The National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) 2024 rankings were unveiled on Monday, August 12, by Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan at Bharat Mandapam in Delhi. The Indian Institute of Management (IIM) – Ahmedabad retained its top spot for the best Business school in India, marking another year at the summit of the prestigious rankings.
Following closely behind IIM-Ahmedabad in the top five were IIM-Bangalore, IIM-Kozhikode, IIT – Delhi, and IIM-Calcutta, solidifying the dominance of these institutions in the business education landscape. This year’s rankings saw a record number of 10,885 institutions participating, demonstrating a significant surge in participation and competition among India’s educational institutions since the NIRF’s inception in 2015.
IIM-Mumbai secured sixth place in the NIRF 2024 rankings, followed by IIM-Lucknow, IIM-Indore, Xavier School of Management-Jamshedpur, and IIT-Bombay. The announcement ceremony was attended by key figures in the education sector, including Dharmendra Pradhan, BJP MP Sukanta Majumdar (Union Minister of State for Education), and UGC Chairman Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar.
The National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) was approved by the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) and launched in 2015 by the Minister of Human Resource Development. NIRF outlines a standardized methodology for ranking institutions across India, encompassing 13 categories: overall, universities, medical, engineering, management, law, architecture, colleges, research institutions, pharmacy, dental, agriculture and allied sectors, and innovation.
The 2024 edition of NIRF saw the introduction of three new categories – Open Universities, Skill Universities, and State-funded government universities – further expanding the scope of the rankings. Looking ahead, NIRF will incorporate Sustainability Rankings starting next year, as announced by AICTE chairperson Anil Sahasrabudhe.
NIRF’s methodology assigns weightage to different parameters, reflecting the multifaceted nature of academic excellence. Teaching, learning, and resources, along with research and professional practice, each contribute 30% of the weightage. Graduation results hold a significant 20% weightage, while outreach, inclusion, and perception contribute the remaining 10%.
The 2023 edition of NIRF saw the participation of 8686 institutes, with IIT Madras maintaining its top spot for the fifth consecutive year. Miranda House secured the top position in the colleges’ category for the fourth time in 2023. The top five management colleges in 2023 were IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, IIM Kozhikode, IIM Calcutta, and IIT Delhi.
The NIRF rankings play a crucial role in shaping the landscape of higher education in India, providing a valuable benchmark for aspiring students, faculty, and institutions alike. The continued expansion and evolution of the framework reflect the growing emphasis on quality and innovation within India’s educational system.
