NIRF 2025 Ranking Expected Release Date

The final week of August is when the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) 2025 rankings are anticipated to be revealed. Once the Ministry of Education announces a date, the rankings are probably going to be made public, according to confirmation from the National Board of Accreditation (NBA).

Changes in NIRF 2025 Ranking

For the NIRF 2025 rankings, there have also been some significant adjustments made to the rating system. The most notable change is the creation of a sustainability-focused category, wherein organisations will be evaluated based on their level of compliance with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). The implementation of a negative marking system for research articles that have been retracted is another noteworthy modification.

Now, the "research and professional practices" criterion will be used to determine fines for institutions. A new methodology that considers the quantity or percentage of retracted papers will be used to determine the score. The purpose of these changes is to guarantee sustainable practices and the integrity of research in Indian higher education institutions.

Madras High Court Case Regarding the NIRF 2025 Rankings

The NIRF 2025 rankings were delayed by the Madras High Court following a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by C. Chellamuthu. According to the complaint, universities were manipulating data about student enrolment, teacher pay and research funding in an effort to improve their rankings.

In accordance with a court order, NIRF is only allowed to use self-reported data from institutions; however, the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) reviews the data through expert panels. The petitioner argued that the lack of verification would allow subpar institutions to deceive themselves, thereby lowering the quality of education.