Summary
IIT Madras Tops NIRF Rankings 2025 – The 10th edition of the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) has once again placed the Indian Institute of Technology-Madras at the pinnacle of India’s higher education landscape. Released by the Ministry of Education on September 4, 2025, these rankings highlight India’s top-performing universities, colleges, and specialized institutions across 17 categories. With new parameters like Sustainable Development Goals and negative marking for retracted research papers, the 2025 rankings promise more transparency, accountability, and global competitiveness.
IIT Madras Secures the Top Spot for the 7th Year in a Row
IIT Madras has created history by topping the NIRF 2025 rankings in the Overall, Engineering, Innovation, and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) categories. Known for its cutting-edge research, innovation ecosystem, and world-class teaching, IIT Madras continues to inspire students and researchers nationwide.
In the overall ranking, the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bengaluru claimed the second position, followed by IIT Mumbai at third. Together, these institutions represent India’s unwavering commitment to academic excellence, innovation, and sustainable growth.
IIT Madras Tops NIRF Rankings 2025: Key Highlights of NIRF Rankings 2025
The NIRF 2025 rankings cover 17 categories, including Overall, Universities, Colleges, Research Institutions, Engineering, Management, Medical, Law, Pharmacy, Architecture & Planning, Agriculture, Dental, Open Universities, Skill Universities, State Public Universities, and the newly introduced Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) category.
Some major takeaways from this year’s rankings include:
- IIT Madras ranked No.1 in Overall, Engineering, Innovation, and SDGs categories.
- IISc Bengaluru retained its position as the best university for the 10th consecutive year.
- Hindu College, Miranda House, and Hansraj College emerged as the top three colleges in India.
- IIM Ahmedabad topped the Management category, followed by IIM Bangalore and IIM Kozhikode.
- AIIMS Delhi ranked first in Medical and Dental colleges, while the National Law School of India University, Bengaluru secured first place in Law.
- Indian Agriculture Research Institute, Delhi, was named the best in Agriculture and Allied Sectors.
IIT Madras Tops NIRF Rankings 2025: New Changes in NIRF Rankings 2025
This year’s edition introduced several reforms to ensure authenticity and credibility in rankings:
- Negative Marking for Retracted Papers: Institutions faced penalties for research papers retracted due to ethical or scientific issues.
- No Self-Citations: Continued removal of self-citations ensures research quality over quantity.
- Sustainable Development Goals Category: For the first time, institutions were ranked based on green practices and SDG initiatives, aligning education with global sustainability standards.
IIT Madras Tops NIRF Rankings 2025: Why NIRF Rankings Matter for Students & Institutions
The NIRF Rankings help students make informed choices about higher education institutions while encouraging colleges and universities to maintain high academic standards, innovation culture, and global research competitiveness.
With India aiming to become a developed nation by 2047, the emphasis on research quality, innovation, and sustainable practices will shape the country’s knowledge economy and global academic footprint.
IIT Madras Tops NIRF Rankings 2025: Top 10 Colleges & Universities in NIRF 2025
- Colleges: Hindu College, Miranda House, Hansraj College, Kirori Mal College, St. Stephen’s College, St. Xavier’s College, and more.
- Universities: IISc Bengaluru, JNU New Delhi, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Jamia Millia Islamia, University of Delhi, and BITS Pilani.
IIT Madras Tops NIRF Rankings 2025: Conclusion
The IIT Madras Tops NIRF Rankings 2025 announcement reflects India’s growing focus on quality education, research innovation, and sustainability. With institutions like IIT Madras, IISc Bengaluru, and AIIMS Delhi leading the way, India’s higher education sector is setting benchmarks for excellence, inspiring millions of students to pursue academic brilliance and research innovation.
Note: All information and images used in this content are sourced from Google. They are used here for informational and illustrative purposes only.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on IIT Madras Tops NIRF Rankings 2025
1. What is the NIRF Rankings 2025?
The NIRF Rankings 2025, released by the Ministry of Education, India, is the 10th edition of the National Institutional Ranking Framework. It evaluates universities, colleges, and institutions across 17 categories based on parameters like teaching quality, research output, graduation outcomes, inclusivity, and innovation.
2. Which institute topped the NIRF Rankings 2025 in the overall category?
IIT Madras secured the No.1 position in the overall category for the seventh consecutive year, proving its leadership in academic excellence, research innovation, and sustainability practices.
3. Who ranked second and third in the NIRF 2025 overall rankings?
The Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru ranked second, while IIT Mumbai claimed the third spot in the overall rankings, showcasing India’s top talent hubs in higher education.
4. What is new in NIRF Rankings 2025 compared to previous years?
The 2025 edition introduced major changes like:
- Negative marking for retracted research papers to improve research ethics.
- No self-citations for evaluating research impact.
- A new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) category ranking institutions on eco-friendly and green practices.
5. Which are the top three colleges in NIRF Rankings 2025?
The top three colleges in the NIRF 2025 rankings are:
- Hindu College, Delhi
- Miranda House, Delhi
- Hansraj College, Delhi
These colleges continue to dominate the rankings for quality education and academic excellence.
6. Which institute ranked top in the Medical and Law categories in 2025?
- AIIMS Delhi was ranked the No.1 medical and dental institute in India.
- National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bengaluru topped the Law category for the year 2025.
7. Which institution was ranked the best for Management studies?
The Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Ahmedabad emerged as the best management institute in India, followed by IIM Bangalore and IIM Kozhikode.
8. How many institutions participated in NIRF Rankings 2025?
This year, 7,692 institutions participated, a significant jump from 2,426 institutions in the first edition in 2016, showing the growing importance of rankings in shaping India’s education sector.
9. What parameters are used for NIRF rankings?
Institutions are ranked based on five core parameters:
- Teaching, Learning & Resources
- Research & Professional Practice
- Graduation Outcomes
- Outreach & Inclusivity
- Perception & Innovation
10. Why are NIRF Rankings important for students and parents?
NIRF Rankings provide authentic, data-driven insights into the quality of education, research output, infrastructure, and inclusivity in institutions. This helps students and parents make informed decisions when choosing universities or colleges.
11. Which university was ranked the best in India for research in 2025?
The Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru was ranked the best research institution in India, maintaining its long-standing reputation for research excellence.
12. What is the significance of the new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) category in NIRF Rankings?
The SDGs category focuses on environmental sustainability, green campus initiatives, and eco-friendly practices adopted by institutions. IIT Madras ranked No.1 in this new category in 2025.