Kempegowda Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS) was established in the year 1980 by the Vokkaligara Sangha and is affiliated to Rajiv Gandhi university of Health Sciences, Bangalore, Karnataka.

The Vokkaligara Sangha took a formal decision on 2nd September 1979 to start a Medical College from the year 1980-81 and applied for permission to the Registrar, Bangalore University. On 30th November 1980, Shri R Gundu Rao, the Honourable Chief Minister of Karnataka, laid the foundation stone of the Kempegowda Institute of Medical Sciences and Hospital in the premises of the Sangha and announced the grant of vacant land in Banashankari to be used for the construction of college building and hostels. Thereafter, the Sangha appointed Dr. M Basavaraju, Professor of Physiology as the Principal on 1st January 1981 and other staff by March 1981 and classes were started regularly from the 16th March 1981. Since then 16th March is observed every year as KIMS Day. The Silver Jubilee Celebrations of the Institute was held in the year 2006. A Magnificent college building to mark the centenary celebrations of the Vokkaligara Sangha and the Silver Jubilee of KIMS has been built at the Banashankari Campus.

The Pre-clinical and Para Clinical Departments are Located at Banashankari 2nd Stage near BDA complex and the Clinical Departments and KIMS Hospital are located at the KIMS Hospital, Krishna Rajendra Road, Visveswarapuram, 4kms from the College campus.

Kempegowda Institute of Medical Sciences is also recognized by :

• General Medical Council, United Kingdom
• World Health Organization
• The Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecologists, London

Objectives of the Institution

• Impart training to medical students to be competent in the management of health problems of the individual and the community, commensurate with his/her position as a member of the society and familiarize with the national health programmes.
• Develop his/her personal characteristics and attitude required for professional life such as personal integrity, sense of responsibility, dependability and ability to relate to or show concern for other individuals.
• Enable him/her to work as a leading partner in health care teams, gear up to mobilize resources to meet the health  needs of natural calamities  when required.
• Enable him/her to acquire proficiency in communication skills to appreciate social, psychological, cultural, economic and environmental factors affecting health and to develop human attitude towards discharging ones professional responsibility.
• Develop attitudes for continued self-learning and seek further expertise or to pursue research in any chosen area of medicine KIMS is recognized by the Medical Council of India permanently for running of MBBS Course since 1980-81 and also running Post- graduate degree/diploma courses since 1991-92 and these courses are also recognized by Government of India.