NIRF Rankings 2025 on September 4; more categories, new evaluation rules from this year

NIRF Ranking 2025: The ministry of education (MoE) will publish the the much-awaited National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF 2025) on September 4, listing the top-performing universities, colleges, and subject-specific institutes across India.

Launched in 2015, the NIRF rankings serve as a benchmark for students to decide on the best universities and colleges for pursuing higher studies.

The 10th-edition of the India rankings was delayed this year after the Madras High Court ordered an interim stay, following a petition that alleged a lack of transparency and data manipulation.

According to the latest updates, the ministry will to announce the list of the top 100 institutes in each category on September 4. The National Board of Accreditation (NBA) continues to act as the ranking agency on behalf of NIRF.

Last year, a total of 10,885 institutions across India applied for evaluation, and the top 100 institutes were ranked in each category, along with rank bands 101-150 and 151-200.

The institutions are currently ranked under 16 categories – overall, university, college, engineering, management, pharmacy, law, medical, architecture, dental, innovation, agriculture and allied sectors, and research institutions. The three new categories – open universities, skill universities, and state-funded public universities.

India Rankings 2025: New rules added this year

The education ministry has introduced a negative marking system for the retraction of research papers, implementing stricter evaluation norms.

The ranking methodology is based on six core parameters — teaching, learning and resources, research and professional practice, graduation outcomes, outreach and inclusivity, and perception.

In addition, new parameters such as sustainable development goals and indicators of the National Education Policy (NEP) — including the Indian Knowledge System, adoption of regional languages, and multiple entry and exit options — were introduced last year.

A glance at India's top universities

Take a look at the best institutes in each category as per last year’s MoE NIRF ranking 2024.