Indira Gandhi Medical College & Research Institute (IGMCRI), located at Vazhudavur Road, Kathirkamam, Puducherry, is the first and premier government medical college of the Union Territory of Puducherry. Established in 2010, it was created to address the historical gap in affordable government medical education within the UT — as JIPMER's limited seat allocation for local candidates, combined with the high fee structures of private deemed colleges like AVMC, left a majority of Puducherry students without access to affordable quality medical education. History: The Government of Puducherry first proposed the establishment of a medical college in the Annual Plan for 1997–1998. A society called the Pondicherry Medical College Society (later renamed Puducherry Medical College Society) was registered to establish the institution. In 2010, the institution was formally named Indira Gandhi Medical College and Research Institute (IGMC&RI) and received MCI approval for 150 MBBS seats. The college is affiliated with Pondicherry University and recognised by NMC. Campus & Infrastructure: The IGMCRI campus spans 34.5 to 40 acres (various sources) at Kathirkamam, with a built-up area of 2.8 lakh square feet across five floors. Two more floors are planned for postgraduate course expansion. The campus has spacious classrooms, lecture halls with 250+ seating capacity, examination rooms, demonstration rooms, and seminar halls. Separate hostel facilities are provided for boys and girls within the campus, with Wi-Fi, reading rooms, 24/7 security, and mess. The campus also includes an auditorium, gym, and sports facilities. Teaching Hospital: The attached government teaching hospital has 970 beds and serves the population of the UT of Puducherry and surrounding Tamil Nadu districts. It provides real-time clinical exposure across all major departments including General Medicine, Surgery, Paediatrics, OBG, Orthopaedics, Ophthalmology, ENT, Dermatology, Psychiatry, Anaesthesiology, Radiology, Community Medicine, and Forensic Medicine. Emergency care is available 24x7. Courses & Expansion: IGMCRI has 180 MBBS seats annually (expanded from initial 150). PG programmes have been introduced gradually in 6 disciplines with 17 seats, including Anatomy, Forensic Medicine, Microbiology, Pathology, Community Medicine, OBG, ENT, and others. PG expansion continues. Admission to MBBS is via 15% AIQ (MCC) and 85% Puducherry State Quota via CENTAC. PG admissions via NEET PG and CENTAC. Key distinctions: (1) Only government medical college in Puducherry UT. (2) No management or NRI quota. (3) No rural/compulsory service bond for MBBS graduates (unique among Puducherry colleges). (4) Internship stipend: ~₹20,000/month. (5) MBBS course discontinuation penalty: ₹4,00,000. (6) MD/MS bond: 1-year compulsory service or ₹5,00,000 penalty.