,000-bed hospital handles 7 lakh-plus patient contacts annually — a volume that reflects the institution's position as India's primary national referral centre for psychiatric and neurological conditions. Patient referrals come from across India, including complex neurological conditions (intractable epilepsy, rare neurodegenerative diseases, complicated stroke), psychiatric conditions (treatment-resistant schizophrenia, severe mood disorders, rare neurodevelopmental conditions), and neurosurgical cases (complex brain tumours, vascular malformations, complex spine cases) that district and state hospitals have referred up to the national level. For postgraduate trainees in Psychiatry, Neurology and Neurosurgery, the case complexity and volume at NIMHANS is simply unmatched by any other Indian institution.
NIMHANS's research infrastructure positions it among India's top 5 biomedical research institutions regardless of specialty. The institution's research output in psychiatry, neuroscience and public mental health is internationally cited; NIMHANS faculty publish in Nature Neuroscience, The Lancet Psychiatry, JAMA Psychiatry and other high-impact journals at rates matching peer institutions in OECD countries. For students targeting academic medicine or research careers in mental health and neuroscience, NIMHANS's PhD and postdoctoral programmes — with ICMR, DBT and DST funding access — represent the highest-quality research training environment in India for these specialties.
The NIMHANS Digital Academy and Virtual Knowledge Network (VKN) are nationally significant education infrastructure investments. The Digital Academy's tele-psychiatry training and the VKN's distance education for mental health professionals across India reflect NIMHANS's mandate beyond its own campus — the institution trains mental health professionals across India through technology-enabled education, making NIMHANS's influence on Indian psychiatry and neurology extend far beyond its Bangalore campus. For students at the NIMHANS PG level, participating in this national education infrastructure provides exposure to health systems and public health dimensions of mental health care that clinical practice alone doesn't provide.
Career pathways from NIMHANS are among the most prestigious in Indian medicine. MD Psychiatry graduates access senior positions at AIIMS, government medical colleges, private hospital psychiatry departments, and international fellowships. DM Neurology and MCh Neurosurgery graduates from NIMHANS are India's most sought-after neurology and neurosurgery specialists — the NIMHANS brand is globally recognised in academic neurology and neurosurgery circles. Placement is 100% for PG programmes with median salary of Rs 18 LPA for 2023-24. Top recruiters include Apollo Hospitals, Fortis, Max Healthcare, Manipal, ICMR and AIIMS itself. Private practice in psychiatry and neurology in India and internationally is also accessible to NIMHANS-trained specialists.
Quick Facts
| Founded | 1974 |
|---|---|
| Type | Institute of National Importance (Government) |
| MBBS | Not offered |
| Programmes | MD, DM, MCh, MSc, MPhil, PhD, Fellowship, BSc allied health |
| Hospital Beds | 1,000 |
| Annual patient contacts | 7 lakh+ |
| Accreditation | NAAC A++, NABH, NMC |
| NIRF Ranking 2025 | #7 medical |
| INI-CET 2025 MD Psychiatry GM rank | 306-1,683 |
| INI-CET 2025 MCh Neurosurgery GM rank | 68 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Does NIMHANS offer MBBS?
No. NIMHANS does not offer MBBS. The institution specialises in mental health and neurosciences at postgraduate and super-specialty level. Undergraduate programmes are limited to BSc Nursing, BSc Radiography, BSc Anaesthesia Technology and BSc Clinical Neurophysiology — not MBBS.
What is INI-CET and how does admission to NIMHANS work for MD/DM/MCh?
INI-CET (Institute of National Importance Combined Entrance Test) is conducted by AIIMS Delhi for MD/DM/MCh admission at AIIMS, PGIMER, JIPMER and NIMHANS. Separate counselling follows INI-CET results. This is entirely separate from NEET PG conducted by NBE for other institutions.
What is the NIMHANS MD Psychiatry INI-CET 2025 cutoff?
General category closing rank 306-1,683 across rounds. These are among India's most competitive postgraduate psychiatric medicine seats. MCh Neurosurgery closing rank was 68 — comparable to AIIMS Delhi Neurosurgery in competition intensity.
Is NIMHANS government or private?
Government — declared an Institute of National Importance by Government of India in 2012. Autonomous deemed university since 1994. Fully government funded. Fees are heavily subsidised compared to private institutions.
What specialties does NIMHANS train in?
MD in Psychiatry and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. DM in Neurology, Neuroimaging and Interventional Neuroradiology. MCh Neurosurgery. MSc, MPhil, PhD across psychiatry, neuroscience, clinical psychology, psychiatric nursing and social work. Fellowship and postdoctoral programmes.
What is NIMHANS's NIRF ranking?
Ranked #7 in the medical category by NIRF 2025. Other rankings: #4 by India Today (2025), #4 by IIRF (2025). Globally recognised in psychiatry and neuroscience research.
What are the career outcomes for NIMHANS PG graduates?
100% placement for PG programmes. Median salary Rs 18 LPA (2023-24). Top recruiters include Apollo, Fortis, Max, Manipal, ICMR and AIIMS. NIMHANS-trained Psychiatry, Neurology and Neurosurgery specialists are India's most sought-after in their fields.
What research opportunities are available at NIMHANS?
PhD and postdoctoral programmes with ICMR, DBT and DST funding access. NIMHANS faculty publish in Nature Neuroscience, The Lancet Psychiatry and JAMA Psychiatry. The institution is India's leading biomedical research centre in psychiatry and neuroscience.
What undergraduate programmes does NIMHANS offer?
BSc Nursing (85 seats), BSc Radiography, BSc Anaesthesia Technology and BSc Clinical Neurophysiology. These are admitted through NIMHANS Entrance Exam (not NEET UG) and through KEA Karnataka for domicile-quota BSc Nursing seats.
Where is NIMHANS located in Bangalore?
Hosur Road, Lakkasandra, Bengaluru 560029 — accessible from KR Market (4 km), Koramangala (3 km), and the Lakkasandra BMTC bus hub. The 135-acre campus is within south Bangalore's institutional corridor near IIM Bangalore and IIMB campus.
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Content verified against publicly available NMC, RGUHS, NAAC, and NIRF data. Fees and cutoffs are approximate — verify directly with the college and KEA before admission. Published by L K Monu Borkala, founder of OneCity Technologies — publishing Karnataka education directories since 2006, covering medical admissions data since 2019 through CollegesInfo.org.