NIRF Rankings 2025 Released: Top Institutions Across Overall, Management, Engineering & Universities

The Ministry of Education has released the 10th edition of the NIRF Rankings 2025. Once again, IIT Madras has claimed the top spot in both Overall and Engineering categories, while IISc Bengaluru continues to reign as India’s best university.

This year, the rankings span across multiple categories, including Colleges, Management, Medical, Pharmacy, Law, Architecture, Agriculture, SDG Institutions, and more. The framework also introduced negative marking for retracted research papers and a new Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) category, making the evaluation sharper and more holistic.

NIRF Rankings 2025: Highlights

• IIT Madras leads Overall, Engineering, and SDG categories.
• IISc Bengaluru is India’s top university.
• AIIMS Delhi dominates both Medical and Dental categories.
• Hindu College, Delhi, retains the No.1 spot among colleges.
• The new SDG category reflects institutions’ role in sustainability.

NIRF 2025: Top Institutions Across All Categories

NIRF Rankings 2025 have placed IIT Madras at the top in both Overall and Engineering categories, followed by IISc Bengaluru and IIT Bombay in the overall list. Among colleges, Hindu College, Delhi, grabbed the first spot ahead of Miranda House and Hansraj College. In professional education, IIM Ahmedabad led the Management rankings, AIIMS Delhi topped both Medical and Dental, Jamia Hamdard was No.1 in Pharmacy, and NLSIU Bengaluru continued its dominance in Law.

NIRF Ranking 2025: Overall Category

The Overall category of the NIRF Rankings 2025 once again highlights the dominance of IIT Madras, which secures the top spot for its unmatched excellence in academics, research, and innovation. It is followed by IISc Bengaluru in second place, which continues to lead in advanced research and postgraduate education, while IIT Bombay ranks third, recognized for its entrepreneurial ecosystem and strong industry collaborations.

NIRF Ranking 2025: Universities Category

In the Universities category, IISc Bengaluru takes the number one position, reaffirming its status as India’s most prestigious research university. Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi, follows closely at the second position with its strength in social sciences and research-intensive programs. Manipal Academy of Higher Education secures the third rank, making its mark as a leading private university with excellence in medical, dental, and allied sciences.

NIRF Ranking 2025: Management Category

The Management category is led by IIM Ahmedabad, India’s most prestigious business school, renowned for its case-based pedagogy and global placements. IIM Bangalore ranks second with a strong emphasis on leadership and entrepreneurship, while IIM Kozhikode secures third place, gaining recognition for its innovative teaching methods and alumni network.

NIRF Ranking 2025: Engineering Category

The Engineering rankings are once again dominated by IITs, with IIT Madras standing tall at number one. IIT Delhi comes in second with its focus on technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship, while IIT Bombay secures third place thanks to its robust programs and global industry connect.

NIRF Ranking 2025: Colleges Category

Among Colleges, Delhi institutions continue to shine, with Hindu College ranking first for its academic brilliance in arts, science, and commerce. Miranda House takes the second spot, excelling as one of the country’s top women’s colleges, and Hansraj College follows in third place, known for its balance of academics and extracurricular achievements.

NIRF Ranking 2025: Medical Category

In the Medical field, AIIMS Delhi maintains its legacy at the top with world-class healthcare and education standards. PGIMER Chandigarh takes second place, offering excellence in specialized postgraduate medical research, while Christian Medical College (CMC) Vellore ranks third, continuing its commitment to affordable, high-quality medical education.

NIRF Ranking 2025: Pharmacy Category

The Pharmacy category sees Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi, at the top for its pioneering work in clinical training and pharmaceutical research. BITS Pilani comes in second, offering a strong blend of pharmacy education and industry-driven research, while Panjab University, Chandigarh, secures the third spot with its innovative programs in pharmaceutical sciences.

NIRF Ranking 2025: Law Category

In Law, the National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bengaluru, holds on to its reputation as the most prestigious law school, ranking first. National Law University (NLU), Delhi, follows in second place, gaining recognition for policy-driven research and litigation training, while NALSAR Hyderabad takes the third rank with its strengths in corporate, constitutional, and international law.

NIRF Ranking 2025: Architecture Category

The Architecture category is led by IIT Roorkee, a pioneer in architectural design and planning education. NIT Calicut ranks second, excelling in sustainable design practices, while IIT Kharagpur takes third place with one of India’s oldest and most respected architecture programs.

NIRF Ranking 2025: Dental Category

For Dental sciences, AIIMS Delhi secures the top rank, setting new benchmarks in both medical and dental education. Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Chennai, ranks second with advanced clinical training facilities, while Maulana Azad Institute of Dental Sciences, Delhi, takes the third spot with its strong academic and healthcare reputation.

NIRF Ranking 2025: Agriculture Category

In Agriculture, the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi, holds the number one position as the country’s premier institute driving research in food security, farming innovations, and crop sciences. The second and third ranks remain unawarded this year.

NIRF Ranking 2025: SDG Institutions

Finally, the SDG (Sustainable Development Goals) Institutions category recognizes IIT Madras in the first place for its commitment to renewable energy and sustainable innovations. IARI New Delhi follows in second, contributing significantly to sustainable agricultural practices, while Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, ranks third for its community-driven initiatives and sustainability research.

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