Ritik Kumar · September 5, 2025 
Introduction
The National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF), managed by India’s Ministry of Education, annually evaluates universities based on teaching and learning, research impact, student outcomes, outreach & inclusivity, perception, and now Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).
For students and parents, NIRF offers a trusted, holistic benchmark to assess institutions beyond reputation alone.
Official Top 10 Universities – NIRF Ranking 2025
According to the official NIRF 2025 list, the Top 10 Universities in India are:
| University Name | Rank | City |
|---|---|---|
| Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru | 1 | Bengaluru |
| Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi | 2 | New Delhi |
| Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal | 3 | Manipal |
| Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi | 4 | New Delhi |
| University of Delhi (DU), New Delhi | 5 | New Delhi |
| Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Varanasi | 6 | Varanasi |
| Birla Institute of Technology & Science (BITS), Pilani | 7 | Pilani |
| Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Coimbatore | 8 | Coimbatore |
| Jadavpur University, Kolkata | 9 | Kolkata |
| Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), Aligarh | 10 | Aligarh |
For complete list, click here NIRF 2025 University Rankings
NIRF 2024 vs 2025: University Ranking Comparison
Here’s how the leading universities performed across two years, based on official NIRF data:
| Rank | University Name | 2025 Rank | 2024 Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Indian Institute of Science (IISc) | 1 | 1 |
| 2 | Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) | 2 | 2 |
| 3 | Manipal Academy of Higher Education | 3 | 4 |
| 4 | Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) | 4 | 3 |
| 5 | University of Delhi (DU) | 5 | 6 |
| 6 | Banaras Hindu University (BHU) | 6 | 5 |
| 7 | BITS Pilani | 7 | 19 |
| 8 | Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham | 8 | 7 |
| 9 | Jadavpur University | 9 | 9 |
| 10 | Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) | 10 | 10 |
Source:
Key Insights from the NIRF Rankings
- Consistent Excellence: IISc Bengaluru and JNU continue to dominate the top ranks.
- Private University Growth: MAHE climbs to 3rd rank, proving the rise of private institutions.
- Delhi University’s Push: DU improved to 5th position in 2025.
- Stable Representation: AMU, Jadavpur, and Amrita remain strong contenders in the top 10.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What criteria does NIRF use to rank universities?
Universities are evaluated on Teaching & Learning Resources, Research, Graduation Outcomes, Outreach & Inclusivity, Perception, and SDG alignment.
Q2. Which university is ranked #1 in 2025?
The Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru retained the top spot.
Q3. Do rankings change a lot each year?
Yes. Universities rise or fall depending on their performance across NIRF metrics.
Q4. How do these rankings help students?
They provide a credible, data-backed benchmark to compare universities for admissions and career planning.
Q5. Where can I check the official NIRF 2025 university rankings?
The complete list is available on the official NIRF website.
Q6. Which private universities made it to the top 10 in 2025?
Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), BITS Pilani, and Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham are the private universities in the 2025 top 10.
Q7. Why did BITS Pilani’s rank improve so much in 2025?
BITS Pilani jumped from rank 19 in 2024 to rank 7 in 2025, reflecting strong improvements in research, graduate outcomes, and inclusivity.
Q8. Do NIRF rankings influence admission cut-offs?
Not directly. Cut-offs depend on entrance exams, but higher-ranked universities usually attract more applicants, leading to tougher cut-offs.
Q9. What’s new in NIRF 2025 compared to 2024 rankings?
NIRF 2025 introduced Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) metrics, rewarding universities that contribute to inclusivity and societal impact.
Conclusion
The NIRF 2025 rankings reaffirm India’s higher education leaders. From IISc Bengaluru to DU and JNU, these universities reflect the evolving landscape of research, inclusivity, and outcomes. For students, NIRF is a trusted guide to shortlist the right universities for their
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