The Ministry of Education released the 2025 edition of the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) on Thursday, with IIT Madras leading overall rankings for the seventh consecutive year, while IISc Bengaluru emerged as the best university and research institute.
NEW DELHI
The National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) 2025 was announced on Thursday by Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, reaffirming IIT Madras as India’s top higher education institution overall. The institute has held the position since 2019, reflecting its consistent excellence across academics, research, and innovation.
In the universities category, the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bengaluru claimed the first spot, followed by Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU). The Manipal Academy of Higher Education and Jamia Millia Islamia secured third and fourth places, respectively. IISc Bengaluru also retained its position as the country’s top-ranked research institution, with IIT Madras following close behind.
Among colleges, Hindu College, Delhi University, took the top position, while Miranda House and Hans Raj College were ranked second and third. Kirori Mal College and St. Stephen’s College rounded out the top five, underscoring Delhi University’s strong presence in the rankings.
In the open universities category, Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) continued its dominance at the top, followed by Karnataka State Open University, Mysuru.
The NIRF rankings, instituted by the Ministry of Education in 2016, assess institutions based on parameters including teaching, research output, graduation outcomes, outreach, and inclusivity. This year’s results highlight IISc Bengaluru’s leadership in research and science, while IIT Madras continues to be recognised as India’s most comprehensive higher education institution.
