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The NIRF Ranking 2025 has once again become the most trusted guide for students, parents, and educational stakeholders in India. Released on 4th September 2025 by the Ministry of Education, the rankings provide a transparent evaluation of institutions across various domains including Overall, University, Engineering, Management, Medical, Law, Pharmacy, and Colleges.
NIRF Ranking 2025 Importance
The Indian higher education sector has grown rapidly, with thousands of universities and colleges competing for recognition. Amidst this growth, the NIRF framework has become a reliable compass for students. The importance of NIRF Ranking 2025 has been highlighted below.
- Provides a transparent, data-driven comparison of institutions.
- Helps students choose colleges based on strengths like placements, research, or inclusivity.
- Boosts the global visibility of Indian institutes.
- Motivates universities to improve facilities and academic outcomes.
What’s New in NIRF Ranking 2025?
NIRF Ranking 2025 introduced some changes to strengthen the quality and credibility of rankings. The most notable update is the penalty for retracted research papers. Institutions that have published poor-quality or unethical research will now face negative weightage in rankings. This step aims to promote genuine, impactful, and ethical research output.
Another improvement is the encouragement of structured abstracts in research publications, ensuring better clarity and understanding of scholarly work. These steps reinforce the government’s commitment to improving the research ecosystem in India.
NIRF Ranking 2025 Overall Top 20 Institutes
The Overall category reflects a balanced performance across teaching, research, placements, inclusivity, and perception. The NIRF Ranking 2025 of the top 20 colleges has been shared below.
| Rank | Institution Name | Location | Category Type | Notable Strengths |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | IIT Madras | Chennai, Tamil Nadu | Overall Leader | Engineering excellence, research output |
| 2 | IISc Bengaluru | Karnataka | University | Research, innovation, postgraduate studies |
| 3 | IIT Bombay | Maharashtra | Engineering | Technology, placements, global recognition |
| 4 | IIT Delhi | New Delhi | Engineering | Research, entrepreneurship, innovation hub |
| 5 | IIT Kanpur | Uttar Pradesh | Engineering | Core engineering, startups, research labs |
| 6 | IIT Kharagpur | West Bengal | Engineering | Multidisciplinary excellence, heritage |
| 7 | IIT Roorkee | Uttarakhand | Engineering | Technology, water resources, innovation |
| 8 | AIIMS New Delhi | Delhi | Medical | Healthcare, research, top doctors |
| 9 | Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) | Delhi | University | Arts, social sciences, global recognition |
| 10 | Banaras Hindu University (BHU) | Varanasi, UP | University | Cultural heritage, multidisciplinary |
| 11 | IIT Guwahati | Assam | Engineering | Inclusivity, advanced research |
| 12 | Jadavpur University | West Bengal | University | Engineering and humanities |
| 13 | University of Delhi | Delhi | University | Large network of colleges |
| 14 | Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham | Tamil Nadu | University | Private sector research excellence |
| 15 | Anna University | Tamil Nadu | University | Engineering education, inclusivity |
| 16 | VIT University | Tamil Nadu | University | Strong placements, private leadership |
| 17 | Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) | UP | University | Social sciences, medicine, diversity |
| 18 | MAHE (Manipal Academy of Higher Education) | Karnataka | Deemed University | Medicine, pharmacy, global reputation |
| 19 | Jamia Millia Islamia | Delhi | University | Inclusivity, law, social sciences |
| 20 | Savitribai Phule Pune University | Maharashtra | University | Research, innovation, regional impact |
Engineering Top 20 Institutes (NIRF 2025)
Engineering continues to dominate the NIRF rankings with IIT Madras, IIT Delhi, and IIT Bombay leading the list.
| Rank | Institute | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | IIT Madras | Chennai, Tamil Nadu |
| 2 | IIT Delhi | New Delhi |
| 3 | IIT Bombay | Maharashtra |
| 4 | IIT Kanpur | Uttar Pradesh |
| 5 | IIT Kharagpur | West Bengal |
| 6 | IIT Roorkee | Uttarakhand |
| 7 | IIT Guwahati | Assam |
| 8 | IIT Hyderabad | Telangana |
| 9 | NIT Tiruchirappalli | Tamil Nadu |
| 10 | IIT (BHU) Varanasi | Uttar Pradesh |
| 11 | VIT Vellore | Tamil Nadu |
| 12 | NIT Surathkal | Karnataka |
| 13 | Jadavpur University | West Bengal |
| 14 | Anna University | Tamil Nadu |
| 15 | Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham | Tamil Nadu |
| 16 | NIT Rourkela | Odisha |
| 17 | Delhi Technological University (DTU) | Delhi |
| 18 | Birla Institute of Technology & Science (BITS) | Pilani, Rajasthan |
| 19 | SRM Institute of Science & Technology | Tamil Nadu |
| 20 | NIT Warangal | Telangana |
Management – Top 20 Institutes (NIRF 2025)
The management rankings highlight the supremacy of IIMs, with IIM Ahmedabad, Bangalore, and Kozhikode leading the way.
