IIMs NIRF Ranking 2026: Top IIMs in India; Old vs New IIM Comparison, Ranking Parameters and Weightage

NIRF MBA Ranking 2026 will be out most likely in the third week of September. This year too, the top IIMs - Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Kozhikode, Calcutta,Lucknow and Indore are expected to grab positions in top 10. Check here past year IIM MBA NIRF ranking and parameters on which institutes are ranked. 

IIM NIRF Ranking (representative image)

The IIMs hold top ranks in MHRD-NIRF Management rankings every year and is expected to be the same for this year too. The Government of India is soon expected to release the NIRF MBA Ranking 2026. Candidates planning to pursue MBA in 2027, can base their admission plan on the basis of the latest NIRF IIM rankings. It will help them compare IIMs with other top ranking MBA colleges in India and prepare for the CAT 2026 exam accordingly.

Every year, over 1000 MBA colleges in India participate in the NIRF rankings out of which the Government ranks only top 100. All 21 IIMs find a spot in the list. The top six IIMs (BLACKI) dominate the top 15 ranks, with IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Calcutta, IIM Bangalore and IIM Kozhikode being in the top 10.

NIRF Ranking 2026 Release Date

The Ministry of Education, Government of India has not announced the NIRF Ranking 2026 release date. However, based on last year’s schedule one can expect them to conduct announcement ceremony in the coming week.

• NIRF 2025 was released on September 4, 2025.
• NIRF 2024 was announced in August 12, 2024.

The process of NIRF ranking 2026 began in January 2026 with the ministry inviting institutes to submit data by March 2026. Post that, every entry is evaluated and goes through verification stage where the National Board of Accreditation (NBA) verifies claims against sources like Scopus, Web of Science, and patent databases post which the final ranking is released.

What is NIRF Ranking?

National Institutional Ranking Framework or the NIRF is a ranking frame work which aims to rate educational institutions for various streams on the basis of their performance on various parameters that define the basis of good education system in the country. The first ranking list was announced by the Ministry of Education in 2015.

Several private agencies have been ranking colleges for Management education before NIRF too. Since NIRF is a government agency which determines rankings based on research outputs, faculty, placement, infrastructures, it sort of acts as a stamp of approval to the ranking for management institutions to be free of bias. The top IIMs list can be checked through NIRF management category rank.

NIRF Ranking 2026 Management: Parameters and Weightage

To understand how NIRF MBA ranking 2026 will be done, it is important to understand the parameters on which the institutions are evaluated and why one institute scores more than another and vice versa.

Teaching, Learning & Resources (TLR)

The first parameter is Teaching, Learning & Resources, which carries 30 points. Under this parameter, the following are evaluated:

A. Student Strength including Doctoral Students (SS): 20 marks

B. Faculty-student ratio with emphasis on permanent faculty (FSR): 30 marks

C. Combined metric for Faculty with PhD (or equivalent) and Experience (FQE): 20 marks

D. Financial Resources and their Utilisation (FRU): 30 marks

Research and Professional Practice (RP)

The second parameter for MBA and IIMs NIRF ranking, Research and Professional Practice, also carries 30 points. Under this parameter, the following are evaluated:

A. Combined metric for publication: 40 marks

B. Combined metric for quality publication: 40 marks

C. Footprint of Projects, Professional Practice and Executive Development Programs: 20 marks

Graduation Outcomes (GO)

The third parameter for MBA and IIMs NIRF ranking, Graduation Outcome, carries 20 points. Under this parameter, the following are evaluated:

A. Combined metric for Placement and Higher Studies (GPH): 40 marks

B. Metric for University Examinations (GUE): 20 marks

C. Median Salary (GMS): 40 marks

Outreach and Inclusivity (OI)

The fourth parameter for MBA and IIMs NIRF ranking, Graduation Outcome, carries 10 points. Under this parameter, the following are evaluated:

A. Percentage of Students from Other States (Region Diversity RD): 30 marks

B. Percentage of Women (Women Diversity WD): 30 marks

C. Economically and Socially Challenged Students (ESCS): 20 marks

D. Facilities for Physically Challenged Students (PCS): 20 marks

Peer Perception (PP)

The fourth parameter for MBA and IIMs NIRF ranking, Peer Perception, carries 10 points. Under this parameter, the following are evaluated:

A. Peer Perception: Employers & Academic Peer (PR): 100 marks

IIM Rankings 2026: NIRF List

IIMs NIRF ranking 2026 list will be shared by Shiksha here as soon as it is released by the Ministry of Education. IIMs are the top B-Schools in India and they have managed to remain on top for decades, courtesy their most advance level education, infrastructure and strong placement cell. The IIMs enjoy best ROIs among top management institutions in India.

