The NIRF picture
According to the latest NIRF rankings, AIIMS Delhi holds the No. 1 spot in the medical category, followed by PGIMER Chandigarh and CMC Vellore. Rounding out the top tier are institutions like JIPMER Puducherry, SGPGIMS Lucknow, IMS-BHU (Banaras Hindu University) and KGMU (King George's Medical University, Lucknow) — all consistently featuring among India's most competitive government medical colleges.

How competitive is AIIMS Delhi specifically
AIIMS Delhi offers 132 MBBS seats — 125 for Indian nationals and 7 for foreign nationals — at tuition fees under ₹7,000 a year. Its NEET cutoff for the General category typically sits above the 99.999 percentile, and securing a seat generally means finishing within the top 50 All India Rank. Other AIIMS campuses are considerably more accessible by comparison, with closing ranks typically falling between AIR 500 and 5,000 depending on category and specific campus — AIIMS Jodhpur, Bhopal, Bhubaneswar and Rishikesh follow Delhi in competitiveness, while newer AIIMS campuses close at comparatively lower ranks.

What score you actually need
As a general rule, candidates need 650+ marks to remain in genuine contention for any AIIMS campus, and 680+ for the more established ones, with reserved-category cutoffs running roughly 30 to 80 marks lower depending on the specific institute. Outside AIIMS, government MBBS admission through the All India Quota typically requires 610 to 630+ marks for General category candidates, around 590+ for OBC, roughly 520+ for SC, and around 490-550+ for ST — though these figures shift slightly each year based on exam difficulty and the number of applicants.

Other top-ranked options beyond the big names
Beyond the institutions above, several other colleges regularly feature in NEET aspirants' shortlists once AIIMS Delhi is out of reach: Madras Medical College in Chennai, the Armed Forces Medical College in Pune, Maulana Azad Medical College in Delhi, and a cluster of well-regarded private and deemed universities including Christian Medical College Vellore, Manipal's KMC, and Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences.

A key distinction to keep in mind
NEET has two different cutoffs that aspirants often confuse: a qualifying cutoff, which is simply the minimum percentile needed to pass the exam and become eligible for counselling, and a much higher admission cutoff, which is what actually determines whether a candidate gets into a specific government MBBS college. Clearing NEET doesn't guarantee a government seat — the real competition begins at the counselling stage.

What to do after results
Once NEET 2026 results are declared, the process runs through checking your score and All India Rank, registering separately for All India Quota counselling and your home state's quota counselling, filling in college preferences based on realistic cutoff expectations, and going through multiple rounds of seat allotment before final admission and document verification. Since 2020, NEET has been the sole gateway to every medical college in India — government, private, deemed, and central institutions like AIIMS and JIPMER alike — with no separate entrance tests for any of them anymore.

Sharma was found hanging at her in-laws' residence in Bhopal's Katara Hills area on the night of May 12. Her in-laws' side of the family described the death as suicide, while her birth family alleged foul play and demanded an independent investigation. Questions raised over the initial post-mortem led the Madhya Pradesh High Court to order a second post-mortem examination, to be conducted by a medical board at AIIMS Delhi. The CBI took over the investigation on May 25, following the High Court's directions, and has since been working through scientific evidence, digital records and other material gathered during the probe.

According to reports, the CBI is expected to present the AIIMS medical board's final forensic report before the court at Tuesday's hearing. The 11-page report, submitted to the agency in a sealed cover on July 10, is reported to have found skin tissue on a gymnastics belt with a metal ring recovered from the scene, with the pattern reportedly matching an injury on Sharma's neck. CBI officials said the medical board deliberated on the case for nearly a month, consulting both national and international medical literature before arriving at its findings, describing the conclusion as scientifically grounded and intended to serve the interests of truth and justice in the case.

Sharma's husband, Samarth Singh, and her mother-in-law, retired judge Giribala Singh, remain in judicial custody in connection with the case and have appeared at recent hearings via video conferencing from jail. The court has previously directed that relevant investigation documents be shared with the defence, in keeping with the accused's legal right to access case material and consult counsel — a point courts have stressed even in high-profile cases, where the accused remain legally presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Sharma, who worked as a model before her marriage, had married Singh in December last year. The circumstances of her death, and the competing accounts from her birth family and in-laws, have kept the case under close public and media scrutiny in Madhya Pradesh over the past two months, with Tuesday's hearing expected to be a significant step in determining the investigation's next direction.

A significant development has emerged in the investigation into the death of model and actress Twisha Sharma, with the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, submitting an 11-page forensic report to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The report, handed over in a sealed cover, is expected to play a crucial role in determining the circumstances surrounding her death.

