Union Minister for Education Shri Dharmendra Pradhan today released the India Rankings 2024, which implements the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) drafted for this purpose by the Ministry of Education in 2015. Secretary, Higher Education, Shri K. Sanjay Murthy; UGC, Prof. M Jagadesh Kumar; Chairman, AICTE, Prof. T.G. Sitharam; Chairman, NETF, Prof. Anil Sahasrabuddhe; Member Secretary, NBA, Dr. Anil Kumar Nassa, Additional Secretary, Department of Higher Education, Shri Sunil Kumar Barnwal; Joint Secretary, Shri Govind Jaiswal; Chairman, and other academicians, heads of the institutions, etc. were present on this occasion.
Shri Dharmendra Pradhan while addressing the audience said that Rankings, ratings and accreditation is a vital recommendation of NEP 2020. It is heartening that NIRF rankings deeply reflect the spirit of NEP, he added. The Minister congratulated all the HEIs who have demonstrated excellence in teaching, innovation, research, graduation outcomes and other parameters and bagged a place of pride in the India Rankings 2024.
The Minister stressed that knowing the quality, performance and strengths of an academic institution is a right of students and parents. Therefore, all the 58,000 HEIs in the country must come under the ranking and rating framework. Shri Pradhan stated that employability and skills are a priority. He also said that our ranking mechanism must also include skilling as a parameter. Intangible aspects are powerful stimulus to learning and development. We should devise mechanisms to bring intangible aspects of education in the rankings framework, he added.
The Minister urged to all the captains of Indian academia to come under the ranking framework, set ambitious goals and strive for higher rankings in future editions. Together, let’s foster an environment of educational excellence for realising the goal of Viksit Bharat, he added.
Dr. Sukanta Majumdar Commends National Education Policy 2020
In a recent speech, Dr. Sukanta Majumdar expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for introducing the National Education Policy 2020. Dr. Majumdar highlighted the policy’s focus on inclusivity and innovation, emphasizing its potential impact on academic institutes across the country. According to him, healthy competition among higher education institutions will lead to overall improvements in standards. Notably, the NIRF (National Institutional Ranking Framework) now considers research, student welfare, and publications as key factors.
Shri K. Sanjay Murthy’s Insights on Rankings
During the Akhil Bhartiya Shiksha Samagam held on July 29, 2024, Shri K. Sanjay Murthy discussed workshops conducted by the Ministry of Education. These workshops aim to enhance rankings and foster collaboration among academic institutes, both nationally and internationally.
New Additions to India Rankings 2024
The 9th consecutive edition of India Rankings of Higher Education Institutes (HEIs) brings several notable additions:
Three New Categories:
- State Public Universities
- Open Universities
- Skill Universities
Integration of “Innovation” Ranking:
- The NIRF framework now includes an “Innovation” ranking, reflecting the importance of innovative practices in HEIs.
Expanded Portfolio: 16 Categories and Subject Domains
With the inclusion of the new categories (Open Universities, State Public Universities, and Skill Universities), India Rankings 2024 covers a total of 16 categories and subject domains. These include Overall, Universities, Colleges, Research Institutions, and Innovation Institutions. The subject domains ranked are Engineering, Management, Pharmacy, Architecture & Planning, Medical, Law, Dental, and Agriculture and Allied Sectors.
Parameters and Weightage
The NIRF, launched by the Ministry of Education in November 2015, continues to be the basis for India Rankings. It evaluates HEIs based on five broad categories of parameters, each assigned a weightage on a scale of 10:
- Teaching, Learning, and Resources
- Research and Professional Practice
- Graduation Outcomes
- Outreach and Inclusivity
- Perception
India Rankings 2024: A Comprehensive Overview
India Rankings 2024, an annual assessment of Higher Education Institutes (HEIs), provides valuable insights into the quality and performance of academic institutions across the country. Let’s delve into the key aspects of this ranking exercise:
Parameters and Sub-Parameters
The ranking process evaluates HEIs based on five broad parameters, each comprising 2 to 5 sub-parameters. In total, 18 parameters contribute to the rankings. These parameters cover various aspects, including teaching, research, graduation outcomes, and more.
