NI
National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences
(NIMHANS)
Bengaluru, Karnataka
Government
|
Est. 1974
UGC Approved
NMC Approved
NABH
NABL
Last Updated: Jun 12, 2026
Established
1974
Campus Size
131.00 Acres
Total Students
1,221
Faculty
249
Student-Faculty
5:1
Frequently Asked Questions about National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru
Frequently Asked Questions
Admission to National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS) for 2026 is entirely entrance-based. MD and MS seats are filled through INI CET (conducted by AIIMS Delhi, held on May 16, 2026) followed by centralised counselling, while DM and MCh super-speciality seats use INI SS / NEET SS. NIMHANS also conducts its own PG entrance for several courses from May 29-31, 2026. Candidates must register online at nimhansonline.in, qualify the relevant exam, and attend counselling for final seat allotment.
For 2026, NIMHANS application windows close shortly before each exam. The INI CET 2026 exam is scheduled for May 16, 2026, and the NIMHANS-conducted PG entrance runs May 29-31, 2026, with registration typically closing a few weeks earlier. NEET SS 2026 (for some super-speciality courses) is on December 11-12, 2026. Exact closing dates vary by course, so applicants should confirm the live deadline on the official portal nimhansonline.in before applying, as late forms are not accepted.
NIMHANS accepts INI CET for MD/MS programmes and INI SS / NEET SS for DM and MCh super-speciality programmes, both conducted by AIIMS Delhi. For many MSc, MPhil, MPH, diploma, BSc Nursing and PhD courses, NIMHANS conducts its own entrance examination (held around May 29-31, 2026). NEET PG is generally not the route for NIMHANS clinical PG seats; INI CET is the primary qualifying exam, after which candidates enter centralised counselling for seat allotment.
For MD courses at NIMHANS, candidates need an MBBS degree from an MCI/NMC-recognised institution with a completed internship, and must qualify INI CET. For DM and MCh super-speciality courses, candidates require an MD/MS (or equivalent) in the relevant field with an aggregate of at least 55% from a recognised university, plus a qualifying INI SS / NEET SS score. BSc Nursing applicants need 50% in Class 12 with Physics, Chemistry and Biology.
NIMHANS Bengaluru is ranked #7 in the NIRF Medical 2025 list with a score of 69.77, and #60 in the NIRF Overall 2025 category with a score of 54.28. It performed even higher earlier, ranking #4 in NIRF Medical 2024 (score 71.92) and #4 in India Today Medical 2024. <table><tr><th>Ranking</th><th>Year</th><th>Rank</th><th>Score</th></tr><tr><td>NIRF Medical</td><td>2025</td><td>7</td><td>69.77</td></tr><tr><td>NIRF Overall</td><td>2025</td><td>60</td><td>54.28</td></tr><tr><td>NIRF Medical</td><td>2024</td><td>4</td><td>71.92</td></tr><tr><td>India Today Medical</td><td>2024</td><td>4</td><td>-</td></tr></table>
Fees at NIMHANS are low because it is a government Institute of National Importance. As of 2025-2026, MD programmes such as MD Psychiatry cost roughly Rs 1.83-1.85 lakh in total tuition. DM and MCh super-speciality tuition is around Rs 81,250 for the 3-year format and Rs 91,150 for the 6-year (post-MBBS) format. Hostel rent adds only about Rs 5,000-6,000 per year plus mess charges, making NIMHANS one of India's most affordable top medical institutes.
MD Psychiatry is NIMHANS's most competitive course. In the INI CET July 2025 session it closed around an all-India rank of 341 for the General category, making it the highest-demand specialisation at the institute. Round-wise closing ranks for the General category were reported near 448 in Round 1 and 555 in Round 2, depending on session and category. Because only about 37 MD Psychiatry seats exist, aspirants generally need a top-few-hundred INI CET rank to secure admission.
Yes, NIMHANS offers strong career outcomes, though it functions as a medical and research institute rather than running corporate placement drives. As per NIRF data for 2024-2025, postgraduate (3-year) median packages were reported around Rs 20.40 LPA and 4-year programme medians around Rs 13.20 LPA, with several batches recording near-full placement. Graduates are highly sought by hospitals, government health services and research bodies, and many move into faculty, clinical or PhD roles immediately after qualifying.
As per NIRF reporting for 2024-2025, NIMHANS postgraduate (3-year) programmes recorded a median package around Rs 20.40 LPA, while 4-year programmes reported medians near Rs 13.20 LPA. Earlier NIRF cycles cited UG medians around Rs 7.20 LPA. Actual earnings vary widely by specialisation, with neurosurgery, neurology and psychiatry graduates commanding premium salaries in top private hospitals. As a research-focused government institute, NIMHANS emphasises clinical and academic careers over campus salary packages.