| Rank | Institute | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | IIM Ahmedabad | Gujarat |
| 2 | IIM Bangalore | Karnataka |
| 3 | IIM Kozhikode | Kerala |
| 4 | IIT Delhi (DoMS) | Delhi |
| 5 | IIM Lucknow | Uttar Pradesh |
| 6 | IIM Mumbai (formerly NITIE) | Maharashtra |
| 7 | IIM Calcutta | West Bengal |
| 8 | IIM Indore | Madhya Pradesh |
| 9 | MDI Gurgaon | Haryana |
| 10 | XLRI Jamshedpur | Jharkhand |
| 11 | IIT Bombay (SJMSOM) | Maharashtra |
| 12 | IIT Kharagpur (VGSoM) | West Bengal |
| 13 | Symbiosis Institute of Business Management | Pune, Maharashtra |
| 14 | IIT Madras DoMS | Tamil Nadu |
| 15 | IIFT New Delhi | Delhi |
| 16 | NMIMS School of Business | Maharashtra |
| 17 | Great Lakes Institute of Management | Chennai |
| 18 | IMT Ghaziabad | Uttar Pradesh |
| 19 | TAPMI Manipal | Karnataka |
| 20 | Goa Institute of Management | Goa |
Medical – Top 20 Institutes (NIRF 2025)
The medical category of NIRF 2025 highlights India’s best medical colleges and universities based on teaching, research, healthcare facilities, and inclusivity. AIIMS New Delhi continues to lead as the top choice for medical aspirants.
| Rank | Institute | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | AIIMS New Delhi | Delhi |
| 2 | PGIMER Chandigarh | Chandigarh |
| 3 | CMC Vellore | Tamil Nadu |
| 4 | JIPMER Puducherry | Puducherry |
| 5 | SGPGIMS Lucknow | Uttar Pradesh |
| 6 | BHU Institute of Medical Sciences | Varanasi |
| 7 | NIMHANS Bengaluru | Karnataka |
| 8 | KGMU Lucknow | Uttar Pradesh |
| 9 | Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham | Coimbatore |
| 10 | Kasturba Medical College (KMC) | Manipal |
| 11 | Armed Forces Medical College | Pune |
| 12 | Madras Medical College | Tamil Nadu |
| 13 | Grant Medical College | Mumbai |
| 14 | Osmania Medical College | Hyderabad |
| 15 | GMC & JJ Hospital, Mumbai | Maharashtra |
| 16 | GMC Thiruvananthapuram | Kerala |
| 17 | Lady Hardinge Medical College | Delhi |
| 18 | Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education | Tamil Nadu |
| 19 | Government Stanley Medical College | Chennai |
| 20 | GMC Chandigarh | Chandigarh |
Pharmacy – Top 20 Institutes (NIRF 2025)
The pharmacy category in NIRF 2025 showcases institutions excelling in pharmaceutical education, research, innovation, and industry collaboration. These institutes play a crucial role in strengthening India’s healthcare and drug development sector.
| Rank | Institute | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jamia Hamdard | New Delhi |
| 2 | BITS Pilani | Rajasthan |
| 3 | Panjab University | Chandigarh |
| 4 | JSS College of Pharmacy, Ooty | Tamil Nadu |
| 5 | NIPER Hyderabad | Telangana |
| 6 | Institute of Chemical Technology (ICT) | Mumbai |
| 7 | JSS College of Pharmacy, Mysuru | Karnataka |
| 8 | Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences | Karnataka |
| 9 | NIPER Mohali | Punjab |
| 10 | Poona College of Pharmacy | Maharashtra |
| 11 | Amrita School of Pharmacy | Kerala |
| 12 | Banasthali Vidyapith | Rajasthan |
| 13 | SRM College of Pharmacy | Tamil Nadu |
| 14 | Annamalai University | Tamil Nadu |
| 15 | Maharaja Sayajirao University | Gujarat |
| 16 | Lovely Professional University | Punjab |
| 17 | Dr. Harisingh Gour University | Madhya Pradesh |
| 18 | PES University | Karnataka |
| 19 | Al-Ameen College of Pharmacy | Karnataka |
| 20 | Andhra University College of Pharmaceutical Sciences | Andhra Pradesh |
Universities – Top 20 (NIRF 2025)
The university category of NIRF 2025 highlights India’s leading multidisciplinary institutions known for excellence in teaching, research, and inclusivity. IISc Bengaluru retains its position as the top university, with JNU and BHU also securing high ranks for their academic and research strength.
