National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) 2025: Check All Rankings

Introduction

The National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) was formally approved by the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) and launched by the Honourable Minister of Human Resource Development on 29th September 2015. This initiative was aimed at creating a robust, transparent, and credible framework to rank higher education institutions across India.

The NIRF methodology was developed based on the overall recommendations and broad understanding arrived at by a Core Committee set up by the MHRD. The committee identified broad parameters and metrics to assess institutions on multiple quantitative and qualitative aspects, enabling a fair and uniform evaluation process.

Parameter Details Breakdown

• Teaching, Learning & Resources (TLR): Evaluates faculty qualifications including PhDs and experience, faculty-student ratio, financial resources used for academics, and availability of digital infrastructure.
• Research and Professional Practice (RP): Measures research publications, citations, patent filing and grants, consultancy projects, and income from such projects.
• Graduation Outcomes (GO): Number of graduates, median salary, percentage placed, students pursuing higher education, and success in competitive exams.
• Outreach and Inclusivity (OI): Analysis of gender parity, enrollment of economically and socially challenged students, inclusion of differently-abled students, and regional diversity.
• Perception (PR): Compiled using large-scale surveys of academic peers, employers, and the general public to gauge the institution’s standing.

These five pillars form the backbone of the NIRF ranking methodology, ensuring a comprehensive evaluation of an institution’s performance.

For more detailed parameter explanations, visit the official NIRF website

Background and Evolution

NIRF was conceptualized to create an authentic and accessible ranking system reflecting the ground realities of Indian higher education. Before NIRF, institutional rankings were fragmented or inconsistent, often lacking transparency. NIRF aims to:

• Provide a consistent and government-backed ranking system.
• Encourage institutions to improve education quality.
• Facilitate better decision-making for prospective students.
• Promote research culture and inclusiveness.
• Benchmark Indian institutions against global standards.

Since its launch in 2015, NIRF rankings have gained wide acceptance and participation from thousands of institutions. Over time, the framework has been updated to ensure relevance to contemporary educational landscapes.

NIRF 2025: Key Features and Updates

Expanded Categories

The NIRF 2025 rankings cover 17 categories, including the newly added Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) category to promote environmental and social responsibility in academia. The categories are:

• Overall
• Universities
• Colleges
• Engineering
• Management
• Pharmacy
• Medical
• Dental
• Law
• Architecture and Planning
• Agriculture and Allied Sectors
• Research Institutions
• Innovation
• Open Universities
• Skill Universities
• State Public Universities
• Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) – NEW

Ranking Parameters and Weightages

NIRF evaluates institutions based on five main parameters with assigned weightages that reflect various aspects of teaching, research, and societal impact:

These parameters offer a comprehensive assessment of institutional capabilities, output, and reputation.

NIRF 2025 and National Education Policy (NEP) 2020

NIRF 2025 incorporates key elements of NEP 2020 to reflect India’s reform agenda:

• Greater emphasis on Indian Knowledge System (IKS) integration.
• Support for regional language usage and vernacular research.
• Flexibility for multiple entry-exit points for students.
• Focus on multidisciplinary education consistent with NEP guidelines.
• Inclusion of sustainability and social impact dimensions via SDG ranking.

This alignment strengthens the relevance of NIRF rankings as a tool for guiding India’s educational transformation.

Highlights of NIRF 2025 Rankings

Top Universities Overall

• Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru – Retains the top position due to excellence in research, teaching, and innovation.
• Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi – Strong in humanities, social sciences, and overall perception.
• Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Manipal – Noted for balanced research and industry linkages.
• Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi
• University of Delhi, New Delhi

Top Engineering Institutions

• IIT Madras tops for the tenth consecutive year with perfect scores in teaching & learning, research, and perception.
• Other IITs such as IIT Delhi, IIT Bombay, and IIT Kanpur maintain top ranks.
• National Institutes of Technology (NITs) and Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIITs) feature prominently.

Management, Medical, and Other Key Categories

• IIM Ahmedabad leads management rankings.
• Top medical colleges include AIIMS Delhi and PGIMER Chandigarh.
• Law school leader: NALSAR University of Law.
• Pharmacy, architecture, agriculture, and skill development rankings feature sector leaders contributing to specialized education.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Ranking (New)

• This debut category highlights institutions’ efforts toward environmental and social sustainability aligned with UN SDGs.
• Includes metrics for green campuses, energy conservation, inclusivity, and social upliftment projects.

Importance for Students and Policymakers

For Students

• Provides clear, data-based guidance to choose quality institutions.
• Enables comparison across faculties and specializations.
• Highlights institutes excelling in placements, research, infrastructure, and inclusiveness.

For Institutions

• Motivates continuous quality improvement and innovation.
• Helps attract better faculty, funding, and industry partnerships.
• Provides benchmarking against peer institutions nationally and globally.

For Policymakers

• Assists in targeted policy formulation and resource allocation.
• Measures progress toward national educational goals.
• Facilitates transparency and accountability in higher education.

Challenges and Criticisms

• Some institutions and experts argue rankings risk overemphasis on perception scores.
• Data submission burdens and validation processes can be complex.
• Need for greater focus on rural and underrepresented institutions.
• Constant updating necessary to keep pace with broad educational reforms.

Conclusion

NIRF 2025 reflects India’s commitment to elevating the quality and global competitiveness of its higher education sector. By combining academic rigor, research excellence, inclusivity, and sustainability, NIRF rankings guide students and institutions toward a brighter educational future. As India embraces innovations under NEP 2020 and SDGs, the NIRF framework remains pivotal in monitoring progress and shaping the trajectory of Indian academia.