Top recruiters and employers of NIMHANS graduates include Apollo Hospitals, Fortis Hospitals, Max Healthcare, Manipal Hospitals and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). Many graduates also join government medical colleges, AIIMS-network hospitals, state health services and international research institutions. Because NIMHANS specialises in mental health and neurosciences, its psychiatrists, neurologists and neurosurgeons are in high demand across leading multispeciality and super-speciality hospitals as well as academic and research roles.
NIMHANS offers around 60-90 programmes across multiple levels, including MD (such as Psychiatry), DM (Neurology, Addiction Psychiatry, Neuro Anaesthesia, Neuro Radiology, Geriatric Psychiatry), MCh Neurosurgery, plus MSc, MPhil, MPH, BSc Nursing, diplomas, PhD and post-doctoral fellowships. Its core strengths are mental health and neurosciences, including psychiatry, neurology, neurosurgery, clinical psychology, psychiatric nursing, neuropathology and biostatistics, making it India's premier specialised institute in these disciplines.
NIMHANS offers a limited, highly competitive intake of roughly 339 seats across all its programmes. Course-wise examples include about 37 seats in MD Psychiatry, around 14 in DM Neurology, approximately 10 in MCh Neurosurgery and 50 in BSc Nursing. Because intakes per specialisation are small and demand is national, admission requires high INI CET / INI SS ranks. Exact seat numbers vary each year and are published in the official NIMHANS prospectus.
NIMHANS students can access central government and UGC-supported scholarships, including the Maulana Azad National Fellowship, Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) and ICMR research fellowships, particularly for PhD, MPhil and research scholars. PhD and many PG trainees also receive monthly stipends, with external-category clinical psychology PhD scholars reportedly paid around Rs 31,000 per month in the first years. Reserved-category and economically weaker students may additionally qualify for state and national merit-cum-means schemes.
Yes, NIMHANS provides on-campus hostel accommodation at highly subsidised rates. Annual room rent is approximately Rs 5,000-6,000 per year, with mess charges around Rs 4,000 per year. Hostels offer clean bedding, hot water, water purifiers, in-built WiFi, shared study rooms, washing machines, safety lockers and 24/7 security. Located on the main Hosur Road campus in Bengaluru, the hostels keep living costs very low, complementing NIMHANS's already affordable government fee structure.
Yes, NIMHANS is a fully government institution. Established in 1974, it was granted Deemed-to-be-University status by the UGC in 1994 and elevated to an Institute of National Importance through an Act of Parliament in 2012. It operates under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and is India's apex centre for mental health and neuroscience education, patient care and research. Its government status keeps tuition low while maintaining world-class clinical and academic standards.
DM Neurology at NIMHANS is among the most sought-after super-speciality courses. In the INI SS 2025 cycle it recorded a Round 1 closing rank around 107 for the General category, with a final-round closing rank near 98. With only about 14 DM Neurology seats, candidates typically need a strong INI SS / NEET SS rank. Cutoffs shift each year with applicant numbers, so aspirants should check official counselling data for the exact closing ranks.
Yes, NIMHANS is widely regarded as India's top institute for psychiatry and neurosciences. It ranked #7 in NIRF Medical 2025 (score 69.77) and #4 in NIRF Medical 2024 (score 71.92), and is the country's apex mental health centre. Its MD Psychiatry is the most competitive course, closing near all-India rank 341 in INI CET July 2025. With specialised faculty, large patient inflow and dedicated research wings, NIMHANS is the benchmark for psychiatric training in India.
MCh Neurosurgery at NIMHANS is highly affordable due to its government status. Super-speciality tuition is around Rs 81,250 for the 3-year MCh format and approximately Rs 91,150 for the 6-year post-MBBS format (figures for 2025-2026). Hostel and mess charges add only a few thousand rupees per year. With roughly 10 MCh Neurosurgery seats, admission is through INI SS / NEET SS, and the combination of low fees and elite training makes it intensely competitive.
Yes, NIMHANS pays stipends to its postgraduate residents and research scholars. PG medical trainees receive standard government resident stipends, while research scholars get fellowship support such as JRF and ICMR grants. External-category PhD scholars in clinical psychology have reportedly received around Rs 31,000 per month in the first two years. This financial support, combined with very low tuition and subsidised hostels, makes NIMHANS one of the most economical premier institutes for advanced medical study.
Yes, NIMHANS is among the best career launchpads in India for mental health and neurosciences. Ranked #7 in NIRF Medical 2025 (score 69.77) and #4 in 2024 (score 71.92), it combines minimal fees, stipends, and elite clinical exposure. Graduates are recruited by Apollo, Fortis, Max Healthcare, Manipal Hospitals and ICMR, with NIRF-reported PG median packages around Rs 20.40 LPA. Many alumni become consultants, faculty or researchers, making NIMHANS a high-value, high-prestige choice for psychiatry, neurology and neurosurgery aspirants.