NIRF 2025 on Sept 4: Institutes to be ranked on Sustainability for first time, know likely assessment criteria

The 10th edition of NIRF Rankings will feature the SDG ranking, wherein institutes will be ranked on sustainability. Check details below.

Updated on: Sep 3, 2025, 12:49:33 IST

By HT Education Desk

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The Ministry of Education will be releasing the 10th edition of annual NIRF Rankings on Thursday, September 4, 2025. The rankings will be available on the official website at nirfindia.org.

NIRF 2025: The 10th edition of NIRF will include SDG-based rankings. (Shutterstock)

Now, what's interesting this year?

This year, a new ranking category is being introduced, namely the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). Institutions willing to participate in the SDG category were invited to register themselves by the ministry.

What are SDGs and probable assessment criteria for institutes

In simpler terms, SDGs refer to the 17 global goals that are aimed at attaining a more sustainable present as well as future. Among these goals is inclusive and equitable quality education.

Also read: NIRF Rankings 2025 live updates

The key question now is how exactly will the institutes be assessed?

Although the specifics are not known yet, the assessment of institutions registering under the sustainability category will likely be done based on factors such as their contribution to a greener and a more equitable future. The upcoming category may also focus on institutions' sustainability-focused research and inclusive practices, among other criteria.

A report titled ‘Understanding NIRF’s New Sustainability Category: Predictions and Preparations for Institutions’ by Dr. Deepessh Divaakaran has predicted probable parameters for the Sustainability category for NIRF 2025. These include Environmental Resource Management, Green Campus Initiatives, Research and Innovation, Curricular and Co-Curricular Contributions, and Curricular and Co-Curricular Contributions.

Number of categories in NIRF 2025

With the addition of SDG, the NIRF Rankings 2025 will feature a total of 17 categories. These are as follows:

Overall
Universities
Colleges
Research Institutions
Engineering
Management
Pharmacy
Medical
Dental
Law
Architecture and Planning
Agriculture and Allied Sectors
Innovation
Open University
Skill University
State Public University
SDG or Sustainability

NIRF Rankings 2024 highlights

The NIRF Rankings 2024 were released by Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan at an event organized at the Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. The rankings were released for 16 categories.

While IIT Madras grabbed the top spot in the overall category, IIM Ahmedabad remained the top management institute. Likewise, the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi, retained the top spot in the medical colleges category, whereas NLSIU Bangalore emerged as the best law school in India last year.

It now remains to be seen which institute will grab the top among the diverse categories of NIRF Rankings 2025, particularly in sustainability front.

The NIRF Rankings 2025 will be published on the official website at nirfindia.org.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
HT Education Desk
For over a decade, the Hindustan Times Digital Streams – Education Desk has been a trusted source for accurate, in-depth, and timely news on education and careers. We bring the latest updates on board exams, competitive exams, results, employment news, study abroad, scholarships, and school and college admissions, helping students, job seekers, and educators make informed decisions. Our Coverage Areas 1. Board Exams & Results: Comprehensive reporting on CBSE, CISCE, and state board exams (UP, Bihar, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and others), including schedules, admit cards, answer keys, results, and career opportunities. 2. Competitive Exams: Insights into major exams like UPSC, JEE, NEET, GATE, CAT, SAT, and state and central government services. Exam Results: Timely updates on UPSC, SSC, SBI, IBPS, NTA, IIMs, and other competitive exam results. 3. Employment News: Notifications on government and private sector jobs, vacancies, eligibility, application processes, and results. 4. Study Abroad: Information on top universities, courses, tuition fees, scholarships, visa regulations, and career prospects for international students. Features & Analysis: Opinion pieces, expert explainers, deep-dive reports, and interviews with key figures in education. 5. Breaking Education News: Real-time updates on major policy changes, institutional reforms, and trends shaping the education sector. 6. With a commitment to factual, unbiased journalism, HT Digital’s Education Desk has seen continuous growth in readership, offering credible and engaging content tailored for students, parents, and professionals. Meet the Team 1. Nilesh Mathur – News Editor A journalist with 24 years of experience, including 18+ years at Hindustan Times, Nilesh leads editorial planning, ensures factual accuracy, and enhances audience engagement through strategic content. 2. Papri Chanda – Deputy Chief Content Producer With over a decade of experience in education journalism, Papri specializes in exam-related content, study abroad insights, and education trends. She also explores new opportunities in education that benefit students. 3. Bishal – Senior Content Producer Active in the education and jobs sector since 2019, Bishal focuses on tracking developments, analyzing trends, and crafting informative content for students and job aspirants. 4. Gaurav Sarma – Deputy Chief Content Producer A multimedia journalist with 9+ years of experience, Gaurav is skilled in research-based storytelling, feature writing, and reporting on competitive exams, online courses, and education trends. At Hindustan Times Digital Streams – Education Desk, we strive to be the go-to platform for students and professionals navigating the dynamic world of education and careers.Read More

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