Educational leadership is essential for competitive health sciences education environment. In order to develop a supportive and collaborative environment in health sciences education institutions, various skills and abilities required among academic leaders. There is lack of consensus about the exact characteristics of a successful leader in higher education. In order to reinforce leadership qualities in academic leaders in the context of higher education and identify various perceptions about leadership qualities as perceived by academic leaders of health sciences institutes a cross sectional study has been conducted in Health Sciences Institutes /Universities offering formal degree programs of various institutes in the state of Maharashtra during August 2019 to December 2019. The study population was the academic leaders in the health sciences institutions serving in different capacities starting from Heads of the academic departments in a college, Dean/Principals of the colleges and vice chancellors of the universities. Study concluded that, the academic leaders of the health sciences institutes have better understanding about the leadership capabilities required for effective performance of health sciences institutions. The perceptions of academic leaders revealed that understanding personal strengths and limitations is most important personal capability, transparency and honestywhile dealing with others is most important Interpersonal Capability and thinking creatively and laterally is important among Intellectual Capabilities.