N.R. Biswas, a professor of the pharmacology department of AIIMS, New Delhi, was appointed director of Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences on Thursday. Sources said 32 doctors had vied for the post of the director.

Some prominent names for the post included Dr Tulsi Mahto, director, Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences, Ranchi, Dr Pradeep Garg, professor and unit head, Pandit Bhagwat Dayal Sharma Post-graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Rohtak, Dr Niranjan Nayak, professor of microbiology, AIIMS, New Delhi, Dr Shamsher Dwivedi, director, neurology, Fortis Medical Research Institute and others.