India Rankings 2023 Released, IIT Madras Retains Top Spot

Dr Rajkumar Ranjan Singh, the Minister of State for Education and External Affairs, unveiled the India Rankings 2023 during a ceremony held in New Delhi. The rankings, which are based on the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) implemented by the Ministry of Education in 2015, aim to assess the quality and excellence of higher education institutions (HEIs) in India across various categories and subject domains.

Importance of Rankings and Accreditation

Dr Rajkumar Ranjan Singh emphasized the significance of rankings and accreditation in evaluating the quality of educational programs offered by HEIs. He commended the Ministry of Education for introducing the NIRF, which uses multi-dimensional parameters to capture the quality and excellence of institutions.

The India Rankings serve as a valuable tool for students in selecting universities based on their relative standing among HEIs, while also helping universities identify areas for improvement in teaching, research, resources, and infrastructure.

 Additions to the India Rankings 2023

The India Rankings 2023 introduced several new elements to enhance its coverage. First, the rankings incorporated a new subject domain called Agriculture & Allied Sectors. Second, the "Innovation" ranking, previously conducted by the Atal Ranking of Institutions on Innovation Achievements (ARIIA), was integrated into the India Rankings.

This integration aimed to reduce the burden on institutions by eliminating the need to provide similar data to multiple agencies. Lastly, the scope of the "Architecture" category expanded to include "Architecture and Planning," encompassing institutions offering courses in Urban and Town Planning. 

Increased Participation and Ranking

Over the years, the number of institutions applying for rankings has steadily grown. For the India Rankings 2023, a total of 5,543 unique institutions submitted applications for ranking across various categories and subject domains. This represents a substantial increase from the 2,426 institutions that participated in the rankings in 2016. Additionally, the total number of applications increased from 3,565 in 2016 to 8,686 in 2023, indicating a growing recognition of the rankings exercise as fair and transparent within the higher education sector.

Ranking Parameters and Methodology

The India Rankings utilises five broad parameters for evaluating institutions: Teaching, Learning & Resources; Research and Professional Practice; Graduation Outcome; Outreach and Inclusivity; and Perception. These parameters consist of 16 to 18 sub-parameters, and institutions are ranked based on their cumulative scores in each category. Data from applicant institutions, as well as third-party sources such as Scopus and Web of Science, were used for transparency and validation. 

Key Highlights of India Rankings 2023

The rankings revealed several notable achievements. The Indian Institute of Technology Madras secured the top spot in the Overall Category for the fifth consecutive year and in Engineering for the eighth consecutive year. The Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, was ranked first in the Universities Category for the eighth year in a row and topped the Research Institutions Category for the third consecutive year.

IIM Ahmedabad maintained its first position in the Management subject for the fourth consecutive year. Other top-ranking institutions included the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, in the Medical category; National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Hyderabad, in the Pharmacy category; Miranda House in the Colleges category; IIT Roorkee in the Architecture subject; National Law School of India University, Bengaluru, in the Law category, and Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, in the Agriculture and Allied Sectors. 

In conclusion, the release of the India Rankings 2023 by Dr. Rajkumar Ranjan Singh marks another significant milestone in evaluating the quality and excellence of HEIs in India. The rankings provide valuable information for students selecting universities and assist institutions in identifying areas for improvement. With the inclusion of new subject domains and categories, the rankings continue to evolve and play a vital role in shaping the higher education landscape in the country.