Telangana currently has 36 government institutions offering more than 4,400 MBBS seats, but only four of its government medical colleges have found a place among the top 144 government medical institutions in the country in the latest International Institutional Ranking Framework (IIRF) 2026 rankings.

The rankings, which assess higher education institutions across several academic and institutional parameters, have placed Gandhi Medical College, Secunderabad as the highest-ranked government medical college from Telangana at 43rd position. Osmania Medical College, Hyderabad, followed at 52nd position, while Kakatiya Medical College, Warangal, was ranked 60th. Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), Adilabad, was placed much lower at 139th position.

At the national level, the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, secured the first position among government medical institutions.

The representation of Telangana was considerably higher in the private medical colleges category. Of the 187 private medical colleges included in the IIRF list, 18 institutions from Telangana featured in the rankings. The State currently has 29 private medical colleges, collectively offering around 5,850 MBBS seats.

The top position in the private medical colleges category was secured by Christian Medical College (CMC), Vellore.

The rankings therefore present a contrasting picture for the State. While its established government institutions such as Gandhi Medical College and Osmania Medical College feature within the upper half of the national government medical colleges list, a large number of newer government medical colleges established during the State’s recent expansion of medical education do not feature among the 144 ranked institutions.

Telangana also had three institutions in the IIRF rankings for dental colleges. Army College of Dental Sciences, Secunderabad, was the highest-ranked Telangana institution at 33rd position. It was followed by Malla Reddy Institute of Dental Sciences, Hyderabad, at 53rd and Malla Reddy Dental College for Women, Hyderabad, at 64th.

Maulana Azad Institute of Dental Sciences, New Delhi, secured the first position in the dental category.

The IIRF rankings are based on nine broad parameters, together accounting for 100% of the assessment. These include academic reputation; graduate outcomes and employability; research outcomes; demand ratio and student profile; employer reputation and international outlook; wellbeing and institutional development; peer perception and alumni feedback; public perception and data verification; and impact and value addition.

The methodology is intended to assess institutions beyond academic performance alone, taking into account factors such as research, employability, institutional development, stakeholder perception and the broader impact of an institution.