#CareerBytes: 7 top-rated medical colleges for undergraduate courses in India

All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, established in 1956, is considered India's best medical college.

Undergraduate courses include the five-and-a-half-year Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS), four-year Bachelor of Optometry (B.Optom), three-year BSc Hons (Nursing/Medical Technology-Radiography), and Post Basic Bachelor of Science (PBBSc -Nursing).

Admission to MBBS is through AIIMS-MBBS test; for the other courses, AIIMS conducts a separate entrance.

Vellore's Christian Medical College (CMC), established in 1900, is also among the highest-rated medical colleges. It's affiliated to Tamil Nadu Dr. MGR Medical University.

Undergraduate courses include MBBS, Bachelor of Physiotherapy (BPT), BSc in Cardiac Technology/Optometry/Neurophysiology/Emergency Medicine/Imaging Technology/Radiography/Dialysis/Nursing among others.

Students are selected for MBBS course on the basis of NEET-UG score. CMC conducts a separate test followed by assessments and interviews for others.

The Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC) in Pune is a medical college managed by the Indian Armed Forces. It was established in 1948.

Courses offered at the undergraduate level include MBBS, four-year BSc in Nursing, and two-year PBBSc in Nursing.

While candidates are admitted to the MBBS course through the NEET UG exam, the AFMC conducts an entrance test for the nursing courses.

The Maulana Azad Medical College (MAMC) in New Delhi is a government medical college, which was founded in 1959. It is affiliated to the University of Delhi and offers undergraduate and various post-graduate medical courses.

At the undergraduate level, MAMC currently offers only the MBBS program.

Candidates for the MBBS course are selected on the basis of their score in the NEET-UG examination.

Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education & Research (JIPMER), Pondicherry, established in 1823, is a medical school offering undergraduate/post-graduate courses. It's an autonomous institute funded by the central government.

UG courses include MBBS, Bachelor in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (BASLP), BSc in Nursing, BSc Allied Sciences.

For admission into MBBS, candidates need to clear JIPMER test. For other courses, an online entrance is held.

Lady Hardinge Medical College (LHMC) in New Delhi is another government-funded medical college for women. The college, established in 1916, is also affiliated to the University of Delhi.

The undergraduate courses offered by the prestigious LHMC include MBBS and Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS).

In order to be eligible for admission into these two courses, one needs to qualify in the NEET-UG examination.

Madras Medical College (MMC) in Chennai is among the most-preferred medical colleges in the country. It was established in 1835 and is affiliated to Tamil Nadu Dr. MGR Medical University.

It offers undergraduate medical courses like MBBS, Bachelor of Physiotherapy (BPT), Bachelor of Pharmacy (BPharm), BSc in Nursing, and PBBSc in Nursing.

Admission to MBBS is NEET-UG-based; for others, it's done through TNPCEE test.