The National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) Rankings 2025 ranks colleges and universities based on teaching & learning, research, graduation outcomes, outreach & inclusivity, and peer perception. However, challenges like fake data, peer perception issues, and global gaps need to be addressed to strengthen the system.
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Picture Courtesy: THE HINDU
The Ministry of Education released the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) India Rankings 2025.
It was started in 2015, to ranks colleges and universities across India.
NIRF scores institutions on five areas:
Colleges submit their own data, NIRF also uses databases like Scopus for research stats. It checks some data but largely trusts institutions.
Top Performers
New Measures: Negative scores introduced for rejected papers and their citations (last three years) to curb data manipulation.
Geographical Trends: Tamil Nadu, Delhi, Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Uttar Pradesh dominate top ranks.
Pushes Quality: NIRF makes colleges compete to improve teaching, research, and facilities.
Helps Students Choose: It provides clear data to pick colleges, unlike rumors or ads.
India-First Approach: Unlike global rankings (QS, THE), which favor Western standards, NIRF focuses on Indian needs, like diversity and local knowledge systems.
Shapes Policy: Government uses NIRF to decide funding and reforms, rewarding top performers.
Global Reach with Indian Roots: NIRF helps Indian colleges aim for world-class standards while keeping local priorities like inclusivity.
Fake Data Risks: Colleges report their own data, and some fudge numbers with help from private firms.
Peer Perception Issues: The 10% score from surveys lacks clear rules. Education Minister says it hurts government colleges, which may lose points due to less “hype.”
Scoring Flaws:
Hurts Public Colleges: Government institutes, limited by funds, score lower in areas like resources or perception compared to private ones.
Uneven Regional Success: States like Tamil Nadu dominate, while poorer states lag, showing funding gaps.
Metric Overload: NIRF prioritizes numbers (papers, patents) over creativity or real-world impact, which may stifle innovation.
Trust Issues: In 2025, Madras High Court claimed NIRF ranks medical colleges using unverified data. The court allowed rankings to proceed but raised valid concerns.
Global Gap: NIRF focus helps locally but doesn’t push colleges to compete globally, affecting international student or faculty interest.
Enhance Data Integrity
Implementing third-party audits and blockchain-based data submission to enhance transparency, with a focus on high-risk parameters like publications and finances.
Refine Methodology
Revise peer perception surveys for transparency, customize weightages by category, and include qualitative metrics like student satisfaction, alumni impact, and societal contributions.
Promote Inclusivity
Enhance capacity-building for underperforming institutions by introducing sub-categories for smaller or specialized institutions for fair comparisons.
Align with Global and Local Goals
Balancing Indian priorities with global benchmarks, integrating forward-looking metrics like AI adoption, startup incubation, and green innovation, is crucial for fostering inclusiveness and fostering global collaborations.
Encourage Broader Participation:
Streamline application processes for smaller institutions, offer compliance training, and increase voluntary participation by promoting awareness of benefits like funding and visibility.
Source: THE HINDU
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PRACTICE QUESTION Q. Which of the following is not a parameter considered under the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) ranking methodology? A) Perception B) Graduation Outcomes C) Alumni donations D) Outreach and Inclusivity Answer: C Explanation: The five main parameters of NIRF are Teaching, Learning & Resources; Research & Professional Practice; Graduation Outcomes; Outreach & Inclusivity; and Perception. Alumni donations are not a specified parameter. |
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