The Ministry of Education released the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) Rankings 2025 on September 4. The results were announced by Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. Once again, IIT Madras emerged as the best institute in India, securing the top rank in both the overall and engineering categories. This marks the tenth consecutive year that IIT Madras has retained its number one position, cementing its place as India’s premier higher education institution.
IIT Madras Continues Its Legacy
IIT Madras has become synonymous with excellence in engineering and research. Its consistent ranking at the top for ten years reflects its strong academic framework, state-of-the-art facilities, and groundbreaking research output. From innovative projects to global collaborations, the institute continues to set benchmarks for higher education in India.
In the overall ranking, IIT Madras is followed by the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bangalore and IIT Bombay. These institutions have long been at the forefront of Indian education, combining rigorous academic standards with pioneering research in diverse fields.
Top Rankings Across Categories
The NIRF Rankings 2025 covered 17 categories, including overall, university, college, engineering, management, law, medical, pharmacy, dental, architecture, agriculture and allied sectors, research institutions, innovation, open universities, skill universities, state public universities, and sustainability (SDG).
In the university category, IISc Bangalore secured the top position, followed by Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) and Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE). Jamia Millia Islamia and Delhi University were also ranked among the top universities, highlighting the continued prominence of Indian public universities.
In the engineering category, IIT Delhi and IIT Bombay followed IIT Madras in the top three. IIT Kanpur, IIT Kharagpur, IIT Roorkee, IIT Hyderabad, IIT Guwahati, NIT Tiruchirappalli, and IIT BHU completed the top ten, reflecting the dominance of IITs in technical education.
Management Institutions Take Spotlight
The management category once again highlighted the leadership of Indian Institutes of Management. IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, and IIM Kozhikode secured the top three positions. IIT Delhi also made its mark in this list, followed by IIM Lucknow, IIM Mumbai, IIM Calcutta, IIM Indore, Management Development Institute (MDI) Gurugram, and XLRI Jamshedpur.
This demonstrates the continued reputation of IIMs as the premier business schools in India, preparing leaders for corporate, entrepreneurial, and policy-making roles worldwide.
Best Colleges in India
In the college category, Delhi University dominated the rankings. Hindu College once again retained its number one position, followed by Miranda House in second place. Hansraj College made it to the third position, while Kirori Mal College and St. Stephen’s College completed the top five.
Other notable institutions included Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda Centenary College in Kolkata, Atma Ram Sanatan Dharma College in Delhi, St. Xavier’s College Kolkata, Loyola College Chennai, PSGR Krishnammal College for Women Coimbatore, and PSG College of Arts and Science Coimbatore.
The strong performance of Delhi University colleges demonstrates the capital’s continued leadership in liberal arts, sciences, and commerce education.
Rankings for Law and Medical Institutions
Law institutions also saw familiar names dominating the top ranks. National Law School of India University (NLSIU) Bangalore secured the number one position, followed by National Law University Delhi and NALSAR Hyderabad. West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences Kolkata and Gujarat National Law University Gandhinagar rounded off the top five.
In the medical category, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Delhi maintained its status as the best medical institution in the country. AIIMS has consistently ranked high due to its world-class faculty, advanced facilities, and cutting-edge research in healthcare.
New Category: Sustainability (SDG)
A major highlight of NIRF Rankings 2025 was the addition of a new category focused on sustainability and SDG practices. Institutions were evaluated on their commitment to green practices, environmental awareness, and contributions toward sustainable development. This reflects the government’s focus on aligning higher education with global goals and climate responsibilities.
Parameters of NIRF Rankings
The rankings are based on five core parameters: teaching, learning and resources; research and professional practices; graduation outcomes; outreach and inclusivity; and perception. Each parameter is assigned weightage, and institutions are scored after a transparent data evaluation process.
Teaching and learning quality account for 30 percent of the score, while research and professional practices also hold 30 percent. Graduation outcomes make up 20 percent, outreach and inclusivity contribute 10 percent, and perception holds another 10 percent. This framework ensures that institutions are ranked holistically rather than based on a single factor.
Growth in Participation
The NIRF 2025 saw a record 14,163 institutions participating in the rankings. This number is a significant increase from 10,885 institutions in 2024 and just 5,543 in 2023. The rising participation indicates the growing credibility of NIRF as a benchmark for academic performance.
Importance of NIRF Rankings
Since its launch in 2016, the NIRF Rankings have become an essential tool for students, parents, and educators. They help prospective students choose the best institutions for their career goals and provide institutions with a framework to improve quality and global competitiveness.
While some experts argue that rankings cannot fully capture aspects like campus culture and alumni strength, NIRF remains one of the most comprehensive systems for evaluating higher education institutions in India.
The NIRF Rankings 2025 reaffirm India’s educational strengths. IIT Madras continues to lead the nation in engineering and overall categories, while IISc Bangalore tops the university list. Delhi University dominates the college rankings, and IIMs remain unmatched in management education.
With the addition of the sustainability category, the rankings also reflect India’s focus on future-ready education that aligns with global development goals. The steady rise in participation shows that institutions across the country recognize the value of transparent and competitive ranking systems.
As the education sector evolves, the NIRF Rankings will continue to serve as a guiding light for students and institutions striving for excellence in higher learning.
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