NIRF Rankings 2025 Released: IIT Madras Tops Again, New SDG Category Introduced

New Delhi, September 4, 2025 – The Ministry of Education released the 10th edition of the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) Rankings 2025 today at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, announced by Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The rankings, accessible on nirfindia.org, evaluate higher education institutions across 17 categories, including a newly introduced Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) category, reflecting a shift toward assessing social and environmental responsibility alongside academic excellence.

Key Highlights of NIRF Rankings 2025

• IIT Madras Retains Top Spot: For the seventh consecutive year, the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras secured the number one position in the overall and engineering categories, attributed to its excellence in teaching, research, and graduation outcomes. The Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bengaluru topped the university and research institution categories.
• New SDG Category: A significant addition to the 2025 framework is the SDG category, evaluating institutions on their contributions to sustainability and societal goals. This reflects a growing emphasis on ethical practices and social responsibility.
• Negative Marking for Retracted Research: For the first time, NIRF introduced negative marking for retracted research papers under the Research and Professional Practices parameter. This change aims to address the rising issue of low-quality research publications, with India ranking second globally in retractions, as per the Retraction Watch Database.
• Expanded Categories: The 2025 rankings cover 17 categories, including Overall, Universities, Colleges, Engineering, Management, Pharmacy, Medical, Dental, Law, Architecture and Planning, Agriculture and Allied Sectors, Innovation, Open University, Skill University, State Public University, Research Institutions, and the new SDG category.
• Top Performers Across Categories:
  • Engineering: IIT Madras, IIT Delhi, and IIT Bombay lead, with NIT Tiruchirappalli as the only non-IIT in the top 10.
  • Management: IIM Ahmedabad retains the top spot, followed by IIM Bangalore and IIM Kozhikode.
  • Medical: AIIMS Delhi remains number one, followed by PGIMER Chandigarh and Christian Medical College, Vellore.
  • Colleges: Hindu College tops the college category for the second consecutive year, with Miranda House and Hans Raj College in the top five.
  • Universities: IISc Bengaluru leads, followed by Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) and Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI).
• Methodology and Parameters: Institutions are evaluated on five core parameters: Teaching, Learning and Resources (30%), Research and Professional Practices (30%), Graduation Outcomes (20%), Outreach and Inclusivity (10%), and Perception (10%). The introduction of negative marking and the removal of self-citations enhance the credibility of the rankings.

Challenges and Controversies

The release faced scrutiny earlier this year when the Madras High Court temporarily restrained the publication of the 2025 rankings following a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) by C. Chellamuthu. The PIL alleged that NIRF rankings rely on self-reported data without independent verification, potentially allowing institutions to manipulate information. The court dismissed the stay on May 10, citing insufficient evidence, but the debate underscores ongoing concerns about transparency.

Impact and Significance

The NIRF Rankings 2025 serve as a critical resource for students, parents, and policymakers, offering data-driven insights into institutional performance. With around 10,000 institutions participating this year, the rankings highlight India’s evolving higher education landscape, emphasizing quality education, research, and inclusivity. The addition of the SDG category and stricter research evaluation criteria signal a commitment to aligning academic excellence with global challenges.

For the complete list of rankings and detailed reports, visit nirfindia.org.