| Key Takeaway From Article 1. New SDG category in NIRF 2025. 2. Penalties for research retractions. 3. HC stay on rankings release. 4. NIRF vs NAAC credibility debate. 5. Students: use rankings as guide, not gospel. |
NIRF Ranking 2025: The National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) 2025 is set to be announced very soon, pending a final date from the Ministry of Education. Every year, NIRF ranks India’s higher education institutions across multiple categories, but this year’s rankings bring major changes, including a new sustainability category and penalties for retracted research papers.
However, the announcement comes amid legal scrutiny, as the Madras High Court has temporarily halted the release, citing concerns over data verification and transparency.
NIRF Ranking 2025: What’s New?
NIRF 2025 Rankings: New Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Category
For NIRF 2025, there is no fixed percentage weightage assigned to the new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) category yet. However, it is expected to play a measurable role in the overall ranking scores.
The aim is to evaluate how well institutions align with the United Nations SDGs, promoting education that is not only academic but also socially relevant and environmentally responsible.
Join NEET News 2025 Negative Marking for Research Retractions
Institutions will face penalties if their research papers are retracted.A formula will apply negative scores depending on the number or percentage of retractions.While the penalty is small this year, it will become stricter in coming years.
| Year | Retraction Penalty Weightage | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Minor | First year of implementation |
| 2026 | Moderate | Increasing weightage |
| 2027+ | High | Stricter enforcement |
Evaluation Changes Under Research Component
The negative scoring applies under Research and Professional Practices, which measures:
- Number of publications
- Citation quality
- Patents and research funding
NIRF Ranking Parameters
The NIRF evaluation is based on five main parameters:
- Teaching, Learning, and Resources
- Research and Professional Practices
- Graduation Outcomes
- Outreach and Inclusivity
- Perception
Read Also: NIRF Ranking Parameters for MBBS College and Methodology
NIRF Ranking Process
- Institutions register and submit data through the Data Capturing System (DCS).
- Data includes faculty, students, funding, publications, patents, and infrastructure.
- Institutions must also publish their datasets publicly on their websites.
- Data is validated, and feedback is invited from stakeholders.
- Peer perception is measured via independent surveys.
- Final rankings are published by the Ministry of Education.
Categories of Rankings
In 2024, NIRF ranked institutions across 16 categories, including:
- Overall, Universities, Colleges
- Engineering, Management, Pharmacy
- Medicine, Dentistry, Law
- Agriculture, Architecture & Planning
- Open Universities, State Public Universities
- Innovation, Research Institutions
Top 3 Institutions in NIRF Ranking 2024
| Category | Rank 1 | Rank 2 | Rank 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | IIT Madras | IIT Delhi | IIT Bombay |
| Medical | AIIMS Delhi | PGIMER Chandigarh | CMC Vellore |
| Engineering | IIT Madras | IIT Delhi | IIT Bombay |
| Universities | IISc Bengaluru | JNU Delhi | Jamia Millia Islamia |
Madras HC Stay on NIRF 2025 Rankings
The release of the NIRF 2025 rankings was delayed after the Madras High Court intervened on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL), filed by C. Chellamuthu, questioning the reliability of NIRF rankings.
The complaint said that some universities were manipulating data about student enrolment, teacher salaries, and research funding just to get better ranks.
As per the court order, NIRF can only use self-reported data given by the institutions. But unlike NIRF, the NAAC verifies data with the help of expert panels.
The petitioner argued that without proper verification, weak institutions could mislead the system, which may hurt the overall quality of education in India.
The court observed that:
- NIRF relies only on self-reported data from institutions.
- Unlike NAAC, NIRF does not have independent committees verifying the data.
- Universities may inflate data (faculty salaries, research funds, student strength) to improve ranks.
The HC temporarily stopped the release, sparking debate on credibility and fairness.
NIRF vs NAAC: Key Differences
| Feature | NIRF (National Institutional Ranking Framework) | NAAC (National Assessment and Accreditation Council) |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Purpose | Provides a competitive, quantitative ranking of institutions based on performance. | Assesses and accredits institutions based on qualitative criteria and ensures overall quality assurance. |
| Methodology | Quantitative & data-driven: Uses a weighted scoring system on specific parameters. | Qualitative & holistic: Involves internal and external assessments against defined criteria. |
| Key Parameters / Criteria | 1. Teaching, Learning & Resources (TLR) 2. Research and Professional Practice (RP) 3. Graduation Outcomes (GO) 4. Outreach and Inclusivity (OI) 5. Perception (PR) | 1. Curricular Aspects 2. Teaching-Learning & Evaluation 3. Research, Innovations & Extension 4. Infrastructure & Learning Resources 5. Student Support & Progression 6. Governance, Leadership & Management 7. Institutional Values & Best Practices |
| Outcome | Produces a comparative ranking score (out of 100), allowing institutions to be ranked nationally. | Provides an accreditation grade (A++, A, B, C) on a 4-point scale based on CGPA. |
| Focus | Emphasises broad nationwide rankings for different institution types (UG, PG, etc.). | Focuses on a holistic evaluation of the overall quality and functioning of institutions. |
| Initiator | Ministry of Education, Government of India. | Autonomous body established by the University Grants Commission (UGC). |
Timeline of Key NIRF Updates
NIRF Ranking 2024 Changes
- New categories: Open Universities, State Public Universities
- Innovation added as a parameter
- Faculty-Student ratio updated
- Sustainability introduced (linked to G20 Mission LiFE)
NIRF Ranking 2025 Changes
- New SDG category
- Negative scoring for retracted research papers
- HC stay order on rankings due to data credibility concerns
Why NIRF Ranking 2025 Changes Matter
| Objective | Impact |
|---|---|
| Promote sustainability and responsible practices | Drives institutions to embrace holistic growth aligned with global goals |
| Ensure research authenticity | Reinforces consequences for academic misconduct, safeguarding scholarly standards |
| Maintain relevance in ranking system | By evolving, NIRF stays aligned with contemporary academic and social priorities |
What It Means for Students
- More comprehensive evaluation: Institutions are now judged on sustainability and research integrity.
- Greater accountability: Negative marking discourages poor-quality or unethical research.
- Legal uncertainty: With HC’s stay, the release date of 2025 rankings remains unclear.
- Advice for Aspirants: Do not rely solely on rankings; also check accreditation (like NAAC), faculty quality, and placement records.
Top 10 Medical Colleges in India as per NIRF Ranking 2024
Here are the Top 10 Medical Colleges in India based on NIRF 2024 rankings:
| Rank | College Name | City | State | Score |
| 1 | All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi | New Delhi | Delhi | 94.46 |
| 2 | Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) | Chandigarh | Chandigarh | 80.83 |
| 3 | Christian Medical College (CMC) | Vellore | Tamil Nadu | 75.11 |
| 4 | National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS) | Bengaluru | Karnataka | 71.92 |
| 5 | Jawaharlal Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER) | Puducherry | Pondicherry | 70.74 |
| 6 | Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences | Lucknow | Uttar Pradesh | 70.07 |
| 7 | Banaras Hindu University (BHU) | Varanasi | Uttar Pradesh | 69.54 |
| 8 | Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham | Coimbatore | Tamil Nadu | 68.81 |
| 9 | Kasturba Medical College | Manipal | Karnataka | 67.42 |
| 10 | Madras Medical College and Government General Hospital | Chennai | Tamil Nadu | 64.12 |
NIRF 2025 will introduce sustainability rankings and penalties for research retractions, but its release is currently under court scrutiny for data credibility. While the new rules aim to promote quality and integrity, students are advised to use rankings as a guideline, not the only deciding factor.
