NIRF Rankings 2025 full category-wise list: IIT Madras sweeps top spot, DU Colleges and AIIMS dominate

NIRF 2025 Rankings Full List: The NIRF rankings aren’t just about reputation, they follow a structured formula. Institutions are judged on a mix of factors that carry different weights depending on the category.

Written by Sakshi Kuchroo

September 4, 2025 13:34 IST

NIRF rankings 2025: IIT Madras tops, AIIMS Delhi, Hindu College

NIRF 2025 Rankings: IIT Madras has once again emerged as the best institution in India in the NIRF 2025 rankings. (Image: X)

The Education Ministry on Thursday released the much-awaited National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) 2025, an annual list of India’s best universities, colleges, and institutes. The rankings were announced by Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

IIT Madras tops NIRF 2025 in overall, engineering, innovation, and SDGs

IIT Madras has once again emerged as the best institution in India in the NIRF 2025 rankings. It secured the number one spot in the Engineering category for the tenth year in a row and maintained its lead in the Overall category for the seventh consecutive year.

How are the NIRF rankings decided?

The NIRF rankings aren’t just about reputation, they follow a structured formula. Institutions are judged on a mix of factors that carry different weights depending on the category. Broadly, these include:

Teaching, learning, and resources: Quality of education, infrastructure, and faculty strength.

Research and professional practice: Publications, patents, and industry projects.

Graduation outcomes: Student performance, placements, and higher studies.

Outreach and inclusivity: Representation of women, socially disadvantaged groups, and regional diversity.

Peer perception: Opinions from employers, academics, and the public.

This detailed process is what makes the NIRF one of the most trusted rankings in Indian higher education.

NIRF Rankings across categories

The 2025 rankings cover 17 different categories, reflecting the diversity of India’s education system. These include SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) institutes, Universities, Colleges, Research institutions, engineering, management, pharmacy, medical, dental, law, architecture and planning, agriculture and allied sectors, open universities, skill universities, and state public universities.

Each category gives students, parents, and policymakers a clear picture of which institutions are leading in their respective fields, which also helps them take future decision for their kids.