Top 10 Colleges
Of India
As admission time approaches, students face the dilemma of making a choice from among the 10,000-odd colleges. INDIA TODAY-Gallup's fifth survey ranks the centres of excellence on key factors. The best in Arts, Science, Commerce, Law, Medicine and Engineering.

Foreign Policy Privatised
Leaked letters in London imply that Brajesh Mishra, principal secretary to the prime minister, trusted the Hindujas more than the Indian High Commission. The brothers even negotiated with Prime Minister Tony Blair on CTBT.

The Heat Is On
The Raja of Bihar is in trouble again. The CBI has filed yet another chargesheet against him in the multi-crore fodder scam, this time in Jharkhand. A non-bailable arrest warrant issued against him has Laloo in a panic.

Fuzzy Logic
Key nations, including India, are briefed by aides of Bush on the new nuclear doctrine he proposes, but find that there are more questions than answers.

Consumed By Hunger
Maharashtra has a surfeit of foodgrain. Yet, over 500 infants have died in Nandurbar district since January this year of malnutrition and related complications.

EXCLUSIVE INDAI TODAY-CALLUP SURVEY

Medicine

Thanks to autonomy, an experienced faculty and excellent research facilities AIIMS retains its ranking as the country's top medical college

If reputation is the key, then All-India Instiute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) has since its inception in 1956, has always been considered as the premier medical college. It remains there, according to its director Professor P.K. Dave, for a number of reasons-a small number of undergraduates (50 every year for MBBS) ensure plenty of personal attention from staff of high calibre; its reputation draws the creme de la creme among students; excellent library facilities and unique, liberal, holistic methods of teaching act as growth tonics for the students' intellect.

AIIMS owes its uniqueness in some measure to the autonomy it enjoys. It was the fulfilment of Jawaharlal Nehru's dream of a centre of medical excellence and a role model for south Asia, and unlike other medical colleges it was conferred the status of an autonomous institution of national importance by an act of Parliament. This also places the institute in a privileged financial position-last year it received more than Rs 250 crore from the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, as well as additional grants for various programmes. As a result, it can frame its own curriculum and select the best faculty and the best research facilities without interference from other quarters.

Not surprisingly one of AIIMS's strong points is the excellent and internationally acclaimed research in biomedical sciences. It also offers an unmatched atmosphere. "Being with the best students and learning from ace clinicians is extremely inspiring," says Priyank Jain, an intern. It's this inspiration that keeps AIIMS hale and hearty and flying high.

—Supriya Bezbaruah

MetroScape

Summer Of 2001
Flippant and elusive, he can best be described by what he is not. Meet
Bryn Adams in an uncharacteristically forthcoming mood.
more...

Looking Glass

Delhi Concert:
"United for Gujarat"

Mumbai Ceramics:
Zareen Mistry

Mumbai Club Music:
Melting Pot