The academic rationale behind establishing the All India Institutes of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in India was to create centres of excellence in medical education, research, and clinical practice, thereby raising the overall standards of healthcare in the country. In the post-independence period, India faced a shortage of highly trained medical professionals, advanced clinical training facilities, and indigenous medical research capacity. AIIMS was envisioned to address these gaps through rigorous academic and clinical training. Academically, AIIMS was designed to integrate high-quality teaching with hands-on clinical exposure and research. Medical education at AIIMS emphasises a strong grounding in basic medical sciences, evidence-based clinical practice, and early involvement in research. This approach aims to produce doctors who are not only skilled clinicians but also capable of critical inquiry, innovation, and leadership in healthcare.

Another key academic objective was to serve as a national benchmark for medical education. AIIMS institutions were granted academic autonomy to design curricula, assessment systems, and research priorities aligned with global standards. They also play a central role in faculty training, curriculum reform, and the development of best practices that influence medical colleges across India. By fostering interdisciplinary research, advanced specialisation, and translational medicine, AIIMS contributes to the generation of new medical knowledge and the development of a highly skilled medical workforce essential for improving healthcare outcomes nationwide.