Indira Gandhi Medical College, Shimla – Complete Guide 2026

Overview

Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC), Shimla, is genuinely one of the oldest and most respected government medical colleges in North India, established way back in 1966. Located right on Ridge, Sanjauli Road, in Lakkar Bazar, Shimla, it's the flagship government medical institution of Himachal Pradesh, and remains the single most sought-after MBBS destination for students across the state, thanks to its long clinical legacy and the sheer breadth of patient exposure that comes with being the region's primary tertiary care referral hospital.

IGMC is affiliated with Himachal Pradesh University, and approved by the National Medical Commission (NMC). Admission counselling itself, though, is conducted by the Atal Medical and Research University (AMRU), Himachal Pradesh, on behalf of the state's Department of Medical Education & Research, through a Centralised Counselling Committee. IGMC was originally recognised for 100 MBBS seats, and was permitted to increase this to 120 seats from 2019-20 onwards, under the EWS quota expansion that followed the 103rd Constitutional Amendment. That 120-seat intake has since been renewed annually, most recently for AY 2024-25 and again for AY 2025-26, so 120 is genuinely the confirmed, current figure rather than an estimate. These seats split as 18 (15%) under the All India Quota and 102 (85%) under Himachal Pradesh State Quota, so depending on where you're from, you'll be looking at either the AIQ route through MCC or the HP state route through AMRU.

The college sits on a 19.2-acre campus with hostel facilities within the perimeter, and its attached teaching hospital functions as the largest referral hospital in Himachal Pradesh, meaning students here get genuinely serious, high-volume clinical exposure across virtually every specialty, drawing patients from across the hill state and neighbouring regions. Beyond MBBS, IGMC also runs a substantial postgraduate programme, with around 131 MD/MS seats, alongside B.Sc and M.Sc Nursing courses.

This guide covers seats, fees, cutoff trends, admission process, and counselling steps specific to IGMC Shimla, so you have a complete, accurate picture before finalising your preferences.

Key Highlights – IGMC Shimla

Why Choose IGMC Shimla?

• Nearly six decades of institutional history as Himachal Pradesh's flagship government medical college
• Functions as the largest referral hospital in the state, giving students genuinely unmatched clinical volume and case diversity
• A genuinely nominal, state-subsidised fee structure
• A substantial postgraduate ecosystem (131 MD/MS seats) on the same campus, offering a real long-term academic pathway
• Located in Shimla itself, offering students a unique blend of academic rigour and a genuinely pleasant, cooler hill-station environment

Infrastructure and Facilities

Campus: IGMC's 19.2-acre campus includes classrooms, laboratories, a library, and sports facilities, all built into the hilly Shimla terrain, genuinely characterful, if compact, given the geography of the region.

Hospital: The attached teaching hospital serves as the largest referral centre in Himachal Pradesh, drawing patients from across the state and neighbouring hill regions for tertiary and super-specialty care. That referral status means MBBS and PG students here get genuinely broad, high-acuity clinical exposure well beyond what a typical district hospital could offer.

Hostel: Hostel facilities are available within the campus perimeter for MBBS students.

Library and Labs: The college maintains dedicated laboratories and library resources supporting both the undergraduate and postgraduate curriculum.

Courses and Seat Matrix

IGMC Shimla offers MBBS at the undergraduate level, alongside a genuinely wide postgraduate and super-specialty spread, MD, MS, DM, M.Ch, and PG Diploma programmes, plus B.Sc and M.Sc Nursing courses.

MBBS Intake Capacity

MD/MS Intake Capacity

Fee Structure

IGMC Shimla's MBBS fees are genuinely nominal, in line with its status as a government-subsidised institution.

MBBS Fee Structure (Year-wise)

MBBS Fee Structure for NRI Candidates

IGMC Shimla MD/MS Fee Structure

To put this in perspective, if you miss out on a government seat here and end up at a private medical college instead, you could be looking at fees many times higher every year, which is exactly why a seat at IGMC is so highly contested.

Cut-Off Trends

MBBS NEET 2024 Cutoff (All India Rank)

Admission Process

There's no separate entrance exam for IGMC Shimla; admission runs entirely on your NEET UG score and rank.

Step 1 – Appear for NEET UG 2026

Step 2 – Check Your Eligibility

• Completed 10+2 with Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Biotechnology, and English

Step 3 – Identify Your Quota

• Himachal Pradesh domicile candidates are eligible for both the State Quota (85%) through AMRU's Centralised Counselling, and the All India Quota (15%) through MCC
• Non-Himachal Pradesh students are eligible for AIQ seats only, through MCC counselling

Step 4 – Register for Counselling

• AIQ: register at mcc.nic.in
• HP State Quota: register through the AMRU Centralised Counselling Committee's official portal, on behalf of the HP Department of Medical Education & Research

Step 5 – Fill and Lock Your Choices: Add IGMC Shimla as one of your preferences during choice filling, positioned sensibly based on your rank and how it compares against recent cutoff trends. Counselling typically runs across multiple rounds, including mop-up and stray vacancy rounds, so it's worth staying engaged through the entire process. Lock your choices before the deadline — no changes are allowed once locked.

Step 6 – Seat Allotment and Reporting: If allotted, download your allotment letter and report to IGMC Shimla within the specified reporting window with original documents — ID proof, 10+2 certificates, NEET admit card and scorecard, category certificates where applicable, and any HP domicile certificate needed for State Quota seats.

Counselling Process

AIQ Counselling – Conducted by MCC

15% of MBBS seats at IGMC Shimla are filled through the All India Quota via MCC:

• Register on MCC Portal — Visit mcc.nic.in, create your profile, and pay the registration and security deposit
• Choice Filling — Select IGMC Shimla along with your other preferred colleges, arranged by priority
• Lock Choices — Once locked, changes aren't allowed
• Seat Allotment — MCC allots seats round by round, based on your NEET AIR and choices
• Reporting — If allotted, report to IGMC Shimla with documents and complete admission formalities

Himachal Pradesh State Quota Counselling – Conducted by AMRU

For Himachal Pradesh domicile students, the state quota is handled by the Atal Medical and Research University (AMRU) through its Centralised Counselling Committee, on behalf of the state's Department of Medical Education & Research, covering 85% of MBBS seats. The process involves online registration, document submission, choice filling, seat allotment across multiple rounds, and reporting in person to the allotted college, following Himachal Pradesh's state reservation norms.

FAQs

Conclusion

Indira Gandhi Medical College, Shimla brings together nearly six decades of institutional legacy, the largest referral hospital in Himachal Pradesh, and one of the most affordable MBBS fee structures you'll find anywhere in North India. Its status as the state's flagship medical college also means genuinely intense competition, so a strong, well-prepared NEET score matters here more than most other options in the region.

If you're aiming for IGMC Shimla, focus on building a strong NEET score, understand how both AIQ and Himachal Pradesh State Quota counselling work, and go into choice filling with a clear sense of recent cutoff trends given how competitive this college genuinely is. If you need help figuring out where IGMC Shimla fits on your preference list, or navigating Himachal Pradesh's specific counselling process, our team at NEET Support is here to guide you through it.