According to sources familiar with the investigation, the AIIMS forensic panel has concluded that skin tissue recovered from the alleged ligature material—a gymnastics belt—matches the injury and ligature marks found on Twisha Sharma's body. Investigators believe the findings could help reconstruct the sequence of events leading to her death.

AIIMS Report Submitted to CBI

The forensic report was prepared after the Madhya Pradesh High Court directed a second post-mortem examination following concerns raised by Twisha Sharma's family over the initial autopsy.

CBI officials have confirmed that the report is being examined in detail. Investigators are analysing the medical findings alongside other evidence already collected during the probe.

The AIIMS medical board reportedly documented its observations across 11 pages, which have now been formally submitted to the investigating agency.

Key Findings on Ligature Material

According to sources, forensic experts identified skin tissue on the gymnastics belt believed to have been used as the ligature material. The report states that the recovered tissue corresponds with the ligature marks and other injuries found on Twisha Sharma's body.

Officials also noted that the belt contained a metal ring, which is being examined as part of the forensic assessment. Investigators believe these findings could provide important physical evidence in understanding how the injuries were sustained.

The CBI has not officially commented on the conclusions of the report, stating only that the forensic findings are under examination as part of the ongoing investigation.

Case Under CBI Investigation

Twisha Sharma, the daughter-in-law of retired judge Giribala Singh, was found hanging at her in-laws' residence in Bhopal on May 12. The circumstances surrounding her death sparked widespread attention after family members questioned the findings of the initial post-mortem examination.

Alleging procedural lapses and inconsistencies in the first autopsy, the family approached the Madhya Pradesh High Court seeking an independent investigation.

Taking note of the concerns, the High Court directed that a second post-mortem be conducted by AIIMS, New Delhi. Subsequently, the investigation into the case was transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation.

Investigation Continues

Officials said the AIIMS forensic report will be assessed along with witness statements, forensic evidence and other materials collected during the investigation before any conclusions are reached.

The CBI has not announced any fresh action following the submission of the report. Investigators are expected to continue examining all available evidence to establish the exact circumstances of Twisha Sharma's death.

The case remains under active investigation, and authorities have not ruled out any possibility. Further developments are expected after the CBI completes its analysis of the forensic findings and other evidence gathered during the course of the probe.

The recruitment covers positions ranging from Assistant Professor to Professor and includes appointments for both AIIMS New Delhi and the AIIMS-CAPFIMS Centre in Maidan Garhi. The vacancies were spread across more than 50 departments, reflecting one of the institute’s largest faculty hiring exercises in recent years.

According to AIIMS, more than 3,200 candidates applied for the available positions. The recruitment process covered 265 faculty posts at AIIMS New Delhi and 199 posts at AIIMS-CAPFIMS. The selection exercise took nearly six months to complete due to the scale and complexity of the process.

In a first for the institution, AIIMS used blockchain-based digital technology during the recruitment process to enhance transparency, security, and confidentiality. Candidate scores were protected through a one-time password (OTP)-based system, ensuring that evaluation data remained secure throughout the selection process.

The institute said the final merit list was generated through software based on pre-defined criteria and rules, eliminating the need for human intervention in most cases. Manual intervention was limited only to situations where candidates secured identical scores and tie-breaking measures were required.

Officials believe the large-scale recruitment will strengthen patient care services, medical education, and research activities across departments. With more faculty members joining the institution, AIIMS is expected to improve specialist availability, reduce workload pressures, and enhance academic and training programs for medical students.

The issue of faculty shortages has been raised repeatedly in recent years, with concerns over vacant positions affecting healthcare delivery and academic operations. The latest recruitment drive is being viewed as a significant step toward addressing those challenges.

Medical education experts say that strengthening faculty strength at leading institutions such as AIIMS is crucial as India continues to expand its healthcare infrastructure and medical training capacity. Increased faculty availability is expected to contribute to better clinical outcomes, stronger research initiatives, and improved mentoring opportunities for future healthcare professionals.

AIIMS has indicated that the appointment and onboarding process for selected candidates will be carried out in phases, enabling departments to fill long-standing vacancies and further strengthen institutional capacity.

As an intense heatwave grips large parts of India, Dr Neeraj has issued a stark warning: drinking plain water is not enough to protect against heat-related illnesses. Speaking to ANI on May 21, the doctor cautioned that along with sweat, the body loses essential electrolytes, especially sodium, and failure to replenish them can lead to life-threatening complications.

