GMC Kozhikode leads Kerala in national IIRF 2026 rankings
The Government Medical College (GMC), Kozhikode, has been ranked 20th among the top 144 government medical institutions in India in the Indian Institutional Ranking Framework (IIRF) 2026, and is the highest-placed medical college in Kerala, the private ranking body announced on Wednesday.
The IIRF—established in 2015—evaluates institutions on nine broad parameters. According to the published scores, GMC Kozhikode performed strongly across a range of metrics, registering weighted scores that reflect strengths in teaching and research as well as infrastructure and social inclusion.
- Teaching, learning and pedagogy: 156.03
- Research outcomes: 156.67
- Innovative medical infrastructure: 153.75
- Social inclusion: 153.93
- Future orientation: 151.10
- External perception: 149.07
- Overall weighted index (out of 1,000): 926.74
"The Government Medical College, Kozhikode, has been ranked 20th among the top 144 government medical institutions in the country in this year’s IIRF and the first in Kerala," the IIRF release said.
State context and institutional history
The ranking places GMC Kozhikode above other longstanding government medical colleges in the State. The Government Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram, was placed 41st nationally and second in Kerala; GMC Kottayam ranked 66th and third in the State, while T.D. Medical College, Alappuzha, occupies the 86th slot and fourth in Kerala.
GMC Kozhikode is approaching its 70th year. The institution was established on 5 August 1957 during the first Communist-led government in the State and was the second medical college in Kerala. K.N. Pisharoty served as the college’s first principal. Classes were initially conducted at the Government General Hospital near the beach before shifting to the present campus near Chevayur.
Over the decades the college has expanded substantially. From a 200-bed facility at inception, the associated hospital has grown to a capacity exceeding 3,000 beds. The hospital continues to be a major centre for maternal and child healthcare; the source notes it performs one of the highest numbers of deliveries in Asia, at around 30,000 a year. The annual undergraduate intake is reported at 250 students per batch.
Specialised institutes and growth
The college’s campus now hosts a number of specialised institutes that have been added over time. The Institute for Maternal and Child Health was set up in 1975, and later expansions included the Savithri Saboo Memorial Cancer Institute and the Institute of Chest Diseases, enhancing the hospital’s tertiary care capacity and referral services for Kozhikode and neighbouring districts.
| Aspect | Noted figure |
|---|---|
| Founding year | 1957 |
| Current bed strength | Over 3,000 |
| Annual deliveries (approx.) | 30,000 |
| Undergraduate intake per batch | 250 |
The IIRF rankings are determined by a composite of indicators including academic reputation, graduate outcomes and employability, research output, student profile, employer perception, international outlook, well-being and institutional development, alumni feedback, public perception and impact and value addition, the framework states.
Implications for Kozhikode and the State
For Kozhikode, a top ranking among State institutions consolidates the city’s reputation as a medical and academic hub in northern Kerala. The college’s high standing is likely to influence student preferences, faculty recruitment and research collaborations, and may attract further institutional investment and grant opportunities. The prominence of government medical colleges in the State list also underlines the role of public healthcare institutions in Kerala’s medical education ecosystem; notably, no private medical college appears on the IIRF list of top government institutions.
As GMC Kozhikode enters its 70th year, the IIRF placement offers a moment for reflection on both past growth and future priorities in medical education, clinical services and research innovation. Continued emphasis on strengthening research outputs, improving patient-centred infrastructure and expanding postgraduate and specialty training will be key to sustaining and improving the college’s national standing.
