The National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) 2025, released by Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, showcased India’s leading educational institutions across 17 categories, including engineering, medicine, law, management, open universities, agriculture, and skill-based universities.
Ranking methodology
Each stream was assessed with category-specific weightages, though the broad parameters remained consistent: teaching and learning, research and professional practice, graduation outcomes, outreach and inclusivity, peer perception, and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Ministry emphasised that the rankings aim to align Indian institutions with international standards in academics, research, and inclusivity.
College rankings: Delhi University in focus
Delhi University colleges dominated the top positions, with Hindu College leading for the second consecutive year. Miranda House was placed second, while Hans Raj College and Kirori Mal College entered the top five for the first time, signalling a shift in Delhi University’s hierarchy. Six of the top seven colleges were from the capital.
Engineering and innovation leadership
The IITs maintained dominance in engineering, with IIT Madras retaining the top spot, followed by IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi, and IIT Kanpur. Southern institutions such as NIT Tiruchirappalli continued to bolster the rankings.
In innovation, IIT Madras again led, trailed by IIT Bombay, IISc Bengaluru, and IIT Kharagpur. Anna University and IIT Mandi featured in the top ten, highlighting the growing footprint of cutting-edge research beyond traditional centres of excellence.
Universities, open and skill-based institutions
Open universities were ranked separately for the first time, with IGNOU leading the category. Karnataka State Open University and U.P. Rajarshi Tandon Open University followed in second and third positions.
Skill universities were highlighted, with Symbiosis Skills and Professional University, Pune at the top, followed by Symbiosis University of Applied Sciences, Indore, and Shri Vishwakarma Skill University, Haryana.
State public universities reflected regional excellence, led by Jadavpur University, ahead of Anna University, Chennai, and Panjab University, Chandigarh. Universities from Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Assam, and Jammu & Kashmir also featured prominently.
Top 10 Rankings 2025
Overall (Top 10):
- IIT Madras, Chennai
- IISc Bengaluru
- IIT Bombay
- IIT Delhi
- IIT Kanpur
- IIT Kharagpur
- IIT Roorkee
- AIIMS Delhi
- Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
- Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi
Universities (Top 10):
- IISc Bengaluru
- Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
- Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi
- Jadavpur University, Kolkata
- Anna University, Chennai
- Panjab University, Chandigarh
- University of Delhi, Delhi
- Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Coimbatore
- Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal
- University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad
Colleges (Top 10):
- Hindu College, Delhi
- Miranda House, Delhi
- Hans Raj College, Delhi
- Kirori Mal College, Delhi
- St. Stephen’s College, Delhi
- Rama Krishna Mission Vivekananda Centenary College, Kolkata
- Atma Ram Sanatan Dharm College, Delhi
- St. Xavier’s College, Kolkata
- PSGR Krishnammal College for Women, Coimbatore
- PSG College of Arts and Science, Coimbatore
Engineering (Top 10):
- IIT Madras, Chennai
- IIT Bombay
- IIT Delhi
- IIT Kanpur
- IIT Kharagpur
- IIT Roorkee
- IIT Guwahati
- IIT Hyderabad
- NIT Tiruchirappalli
- VIT Vellore
Management / MBA (Top 10):
- IIM Ahmedabad
- IIM Bangalore
- IIM Calcutta
- IIM Lucknow
- IIM Kozhikode
- IIM Indore
- XLRI – Xavier School of Management, Jamshedpur
- NITIE, Mumbai
- IIT Bombay (Shailesh J. Mehta School of Management)
- IIT Delhi (Department of Management Studies)