The Electrolyte Gap

“As the heat increases, the sweetening process in the body increases. This leads to dehydration. You feel thirsty, and if you don't pay attention to this, the most important thing is that along with this sweat, our electrolytes, especially sodium, also begin to decrease,” Dr Nishchal explained. He emphasised that simple hydration is insufficient and urged people to drink lemonade, coconut water or ORS to replenish electrolytes.

Warning Against Alcohol

Strongly advising against alcohol consumption in hot weather, Dr Nishchal said, “Alcohol should be completely avoided. So, if anyone says that drinking chilled beer can beat the heat, I'd say they're wrong”.

Potential Complications

Highlighting the medical risks, the AIIMS doctor warned that ignoring dehydration can cause organs, especially the kidneys and heart, to begin shutting down. “If we still don't pay attention, other organs, especially the kidneys and heart, begin to shut down, and if you don't pay attention, it can prove fatal,” he cautioned.

Preventive Measures

Dr Nishchal urged people to take preventive steps while stepping outdoors, including using umbrellas and hats to avoid direct sunlight. The warning comes as the India Meteorological Department issued an orange alert for heatwave conditions in Delhi, Haryana, Chandigarh, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Telangana, Odisha and Uttarakhand.

Heatstroke Cases Rising

Maharashtra has recorded 292 heatstroke cases and 15 suspected deaths between March 1 and June 4 this year, with heat-related OPD visits rising by 5-15% and hospital admissions by 2-8% compared to last year. At least 16 people have died of heatstroke in southern India so far this summer.

What Next

Health experts recommend carrying electrolyte-rich drinks while stepping out and avoiding outdoor activities during peak afternoon hours. The Ministry of Health continues to monitor the situation closely and urges citizens to remain alert for danger signs of heat-related illnesses including dizziness, headache, nausea and high body temperature.

Retired IAS officer and first Chairman of the Competition Commission of India (CCI), Dhanendra Kumar, succumbed to injuries on Thursday night after a fire triggered by an air-conditioner blast at his residence in Hauz Khas. The 80-year-old veteran bureaucrat died at AIIMS Trauma Centre due to smoke inhalation, while his son remains in critical condition.

The incident occurred around 11:24 pm in a ground-plus-two-storey house in Hauz Khas Enclave, a quiet upscale neighbourhood in South Delhi. According to the Delhi Fire Service, two fire tenders, including a water bowser, rushed to the spot and brought the blaze under control by 12:20 am.

Fire Spreads Across Floors

Initial investigation points to an explosion in the indoor unit of an air-conditioner as the likely trigger. The fire quickly spread through three floors, damaging household items on the ground floor and wooden windows on the first floor. Thick smoke filled the house, making breathing difficult for those inside.

Five people, including family members and domestic staff, were present at the time. Before firefighters arrived, local residents and PCR staff helped shift two injured individuals to AIIMS Trauma Centre. Dhanendra Kumar’s condition deteriorated during treatment, and he was declared dead. His son continues to receive medical care.

Veteran Administrator with Global Experience

Kumar, a 1968-batch Haryana cadre IAS officer, had a distinguished career spanning decades. He served as Executive Director at the World Bank and played a key role in shaping India’s competition regime as the founding Chairman of the CCI. The Commission, established in 2003, became fully functional in 2009 under his leadership and is tasked with preventing anti-competitive practices and protecting consumer interests.

His passing has drawn tributes from former colleagues and members of the bureaucratic fraternity, many of whom remembered him as a thorough professional known for his integrity and vast administrative experience.

Police Rule Out Foul Play

Delhi Police officials said a crime team visited the site and conducted a preliminary inspection. “Electrical equipment is being examined and statements of eyewitnesses have been recorded,” a senior officer said. As of now, no foul play or conspiracy is suspected, though a detailed probe is underway.

The exact cause of the blast is still being ascertained. Experts suggest that old air-conditioning units, especially if poorly maintained, can sometimes develop gas leaks leading to explosions when compressors overheat.

Concerns Over Urban Fire Safety

The tragedy has once again highlighted concerns regarding fire safety in older residential buildings in Delhi. Many houses in upscale colonies like Hauz Khas were built decades ago and may not meet current safety standards for electrical wiring and fire prevention. 

Residents in the area expressed shock over the incident. “This is a peaceful neighbourhood. Something like this happening at night is terrifying,” said a local who wished to remain anonymous.

Fire officials have advised homeowners to regularly service air-conditioners and install smoke detectors, especially during the harsh summer months when AC usage peaks.

Dhanendra Kumar is survived by his family. His contribution to public service, particularly in economic regulation and international development, will be remembered by many in policy circles.

As the investigation progresses, authorities are expected to release a detailed report on the sequence of events. The incident serves as a grim reminder of the hidden risks in everyday household appliances.