The National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) 2025 rankings, released by the Ministry of Education (MoE), Government of India, on September 4, 2025, provide a comprehensive evaluation of higher education institutions across India. The rankings, now in their tenth edition, cover 17 categories, including Overall, Universities, Colleges, Engineering, Management, Pharmacy, Dental, Law, Medical, and Innovation, among others. A significant addition this year is the introduction of a new category for Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). These rankings are designed to assist students and parents in making informed choices about higher education, while also encouraging institutions to improve their performance based on standardized parameters.
Methodology and Parameters
The NIRF methodology evaluates institutions on a broad range of parameters, grouped into five main categories:
- Teaching, Learning and Resources (TLR): This includes student strength, faculty-student ratio, financial resources, and facilities.
- Research and Professional Practice (RP): Focuses on research output, patents, publications, and professional practice indicators.
- Graduation Outcomes (GO): Assesses graduation rates, placements, and further studies pursued by graduates.
- Outreach and Inclusivity (OI): Examines regional diversity, women’s representation, and support for economically and socially challenged students.
- Perception (PR): Based on the perception of the institution among academic peers and employers.
In a key change for NIRF 2025, the framework has introduced negative marking for retracted articles in research publications, and the practice of removing self-citations under research and professional practices, initially introduced last year, continues. The inclusion of a new SDG category further reinforces the focus on social responsibility and environmental consciousness in higher education.
Key Highlights and Top Institutions by Category
Overall
- IIT Madras has once again secured the top position in the Overall category for the seventh consecutive year, according to Jagran Josh.
- Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru follows closely at the second position.
- IIT Bombay and IIT Delhi are ranked third and fourth respectively.
- Other institutions in the top 10 include IIT Kanpur, IIT Kharagpur, IIT Roorkee, AIIMS Delhi, Jawaharlal Nehru University, and Banaras Hindu University.
Universities
- IISc Bengaluru leads the universities category for the tenth consecutive year.
- Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi, retains the second position.
- Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) secures the third rank.
- BITS Pilani made a notable entry into the top 10 universities at the seventh position.
Colleges
- Hindu College, Delhi, retains its position as the top college in India.
- Miranda House, Delhi, is ranked second.
- Hans Raj College climbed to third from twelfth last year.
- Delhi University colleges maintain their strong presence in the top ranks.
Engineering
- IIT Madras retains its number one position in the engineering category for the tenth consecutive year.
- IIT Delhi and IIT Bombay follow at second and third positions respectively.
- The IITs continue to dominate the engineering rankings, with 9 IITs in the top ranks.
Management
- IIM Ahmedabad retains its top position in the Management category for the sixth consecutive year.
- IIM Bangalore and IIM Kozhikode secured the second and third positions respectively.
- IIM Calcutta saw a slight drop to the seventh position from its previous fifth position.
Medical
- AIIMS Delhi secures the top position in the medical category.
- Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, is ranked second.
Law
- National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bengaluru, tops the law category.
- National Law University, Delhi, is ranked second, followed by Nalsar University of Law, Telangana.
Pharmacy
- Jamia Hamdard, Delhi, is the top-ranked institution in the pharmacy category.
Architecture
- IIT Roorkee tops the Architecture category, according to sahyadricommercecollege.in.
Dental
- AIIMS Delhi leads the Dental category.
Innovation and SDG
- IIT Madras secured the top position in both the Innovation and the newly introduced Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) categories.
State-wise representation in the Top 100
Tamil Nadu leads the list with 17 institutions, followed by Maharashtra with 11 and Uttar Pradesh with 9. Delhi remains a strong hub with 8 colleges, while states such as Assam, Odisha, Punjab, and Karnataka also secured significant representation. This distribution reveals how academic excellence is spreading beyond traditional centers, highlighting the growing diversity of quality higher education across the nation.
The NIRF 2025 rankings provide valuable insights into the performance and evolving landscape of higher education in India. The continued dominance of institutions like IIT Madras and IISc Bangalore, coupled with the steady rise of private and multidisciplinary universities, reflects a dynamic and competitive environment. The emphasis on research output, inclusivity, and sustainable development goals highlights a broader commitment to holistic education and social impact within the country’s academic ecosystem. Students and stakeholders can leverage these rankings to make informed decisions and further contribute to the advancement of higher education in India.
I’m Peter, an education content creator focused on schools and colleges. I share news, tips, and insights that help students, parents, and educators stay informed and inspired. My goal is to make learning resources accessible, engaging, and useful for everyone in the academic community.