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India has increased the number of All India Institutes of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) from one preeminent medical facility located in New Delhi to institutions across India. Today there are 23 AIIMS-type institutions serving patients throughout the nation. But who approved how many?
How many AIIMS were approved under each Indian Prime Minister?
This depends on whether we are including the first AIIMS, approvals from the Union Cabinet or hospitals that became fully operational. Based on figures published by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, India had a total of 23 AIIMS institutions as of 2026. Of the total, 18 were operational, and the others remained in different stages of development.
AIIMS Numbers Under Each Prime Minister
The following breakdown counts the original AIIMS and subsequent institutions according to their approval or establishment period.
| Prime Minister | AIIMS established or sanctioned | Key details |
|---|---|---|
| Jawaharlal Nehru (1947–1964) | 1 | AIIMS New Delhi was established under the AIIMS Act, 1956. |
| Atal Bihari Vajpayee (1998–2004) | 6 | Six new AIIMS were initiated under the first phase of the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY). |
| Manmohan Singh (2004–2014) | 1 | AIIMS Raebareli was approved in 2009. |
| Narendra Modi (2014–present) | 15 | Fifteen additional AIIMS were sanctioned or approved during his tenure, expanding the network nationwide. |
Important: These figures refer to the original institution and subsequent approvals, not the number of hospitals completed during each Prime Minister’s tenure. The government’s records distinguish between approval, construction, medical college operations and hospital services.
1. Jawaharlal Nehru: The First AIIMS
The Jawaharlal Nehru government, led by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, established AIIMS New Delhi in 1956. Rajkumari Amrit Kaur, the first woman to serve as India’s Union Health Minister played a key role in the creation of AIIMS.
The aim was to create a national centre combining advanced medical education, research and patient care.
Total: 1 AIIMS — New Delhi.
2. Atal Bihari Vajpayee: Six New AIIMS
In 2003, the Union Cabinet led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee launched Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY). The first phase included a total of six institutions which resembled AIIMS hospitals to improve access to high quality healthcare in states outside of Delhi.
The six institutions were:
- AIIMS Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh
- AIIMS Bhubaneswar, Odisha
- AIIMS Jodhpur, Rajasthan
- AIIMS Patna, Bihar
- AIIMS Raipur, Chhattisgarh
- AIIMS Rishikesh, Uttarakhand
Although six AIIMS institutions were approved during Vajpayee’s term as Prime Minister, these institutions were built in subsequent years and became operational over time through later administrations.
Total: 6 additional AIIMS.
3. Manmohan Singh: AIIMS Raebareli
AIIMS Raebareli in Uttar Pradesh was approved by the Union government under Manmohan Singh in February 2009.
Developing specialist healthcare services and medical education in Uttar Pradesh was the impetus for creating the institution. The building and development of AIIMS Raebareli took place after it was approved and continues under the current administration.
Total: 1 additional AIIMS.
4. Narendra Modi: Fifteen Additional AIIMS
The government under Narendra Modi has approved the highest number of additional AIIMS beginning in 2014.
These institutions include: AIIMS Nagpur, AIIMS Mangalagiri, AIIMS Kalyani, AIIMS Gorakhpur, AIIMS Bathinda, AIIMS Guwahati, AIIMS Bilaspur, AIIMS Deoghar, AIIMS Bibinagar, AIIMS Vijaypur (Jammu), AIIMS Awantipora (Kashmir), AIIMS Rajkot, AIIMS Madurai, AIIMS Darbhanga and AIIMS Majra (Rewari).
While many of these institutions have progressed to the point of operating outpatient departments and training medical students, other proposed institutions have faced challenges in construction and development.
Total: 15 additional AIIMS.
How Many AIIMS Are Operational in India?
There are currently 18 operational AIIMS institutions. According to a press release published by the Press Information Bureau on 9 July 2026, India had 23 AIIMS institutions of which 18 were operational and five were remaining at different stages of construction. Operational does not necessarily mean that each medical service or facility is built and running at full capacity.
Final Verdict: Who Expanded AIIMS the Most?
If you consider the number of institutions sanctioned/approved under each Prime Minister’s term, Narendra Modi’s regime tops the list with an expansion by 15 AIIMS. Six of these were started by Vajpayee’s government as part of PMSSY Phase I and AIIMS Raebareli was approved by Manmohan Singh’s government.
When it comes to the expansion of AIIMS, every government plays a role. Approval of setting up an institution can happen under one government’s tenure. Funding can be approved by another. Construction can occur under a third and the hospital services could actually start under a fourth regime. A level playing field would take into consideration each step instead of giving all the credits to one Prime Minister for developing the institution.