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NIRF Ranking 2025 IITs – IIT Madras Tops for 7th Consecutive Year

Complete IIT NIRF 2025 ranking list with analysis of why IIT Madras leads and how each IIT is positioned

#1

IIT Madras

7th year running

#2

IIT Delhi

Research + Delhi hub

#3

IIT Bombay

#1 in placements

NIRF ranks listed are approximate for 2025. Some positions may differ slightly. Check nirfindia.org for official data.

IIT-wise NIRF 2025 Engineering Ranks

NIRF RankIITLocationKey Notes
#1IIT MadrasChennai, Tamil Nadu7th consecutive year at #1; highest research output
#2IIT DelhiNew DelhiStrong research + Delhi location advantage
#3IIT BombayMumbai, Maharashtra#1 in public perception; highest placements
#4IIT KanpurKanpur, UPPioneer in CS education in India; strong research
#5IIT RoorkeeRoorkee, UttarakhandOldest technical institute (1847); strong civil engg
#6IIT KharagpurKharagpur, West BengalLargest IIT by area; oldest IIT (1951)
#7IIT GuwahatiGuwahati, AssamBest IIT in NE India; established 1994
#8IIT HyderabadKandi, TelanganaTop newer IIT; strong CS and AI programmes
#10IIT BHUVaranasi, UPFormerly IT-BHU; integrated into BHU
#11IIT IndoreIndore, MP2009 batch; growing research presence
#15IIT GandhinagarGandhinagar, GujaratKnown for liberal arts + engineering curriculum
#16IIT JodhpurJodhpur, Rajasthan2008 batch; desert campus
#17IIT MandiMandi, Himachal Pradesh2009 batch; scenic campus
#18IIT PatnaPatna, Bihar2008 batch; improving infrastructure

Why IIT Madras Tops NIRF Every Year

Highest Research Output

IIT Madras publishes the most research papers among all IITs and has the most h-index citations. This contributes heavily to the 30% Research & Professional Practice score.

IITM Research Park

India's largest university-based research park with 200+ companies. Drives massive industry-funded research, patents, and consultancy — boosting NIRF research scores.

Centre for Innovation

IIT Madras's startup ecosystem has produced 300+ startups, demonstrating strong professional practice outcomes.

Graduation Outcomes

IIT Madras has high placement rates and produces the most PhD graduates among IITs, boosting the 20% Graduation Outcomes score.

Inclusive Campus

Strong women enrollment and geographic diversity of student body improves the 10% Outreach & Inclusivity score.

Related Pages

NIRF Top 30 EngineeringNIRF NIT Rankings 2025IIT Placement 2026IIT Fee Structure 2026IIT Scholarships 2026JEE Advanced Predictor
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Frequently Asked Questions – NIRF IIT Rankings 2025

Common questions about IIT NIRF rankings and what they mean for students

1
Why does IIT Madras top NIRF engineering ranking every year?
IIT Madras tops NIRF Engineering for 7 consecutive years primarily due to its exceptional performance in Research & Professional Practice (30% weight) — it has the highest research publication output, patents, and funded projects among all IITs. Additionally, IIT Madras scores well in Graduation Outcomes (placement rates, higher studies) and has strong outreach. Its Centre for Innovation and IITM Research Park (India's largest academic research park) contribute significantly to its NIRF score.
2
What is IIT Bombay's NIRF rank in 2025?
IIT Bombay is ranked #3 in the NIRF 2025 Engineering category, after IIT Madras (#1) and IIT Delhi (#2). Despite being arguably the most prestigious IIT in public perception and placement outcomes, IIT Bombay ranks #3 because NIRF weighs research output heavily (30%), and IIT Madras and IIT Delhi have slightly higher research paper counts and patents in some years. IIT Bombay leads in perception and industry connect, but NIRF's formula doesn't fully capture these aspects.
3
Is NIRF rank the same as public perception rank for IITs?
No, NIRF rank and public perception often differ. In public perception (JEE student preference, alumni brand value), the order is often: IIT Bombay > IIT Delhi > IIT Madras. But in NIRF, IIT Madras consistently ranks #1 due to superior research metrics. This is because NIRF is a research-heavy framework, while public perception is more about placement outcomes, brand value, and Mumbai/Delhi location advantage. For students, choosing by JEE Advanced cutoff (which reflects preference) is more practical than NIRF rank alone.
4
How does IIT Madras compare to IIT Bombay for students?
For students choosing between IIT Madras and IIT Bombay (if they have rank for both): IIT Bombay has higher placement packages (avg ₹18-22 LPA vs ₹14-18 LPA), better Mumbai location advantage for internships, and higher international recognition. IIT Madras has more cutting-edge research, better NIRF rank, IITM Research Park (startup ecosystem), and a more focused academic atmosphere in Chennai. For CSE, both are equivalent in placement. For research and MS/PhD, IIT Madras may be marginally better.
5
Which IIT is ranked highest in NIRF for all newer IITs?
Among the newer IITs (established after 2008), IIT Hyderabad consistently ranks highest in NIRF Engineering at around #8. It is followed by IIT Indore (~#11), IIT Gandhinagar (~#15), IIT Mandi (~#17-18), and IIT Jodhpur (~#16). Among the even newer IITs (2015 batch — IIT Tirupati, IIT Jammu, IIT Bhilai, etc.), they are still establishing their research presence and rank lower but are improving rapidly.

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NIRF vs Student Preference

NIRF ranks IIT Madras #1, but JEE Advanced cutoffs reflect: IIT Bombay CSE has the lowest rank cutoff (hardest to get). Students should consider both NIRF and placement data.