NEW DELHI — In a major announcement for India’s higher education landscape, the Ministry of Education has released the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) 2025 rankings, revealing the top-performing institutions across the country. The results, released by Union Minister of Education Dharmendra Pradhan, reaffirmed the pre-eminence of legacy institutions, with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras securing the No. 1 position in the Overall category for the seventh year in a row.
The 10th edition of the NIRF rankings is a comprehensive evaluation of India’s colleges, universities, and research institutions, assessing them on a set of five key parameters: Teaching, Learning & Resources (TLR), Research and Professional Practice (RPC), Graduation Outcomes (GO), Outreach & Inclusivity (OI), and Perception. This year’s framework has expanded to include a crucial new category for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), underscoring a growing focus on social and environmental responsibility within the academic community.
Dominant Institutions and Key Highlights
The 2025 rankings feature several key shifts and confirmations of excellence across various categories, providing valuable insight for prospective students and educators.
Overall and University Rankings
- IIT Madras solidified its position at the pinnacle of Indian academia, holding the top rank in the overall category. Its consistent performance is attributed to a strong focus on research, high-quality faculty, and excellent graduation outcomes.
- Following closely in the overall category were the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, and IIT Bombay, maintaining their positions as leading institutions in the country.
- In the Universities category, IISc Bengaluru retained its top rank for the tenth consecutive year. Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi, held the second position, while a significant milestone was achieved by Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), which broke into the top three, becoming the first private university to do so. This highlights the increasing quality and competitiveness of private institutions in India.
Engineering, Management, and Medical
- The Engineering domain remains an IIT stronghold, with IIT Madras leading the charts for the tenth straight year. It was followed by IIT Delhi and IIT Bombay. National Institute of Technology (NIT) Tiruchirappalli was the only non-IIT to feature in the top ten, a testament to the consistent performance of NITs.
- In Management, the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Ahmedabad once again secured the top spot, with IIM Bangalore and IIM Kozhikode following in the second and third positions, respectively.
- The Medical category saw All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, retaining its No. 1 position for the tenth consecutive year. It was followed by Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, and Christian Medical College (CMC), Vellore.
College Rankings and New Categories
- Hindu College of Delhi University maintained its top position in the Colleges category, with fellow Delhi University colleges Miranda House and Hans Raj College also performing exceptionally well.
- A major highlight of this year’s rankings is the introduction of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) category. This new parameter assesses institutions on their contributions to sustainability through research, resource management, and social outreach. This addition reflects a strategic push by the Ministry of Education to recognize institutions that are not only academically strong but also socially and environmentally responsible.
- Furthermore, the framework has introduced new parameters such as negative marking for the retraction of research papers and indicators of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, including the Indian Knowledge System (IKS) and adoption of regional languages.
Redefining Success: A Vision for a Life of Purpose and Moral Values
Studying at top institutes is a dream for every student in today’s competitive world. While an excellent academic education from a highly-ranked college can provide a strong foundation for a successful career, it’s also important to consider a holistic approach to life. According to Sant Rampal Ji Maharaj, along with a good education, spiritual knowledge and “Satbhakti” (true devotion to God) are equally essential.
He emphasizes that material success alone cannot guarantee lasting happiness and peace. True success comes from a balanced life that combines academic knowledge with a deeper understanding of one’s purpose and a connection to the divine. This perspective encourages students to not only excel in their studies but also to cultivate moral values, inner peace, and a spiritual discipline that can guide them through life’s challenges. To learn more about this philosophy, you can explore his book, “Way of Living.“
FAQs on NIRF Ranking 2025
Q1: What is NIRF?
A: The National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) is a methodology adopted by the Ministry of Education, Government of India, to rank higher education institutions across the country. It was launched in 2015 to promote competition and excellence.
Q2: Which institutions topped the key categories in the NIRF 2025 rankings?
A: IIT Madras topped the Overall and Engineering categories. IISc Bengaluru was the best University. IIM Ahmedabad ranked first in Management, and AIIMS, New Delhi led the Medical category. Hindu College was the top-ranked college.
Q3: What new categories were introduced in the NIRF 2025 rankings?
A: The NIRF 2025 rankings introduced a new category for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It also expanded its evaluation criteria to include parameters related to the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
Q4: How does NIRF determine the rankings?
A: The rankings are based on five key parameters:
- Teaching, Learning & Resources (TLR)
- Research and Professional Practice (RPC)
- Graduation Outcomes (GO)
- Outreach & Inclusivity (OI)
- Perception (PR)
Q5: Where can I find the full list of NIRF 2025 rankings?
A: The complete list of rankings for all categories and institutions can be accessed on the official NIRF website, nirfindia.org.
