Nurses and midwives make up more than half of India’s healthcare professionals, and the number of registered nurses and midwives has grown substantially in recent years. Because of this demand, nursing education in India includes several formal routes, from diploma-level training to doctoral study.
Formal nursing education has a long history in India. Christian Medical College, Vellore opened India’s first College of Nursing and began its graduate nursing course in 1946, while Rajkumari Amrit Kaur College of Nursing was also established in 1946 as a pioneer institution for nursing education in India.
According to the Indian Nursing Council, nursing education pathways in India include Auxiliary Nurse and Midwife, General Nursing and Midwifery, B.Sc. Nursing, Post-Basic B.Sc. Nursing, M.Sc. Nursing, M.Phil., Ph.D., and post-basic diploma programs. Two common entry-level options are the General Nursing and Midwifery diploma and the four-year B.Sc. Nursing degree.
Today, we will be discussing some of the best nursing schools in India.
Top Schools Offering Nursing Programs in India
1. All India Institute of Medical Sciences – New Delhi
The All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi was created in 1956 as an autonomous institution through an Act of Parliament after a foundation stone was laid in 1952 with support from New Zealand under the Colombo Plan. Other AIIMS institutions now operate in several cities across India, but they are separate AIIMS institutions rather than campuses of AIIMS New Delhi.
AIIMS New Delhi is one of India’s leading institutions for medical and nursing education. In the NIRF India Rankings 2025 medical category, AIIMS New Delhi ranked first nationally. Its College of Nursing offers B.Sc. (Hons.) Nursing, B.Sc. Nursing (Post-Basic), and M.Sc. Nursing programs. The M.Sc. Nursing program includes specialties such as pediatric nursing, psychiatric nursing, cardiological/CTVS nursing, neurological or neurosciences nursing, oncological nursing, critical care nursing, and nephrological nursing.
The Bachelor’s program combines classroom instruction with clinical education. Students complete clinical postings during the academic year and may also have summer clinical postings and evening or night duties after the third year. The M.Sc. Nursing program is a two-year program. AIIMS fees are highly subsidized and are listed in Indian rupees in the annual prospectus; applicants should check the latest AIIMS prospectus for the current B.Sc., M.Sc., and Ph.D. fee schedules, as mess and other charges may be separate.
2. Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University – Delhi
Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University is an affiliating and teaching university in Delhi with a focus on professional education, including medicine, pharmacy, nursing, law, engineering, technology, and management. The university holds NAAC A++ accreditation, valid for seven years from February 14, 2023.
Its nursing programs are offered through affiliated colleges and university-linked institutions. Current admissions materials list programs such as B.Sc. (Hons.) Nursing, Post-Basic B.Sc. Nursing, and M.Sc. Nursing. Applicants should check the current admission brochure for the exact participating colleges, seat intake, eligibility rules, and whether admission is through CET, counseling, or another approved route for the relevant academic year.
3. Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research – Chandigarh
The Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research was started in 1962 with the support of Sardar Partap Singh Kairon, then Chief Minister of Punjab, and India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru. Nehru inaugurated the hospital, now known as Nehru Hospital, on July 7, 1963. PGIMER later became an autonomous institution under an Act of Parliament in 1967 under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
PGIMER is one of India’s leading medical education and research institutions. In the NIRF India Rankings 2025 medical category, PGIMER Chandigarh ranked second nationally. Its National Institute of Nursing Education is an integral part of PGIMER and has been designated a WHO Collaborating Centre for Nursing and Midwifery Development since March 2003.
The nursing institute offers B.Sc. Nursing, B.Sc. Nursing (Post-Basic), and M.Sc. Nursing. Its M.Sc. Nursing program is a two-year program with specialties in pediatric nursing, psychiatric nursing, obstetric and gynecological nursing, community health nursing, and medical-surgical nursing. Students complete several hours of clinical work daily during the program. Foreign applicants must route applications through the Government of India, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, and must meet PGIMER and Indian Nursing Council clearance requirements. Fees are published in the current annual prospectus, so applicants should confirm the latest tuition, hostel, and other charges before applying.
4. Army College of Nursing – Jalandhar
The Army College of Nursing – Jalandhar is a nursing college recognized by the Indian Nursing Council, New Delhi and the Punjab Nurses Registration Council, Mohali. It is affiliated with Baba Farid University of Health Sciences, Faridkot, and is accredited by NAAC.
The college was established for the daughters of serving and retired Army personnel and is part of the Army Welfare Education Society. ACN offers a four-year B.Sc. Nursing program. The college provides academic and clinical training facilities for nursing students, and applicants should check the current prospectus and admission notice for seat intake, eligibility, online admission test requirements, hostel rules, and the latest fee schedule. Current ACN fee notices and prospectuses are updated annually, so older dollar-based fee figures should not be used for current admissions planning.
5. Christian Medical College and Hospital – Ludhiana
Christian Medical College and Hospital, Ludhiana is an educational and research institution established and run by the Christian minority community. Its mission includes training healthcare professionals to serve communities across India, with special emphasis on rural, underserved, and unreached areas.
The College of Nursing traces its development from earlier nursing programs and was upgraded to a College of Nursing in 1973. The B.Sc. Nursing program admits 60 students annually, and the M.Sc. Nursing program admits 25 students across five specialties: psychiatric nursing, obstetric nursing, pediatric nursing, medical-surgical nursing, and community health nursing. Christian Medical College, Brown Road, Ludhiana ranked 47th in the NIRF India Rankings 2025 medical category.
Admissions to the B.Sc. Nursing program are based on the Admission Written Test and are subject to approval by Baba Farid University of Health Sciences, the Government of Punjab, the Punjab Nurses Registration Council, and the Indian Nursing Council, as applicable. M.Sc. Nursing admission follows the rules of the university, the Indian Nursing Council, and the Government of Punjab. Applicants should check the latest CMC Ludhiana prospectus for current tuition, application fees, hostel charges, eligibility rules, and service-commitment requirements.
We hope this article on the best nursing schools in India was helpful. To know more information on studying abroad, check out the Available Programs for International Students.