Also Read: List of IIMs: Ranking Courses, Seats and Fee Intake

Factors Which Might Influence NIRF IIM Ranking NIRF 2026

Although, the NIRF evaluates every entry on the above mentioned 5 main parameters, it introduces new methodology or new data points if there are changes in the education field. If the NIRF, introduces new parameters this year, it will be known with the release of the NIRF 2026 management ranking.

Previous Year IIM NIRF Ranking

In NIRF 2025, IIM Ahmedabad bagged No. 1 spot with a total score of 83.29 out of 100. In 2024 too, the institute was ranked No.1 with 83. 32 points.  IIM Bangalore has been ranked No.2 in both 2024 and 2025. Similarly IIM Kozhikode has been ranked No.3 for both 2024 and 2025 in the NIRF management ranking.

IIMs NIRF Rankings 2025 and 2024

Every year, there’s a movement of ranks basis the scores achieved by IIMs on the main 5 parameters. Check the below table for a comparison of IIMs NIRF Rankings 2025 and 2024. IIM Guwahati, the newest campus which was established in 2025 is not a part of IIM NIRF rankings yet.

Old IIMs vs New IIMs NIRF Ranking: A Comparison

Out of the 22 IIMs, the institutes are categorized into – Old IIMs, New IIMs and Baby IIMs. Old IIMs are those which were established between 1961 and 1996 and they dominate the top 20 of NIRF Management Rankings, every year. New IIMs are those which have been established between 2007 and 2011 and Baby IIMs are those which have been established after 2015.

Top IIMs in India 2025 NIRF Ranking Analysis

NIRF Ranking: IIM Ahmedabad

As per the NIRF Management Rankings 2025, IIM Ahmedabad’s total score out of 100 was 83.32. Here’s how the it scored on the five parameters:

• TLR: 91.84 /100
• RP: 64.91/100
• GO: 98.72/100
• OI: 72.01/100
• PR: 93.26/100

NIRF Ranking: IIM Bangalore

IIM Bangalore’s total score out of 100 was 81.16 in the NIRF MBA ranking 2025. Here’s how the it scored on the five parameters:

• TLR: 90.08 /100
• RP: 56.71/100
• GO: 98.41/100
• OI: 74.54/100
• PR: 100/100

NIRF Ranking: IIM Kozhikode

IIM Kozhikode’s total score out of 100 was 77.90 in the NIRF MBA ranking 2025. Here’s how the it scored on the five parameters:

• TLR: 86.99 /100
• RP: 64.91/100
• GO: 98.72/100
• OI: 72.01/100
• PR: 93.26/100

NIRF Ranking: IIM Calcutta

IIM Calcutta’s total score out of 100 was 75.07 in the NIRF MBA ranking 2025. Here’s how the it scored on the five parameters:

• TLR: 83.67 /100
• RP: 48.10/100
• GO: 99.09/100
• OI: 70.46/100
• PR: 85.29/100

NIRF Ranking: IIM Mumbai

IIM Mumbai’s total score out of 100 was 74.43 in the NIRF MBA ranking 2025. Here’s how the it scored on the five parameters:

• TLR: 80.82 /100
• RP: 59.14/100
• GO: 99.41/100
• OI: 75.85/100
• PR: 52.82/100

NIRF Ranking: IIM Lucknow

IIM Lucknow’s total score out of 100 was 74.43 in the NIRF MBA ranking 2025. Here’s how the it scored on the five parameters:

• TLR: 84.25/100
• RP: 64.91/100
• GO: 49.09/100
• OI: 71.17/100
• PR: 79.81/100

NIRF Ranking: IIM Indore

IIM Indore’s total score out of 100 was 83.32 in the NIRF MBA ranking 2025. Here’s how the it scored on the five parameters:

• TLR: 84.80 /100
• RP: 55.27/100
• GO: 93.49/100
• OI: 72.37/100
• PR: 57.93/100

Read More: 

• Top 10 MBA colleges in India 2026: Fee Structure and Placements
• NIRF 2026 MBA Ranking Release Date: Latest Update for CAT Exam Aspirants
• NIRF Ranking 2026: Top Management Colleges in India
• IIM Bangalore got 100 in Perception; Know Why IIM Ahmedabad Won Rank 1 in NIRF 2025
• IIM Bangalore Tops FT Master in Management Ranking 2026; Ranked 25th in the World