Data Sources and Transparency
To ensure transparency, data is sourced not only from applicant institutions but also from third-party sources. Scopus (Elsevier Science) and Web of Science (Clarivate Analytics) provide information on publications and citations, while Derwent Innovation supplies patent data. Institutions have the opportunity to provide their inputs based on this shared data.
Institutional Participation
In 2024, a remarkable 6,517 unique institutions participated in the rankings across different categories and subject domains. These institutions submitted a total of 10,845 applications. Notably, this increased participation reflects the recognition of India Rankings as a fair and transparent assessment within the higher education community. The number of unique applicants has grown from 2,426 in 2016 to 6,517 in 2024, representing a 168.63% increase. Similarly, the total number of ranking applications surged from 3,565 in 2016 to 10,845 in 2024, a substantial 204.21% rise.
Institutions Ranked
Historically, 100 institutions have been ranked in Overall, Universities, Engineering, and College categories. Additionally:
- Overall and Universities categories include 100 institutions each, divided into two rank bands of 50.
- Engineering and Colleges have 200 additional institutions each, distributed across three rank bands (100-150, 151-200, and 201-300).
- Management and Pharmacy rankings expanded from 75 to 100 institutions each in 2022.
- Subject domains (e.g., Architecture & Planning, Law, Medical) feature 40 to 50 ranked institutions.
New Categories
In 2024, newly introduced categories include:
- State Public Universities: 50 ranked institutions, with an additional 50 in the 51-100 rank band.
- Open Universities and Skill Universities: Only three institutions each are ranked.
- Innovation Institutions: Ten institutions ranked, with 40 more in rank bands 11-50.
Top Performers
- Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras): Maintains its 1st position in the Overall Category since 2019 and in Engineering since 2016.
- Top 100 Overall Category: Includes state public universities, private deemed universities, IITs, NITs, central universities, private universities, AIIMS, IISERs, and more.
- Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru: Tops the Universities Category consistently from 2016 to 2024.
- Research Institutions Category: IISc Bengaluru leads for the fourth consecutive year (2021-2024).
- IIM Ahmedabad: Dominates the Management subject, retaining its top position.
India Rankings 2024: Notable Achievements
Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras):
- Retains its 1st position in the Overall Category for six consecutive years (2019-2024).
- Tops Engineering rankings for nine consecutive years (2016-2024).
Top 100 Overall Category:
- Includes a diverse mix of institutions:
- 23 state public universities
- 22 private deemed universities
- 16 IITs
- 9 NITs
- 7 central universities
- 7 private universities
- 4 AIIMS
- 4 IISERs
- 4 government-deemed universities
- 3 other CFTIs
- 1 college
- Includes a diverse mix of institutions:
Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru:
- Tops the Universities Category consistently from 2016 to 2024.
- Leads in the Research Institutions Category for four consecutive years (2021-2024).
IIM Ahmedabad:
- Dominates the Management subject, retaining its top position for five consecutive years (2020-2024).
- Ranked among the top two in Management subject from 2016 to 2019.
All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi:
- Occupies the top slot in Medical for seven consecutive years (2018-2024).
- Ranks 7th overall (previously 6th in 2023).
Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi:
- Tops the Pharmacy rankings this year.
- Previously ranked 1st from 2019 to 2022 and 2nd in 2018 and 2023.
Hindu College:
- Secures 1st position among Colleges, replacing Miranda House’s seven-year streak (2017-2023).
- Ranked 2nd in 2019, 2022, and 2023, and 3rd or 4th in other years.
IIT Roorkee:
- Retains 1st position in Architecture and Planning (2021-2024).
- Previously ranked 2nd from 2018 to 2020.
National Law School of India University, Bengaluru:
- Maintains its first position in Law for seven consecutive years (2018-2024).
Delhi Colleges:
- Continue their dominance, with six colleges among the top 10.
Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Chennai:
- Tops the Dental subject for the third consecutive year.
Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi:
- Takes the top slot in Agriculture and Allied Sectors for the second consecutive year.
Anna University, Chennai:
- Tops the newly introduced State Public Universities Category (2024).
Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), New Delhi:
- Leads the newly introduced Open Universities Category (2024).
Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur:
- Tops the Innovation category.
Symbiosis Skill and Professional University (SSPU), Pune:
- Leads the Skill Universities category in its debut ranking.
Click the link to see India Rankings 2024: https://www.nirfindia.org/
