Context:
Recently, the Ministry of Education released the India Rankings 2025, powered by the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF).
Top Institutions across Major Categories under the NIRF:
Overall Category:
1. IIT Madras
2. IISc Bengaluru
3. IIT Bombay
Universities Category:
1. IISc Bengaluru (10th consecutive year)
2. Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi
3. Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal
Engineering Category:
1. IIT Madras (10th consecutive year)
2. IIT Delhi
3. IIT Bombay
Medical Category:
1. AIIMS, New Delhi (8th consecutive year)
2. PGIMER, Chandigarh
3. Christian Medical College (CMC), Vellore
Colleges Category:
1. Hindu College, Delhi (2nd consecutive year)
2. Miranda House, Delhi
3. Hans Raj College, Delhi
Other Noteworthy Category Leaders
|
Category |
Top Institution |
|
Research Institutions |
IISc Bengaluru |
|
Innovation |
IIT Madras |
|
Architecture & Planning |
IIT Roorkee |
|
Law |
National Law School of India University, Bengaluru |
|
Pharmacy |
Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi |
|
Agriculture & Allied Sectors |
Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi |
|
Open Universities |
IGNOU, New Delhi |
|
Skill Universities |
Symbiosis Skills and Professional University, Pune |
|
Dental |
AIIMS, New Delhi (1st time at top in Dental) |
|
State Public Universities |
Jadavpur University, Kolkata |
About the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF)
The National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) was officially approved by the Ministry of Human Resource Development—now the Ministry of Education—and officially launched on September 29, 2015 by the then Education Minister. It was first implemented with rankings published in 2016. NIRF has expanded from 4 categories in 2016 to 17 categories in 2025, with a growing focus on inclusivity, research, and societal impact.
It was based on five Core Parameters:
1. Teaching, Learning & Resources (30%)
2. Research & Professional Practice (30%)
3. Graduation Outcomes (20%)
4. Outreach & Inclusivity (10%)
5. Perception (10%)
Conclusion:
The India Rankings 2025 not only celebrate academic excellence but also reflect a transformative vision for Indian higher education. As institutions compete and collaborate on global standards, the focus is steadily shifting from just performance to purpose, impact, and innovation—with NIRF as a key enabler of this evolution.
