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2026

JoSAA

College Predictor

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23 IITs in India  |  Based on NIRF 2025

Top 10 IITs in India 2026 – Rankings, Cutoff & Placements

Complete ranking of the top 10 IITs by NIRF 2025, with JEE Advanced CSE closing ranks, average placement packages, and important context on NIRF rank vs prestige rank.

⚠ Data Notice

CSE closing ranks for 2026 are estimated from JoSAA 2025 data. NIRF ranks are from 2025. Placement averages are approximate. Verify at josaa.nic.in before making decisions.

Top 10 IITs in India 2026 – NIRF Rankings

Important: NIRF rank ≠ prestige rank. IIT Bombay leads in industry brand and placement quality despite being NIRF #3. See FAQ below for full context.

NIRFIITLocationEst.CSE CR (est.)Avg Placement
#1IIT MadrasChennai, Tamil Nadu1959~128₹28–40 LPA
#2IIT DelhiNew Delhi1961~98₹30–45 LPA
#3IIT BombayMumbai, Maharashtra1958~67₹35–50 LPA
#5IIT KanpurKanpur, Uttar Pradesh1959~198₹25–35 LPA
#6IIT KharagpurKharagpur, West Bengal1951~284₹22–30 LPA
#7IIT GuwahatiGuwahati, Assam1994~731₹15–22 LPA
#8IIT HyderabadHyderabad, Telangana2008~897₹14–20 LPA
#9IIT RoorkeeRoorkee, Uttarakhand1847~391₹18–25 LPA
#10IIT BHUVaranasi, Uttar Pradesh1919~1089₹12–18 LPA
#12IIT IndoreIndore, Madhya Pradesh2009~1891₹10–16 LPA

Key Insight: NIRF Rank vs Industry Prestige

NIRF measures research output (publications, patents, PhD production, citations) heavily — 30% of the total score. This is why IIT Madras (outstanding research ecosystem, largest PhD programme among IITs) has topped NIRF for multiple consecutive years. However, when corporate recruiters think of the 'best' IIT for hiring, they typically rank: IIT Bombay → IIT Delhi → IIT Madras → IIT Kanpur → IIT Kharagpur.

For JEE candidates, what matters most is: (1) Can I get into that IIT with my rank? and (2) What are the career outcomes? The table above answers both questions. Use the College Predictor to find which IIT you can access with your rank.

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Frequently Asked Questions – Top 10 IITs 2026

1
Which IIT is ranked #1 in India?
IIT Madras has been ranked #1 in the NIRF (National Institutional Ranking Framework) engineering rankings consistently for multiple years, including 2025. However, NIRF ranking primarily measures research output, patent filings, faculty research, and PhD production — not industry placement quality. For industry brand value and placement quality, IIT Bombay is widely considered #1 by corporate recruiters, followed closely by IIT Delhi. The 'best' IIT depends on the criterion: NIRF → IIT Madras; Industry brand → IIT Bombay; Research → IIT Madras/IIT Bombay.
2
Is NIRF rank the same as prestige rank for IITs?
No. NIRF rank ≠ prestige rank. NIRF measures research output, PhD production, faculty-to-student ratio, and financial resources — not placement quality or industry brand. This is why IIT Madras (strong research) tops NIRF while IIT Bombay (strongest industry brand) ranks #3 in NIRF. For most engineering students, the more relevant ranking is: IIT Bombay → IIT Delhi → IIT Madras → IIT Kanpur → IIT Kharagpur → IIT Roorkee for industry brand value and placement outcomes.
3
Which IIT has the best placements?
IIT Bombay consistently leads in placement quality for CSE, with average packages of ₹35–50 LPA and highest packages touching ₹2–3 Cr (international). IIT Delhi is a close second at ₹30–45 LPA average for CSE. For overall placement (all branches combined), IIT Bombay and IIT Delhi lead. For core engineering (Mechanical, Civil) placements at PSUs, IIT Kharagpur and IIT Roorkee have strong networks. For Mathematics & Computing and quant finance, IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi, and IIT Kanpur are preferred.
4
How is NIRF ranking calculated for IITs?
NIRF ranking is calculated based on 5 parameters: (1) Teaching, Learning & Resources (TLR) — 30%, (2) Research and Professional Practice (RP) — 30%, (3) Graduation Outcomes (GO) — 20%, (4) Outreach and Inclusivity (OI) — 10%, (5) Peer Perception (PP) — 10%. Research output (publications, patents, PhD production) accounts for 30%, which explains why IIT Madras (exceptional research output) tops the list despite IIT Bombay having a stronger industry reputation.
5
Which is the best IIT for both placement and research?
IIT Bombay offers the best combination of placement and research. It is NIRF #3 but industry brand #1, has exceptional placement (CSE avg ₹35-50 LPA), and strong research (top global research collaborations, SINE incubator). IIT Delhi (NIRF #2) offers excellent placements and strong research, especially in computer science. IIT Madras (NIRF #1) leads in research but slightly trails in industry placement averages compared to IIT Bombay and IIT Delhi for CSE.

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Disclaimer

NIRF 2025 rankings. CSE closing ranks estimated from JoSAA 2025. Placement data approximate from institute reports. Verify official data before decisions.