The Ministry of Education has released the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) Rankings 2025 today, September 4, at nirfindia.org. This is the tenth edition of the rankings, which list the top universities, colleges, and professional institutions across India. The NIRF is one of the most trusted frameworks for assessing higher education in the country, helping students, parents, and policymakers make informed choices. This year, the rankings cover more than 16 categories, including Engineering, Management, Medical, Law, and Research Institutions. A new category focusing on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) has also been introduced, reflecting the growing importance of sustainability in education. The rankings are based on teaching quality, research output, graduation outcomes, inclusivity, and overall reputation.
Overall NIRF rankings 2025
This year, the Indian Institute of Technology Madras has again topped the list of NIRF rankings. Check the top 10 institutions here:
| Rank | Institution | Location |
| 1 | Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras | Chennai, Tamil Nadu |
| 2 | Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bengaluru | Bengaluru, Karnataka |
| 3 | Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay | Mumbai, Maharashtra |
| 4 | Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi | New Delhi |
| 5 | Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur | Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh |
| 6 | Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur | Kharagpur, West Bengal |
| 7 | Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee | Roorkee, Uttarakhand |
| 8 | All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Delhi | New Delhi |
| 9 | Jawaharlal Nehru University | New Delhi |
| 10 | Banaras Hindu University | Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh |
Why has IIT Madras dominated the NIRF rankings for a decade?
IIT Madras has consistently secured the top spot since the inception of the NIRF rankings in 2016.This remarkable achievement is attributed to its exceptional performance across all five key parameters:
- Teaching, Learning and Resources (TLR): IIT Madras boasts state-of-the-art infrastructure, a high student-to-faculty ratio, and a robust academic curriculum, ensuring quality education.
- Research and Professional Practices (RPC): The institution excels in research output, with numerous publications, patents, and industry collaborations, reflecting its commitment to innovation.
- Graduation Outcomes (GO): Graduates of IIT Madras have a high success rate in placements and higher studies, indicating the effectiveness of its academic programs.
- Outreach and Inclusivity (OI): The institute promotes diversity and inclusivity, attracting students from various regions and backgrounds.
- Perception: IIT Madras enjoys a stellar reputation among academic peers and employers, further solidifying its position as a leader in engineering education.
NIRF ranking parameters
The NIRF evaluates institutions on five major parameters to ensure a fair and holistic assessment. These include:
- Teaching, Learning & Resources (TLR)
- Research & Professional Practice (RPC)
- Graduation Outcome (GO)
- Outreach & Inclusivity (OI)
- Perception
These are defined under guidance from a core committee set up by the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) nirfindia.org.Noteworthy for 2025 is the inclusion of the SDG category, aimed at evaluating institutions based on contributions towards sustainability and societal goals.