NIRF Ranking Criteria Explained: How Colleges and Universities Are Ranked
The National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) 2024 list has been released by the Ministry of Education on August 12, 2024. As in previous years, IIT Madras has topped all categories, including engineering, where it secured the first rank in India. The Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, has been ranked second. Here’s a look at the NIRF ranking standards and how universities and colleges achieve top ranks.
The National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) 2024 list has been released by the Ministry of Education on August 12, 2024. As in previous years, IIT Madras has topped all categories, including engineering, where it secured the first rank in India. The Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, has been ranked second. Here’s a look at the NIRF ranking standards and how universities and colleges achieve top ranks.
Categories in NIRF 2024
The NIRF-2024 ranks institutions across 13 categories, including Overall, University, Management, Law, Medical, Engineering, Architecture, College, Pharmacy, Dental, Agriculture and Related Fields, Research Institutes, and Innovation. IIT Madras has consistently held the top position in the Overall category from 2019 to 2023 and has been first in the Engineering category from 2016 to 2023.
Who Issues the NIRF Rankings?
The NIRF rankings are issued by the Ministry of Education to assess the quality of education and related issues in higher education institutions. Different categories are created for evaluation, and institutions are assessed based on various criteria. For this year, 13 categories were used to rank institutions.
Ranking Criteria
A core committee of the Ministry of Education has established five criteria for ranking:
- Teaching, Learning & Resources
- Research & Professional Practices
- Outreach & Inclusivity
- PR Perception
- Graduation Outcomes
Each criterion is evaluated based on a set matrix, and weights are assigned to different parameters. Scores are calculated for each parameter and then weighted to determine the final ranking.
Weightage for Each Criterion
Based on committee recommendations, the weightage for different parameters is as follows:
- Teaching, Learning & Resources: 30%
- Research & Professional Practices: 30%
- Outreach & Inclusivity: 10%
- Graduation Outcomes: 20%
- PR Perception: 10%
How Rankings Are Determined
An institution’s ranking reflects the quality of education it provides. Institutions that meet all criteria and achieve high scores in evaluations are ranked highest in the Overall category. Separate top institutions are selected for each of the 13 categories, making it easier for students to decide which institution to join.
History of NIRF Rankings
The NIRF rankings began in 2016 with only four categories. The number of categories has since increased to 13. In 2016, 3,565 institutions participated, while 8,686 institutions competed for rankings in 2023.