| Rank | University | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | IISc Bengaluru | Karnataka |
| 2 | JNU New Delhi | Delhi |
| 3 | MAHE Manipal | Karnataka |
| 4 | Jamia Millia Islamia | Delhi |
| 5 | University of Delhi | Delhi |
| 6 | Banaras Hindu University | Uttar Pradesh |
| 7 | BITS Pilani | Rajasthan |
| 8 | Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham | Tamil Nadu |
| 9 | Jadavpur University | West Bengal |
| 10 | Aligarh Muslim University | Uttar Pradesh |
| 11 | Anna University | Tamil Nadu |
| 12 | Savitribai Phule Pune University | Maharashtra |
| 13 | VIT University | Tamil Nadu |
| 14 | Calcutta University | West Bengal |
| 15 | Osmania University | Telangana |
| 16 | Hyderabad University | Telangana |
| 17 | Punjab University | Chandigarh |
| 18 | SRM University | Tamil Nadu |
| 19 | Shiv Nadar University | Uttar Pradesh |
| 20 | Gujarat University | Gujarat |
Colleges – Top 20 (NIRF 2025)
The college category in NIRF 2025 features India’s best undergraduate institutions known for academic excellence, inclusivity, and student outcomes. Delhi University colleges continue to dominate the rankings, with Miranda House and Hindu College leading the list.
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hindu College | Delhi |
| 2 | Miranda House | Delhi |
| 3 | Hansraj College | Delhi |
| 4 | Presidency University | West Bengal |
| 5 | Loyola College | Tamil Nadu |
| 6 | St. Xavier’s College | Kolkata |
| 7 | PSG College of Arts & Science | Coimbatore |
| 8 | Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda Centenary College | Kolkata |
| 9 | Lady Shri Ram College | Delhi |
| 10 | Atma Ram Sanatan Dharma College | Delhi |
| 11 | Sri Venkateswara College | Delhi |
| 12 | Christ University | Bengaluru |
| 13 | Gargi College | Delhi |
| 14 | Hinduja College | Mumbai |
| 15 | St. Joseph’s College | Bengaluru |
| 16 | Fergusson College | Pune |
| 17 | Mount Carmel College | Bengaluru |
| 18 | Sophia College | Mumbai |
| 19 | Stella Maris College | Chennai |
| 20 | Sri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC) | Delhi |
Law – Top 20 Institutes (NIRF 2025)
The law category in NIRF 2025 highlights India’s premier institutions for legal education, research, and judicial training. National Law Universities (NLUs) dominate the rankings, with NLSIU Bengaluru retaining its position as the top law institute in the country.
| Rank | Institute | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | NLSIU Bengaluru | Karnataka |
| 2 | NLU Delhi | Delhi |
| 3 | NALSAR Hyderabad | Telangana |
| 4 | WBNUJS Kolkata | West Bengal |
| 5 | GNLU Gandhinagar | Gujarat |
| 6 | NLU Jodhpur | Rajasthan |
| 7 | Jamia Millia Islamia – Faculty of Law | Delhi |
| 8 | Symbiosis Law School, Pune | Maharashtra |
| 9 | Faculty of Law – University of Delhi | Delhi |
| 10 | Indian Law Institute | Delhi |
| 11 | NLU Odisha | Odisha |
| 12 | HNLU Raipur | Chhattisgarh |
| 13 | Christ University – School of Law | Bengaluru |
| 14 | Army Institute of Law | Punjab |
| 15 | KIIT School of Law | Odisha |
| 16 | Amity Law School | Noida, UP |
| 17 | SLS Hyderabad | Telangana |
| 18 | Banasthali Vidyapith Law | Rajasthan |
| 19 | NLU Assam | Assam |
| 20 | SASTRA University Law School | Tamil Nadu |
NIRF Ranking 2025 Methodology Explained
The NIRF framework evaluates institutions across five broad parameters, each carrying a specific weightage depending on the category:
Teaching, Learning & Resources (TLR): Measures faculty quality, infrastructure, student-teacher ratio, and financial resources.
Research & Professional Practice (RPC): Focuses on publications, quality of research, patents, and industry collaborations.
Graduation Outcomes (GO): Includes placement records, higher studies, median salaries, and exam results.
Outreach & Inclusivity (OI): Assesses diversity, gender balance, facilities for disadvantaged students, and regional representation.
Perception (PR): Employer, peer, and academic perception of the institution.
Key Insights from NIRF Ranking 2025
The NIRF 2025 rankings highlight some interesting trends in Indian higher education:
IIT Madras continues to dominate as the overall leader in education, innovation, and research.
IISc Bengaluru remains the top university, showcasing India’s strength in science and research.
AIIMS New Delhi continues its legacy as the best medical institute in India.
Private institutions like VIT, Amrita, and MAHE are emerging as strong players alongside IITs and central universities.
Law schools such as NLSIU and NLU Delhi are maintaining their dominance in legal education.
FAQs on NIRF Ranking 2025
Q1: When was NIRF 2025 released?
A: On 4th September 2025 by the Ministry of Education.
Q2: Which institute ranked #1 overall in 2025?
A: IIT Madras topped the overall rankings.
Q3: Which university is best in India as per NIRF 2025?
A: IISc Bengaluru ranked #1 in the university category.
Q4: Which is the top medical institute in 2025?
A: AIIMS New Delhi remains the top choice for medical education.
Q5: Do private universities feature in the top 20 list?
A: Yes, institutions like VIT, MAHE, and Amrita University secured top positions.
