NIRF Ranking 2026 Delay Possible Due to Retracted Research Papers? Check Latest Development
The much-awaited NIRF rankings 2026 continue to be delayed. According to latest developments, the reason behind the delay may be attributed to the retracted research papers. Check the latest update on the expected release date here.
Retracted Research Papers Could Be Behind Delayed NIRF Ranking 2026 Delay
The Ministry of Education has not yet released the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) 2026 rankings. The delay has extended the wait for students, colleges and universities, as the rankings are usually announced by August or September. This year, however, the assessment process is taking longer than expected. According to recent media reports, the delay is linked to the ongoing assessment and verification of data submitted by higher education institutions. The ranking process is now under increased scrutiny due to research papers being retracted.
The National Board of Accreditation (NBA), which conducts the ranking exercise under the Ministry of Education, is currently assessing data submitted by participating institutions. One of the issues being examined this year is the presence of retracted research papers in institutional submissions. Reports suggest that NIRF has flagged such papers as part of the assessment process. Institutions could face negative marking. Repeat offenders may even be banned from participating in future ranking cycles. The additional verification and assessment could be one reason why the NIRF 2026 rankings have taken longer than usual.
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NIRF Ranking 2026 Release Date
The Ministry of Education has not announced an official release date for NIRF Ranking 2026 yet. The delay is notable when compared with the previous edition. NIRF Ranking 2025 was released on September 4, 2025. For this year, students can expect the same by mid or late October.
What will NIRF Ranking 2026 assess?
The National Institutional Ranking Framework is used to rank institutions across different categories and subject domains, including Overall, Universities, Colleges, Engineering, Management, Pharmacy, Medical, Law and Architecture, among others. NIRF rankings evaluate higher education institutions on five broad parameters. These are:
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Teaching, Learning and Resources (TLR)
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Research and Professional Practice (RP)
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Graduation Outcomes (GO)
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Outreach and Inclusivity (OI)
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Perception
Commonly asked questions
No. There is no minimum mark required to pass the MHT CET exam. The only requirement to get the scorecard is to appear in all subjects of MHT CET and obtain a non-zero score.
The JEE Advanced passing marks or the JEE Advanced cutoff has been announced.
JEE Advanced 2026 Criteria for Inclusion in a Rank List:
| Rank List | Minimum Percentage of Marks in Each Subject | Minimum Percentage of Aggregate Marks |
| Common Rank List (CRL) | 7.30% | 25.56% |
| OBC-NCL Rank List | 6.51% | 22.78% |
| GEN-EWS Rank List | 6.51% | 22.78% |
| SC Rank List | 3.65% | 12.78% |
| ST Rank List | 3.65% | 12.78% |
| Common-PwD Rank List (CRL-PwD) | 3.65% | 12.78% |
| OBC-NCL-PwD Rank List | 3.65% | 12.78% |
| GEN-EWS-PwD Rank List | 3.65% | 12.78% |
| SC-PwD Rank List | 3.65% | 12.78% |
| ST-PwD Rank List | 3.65% | 12.78% |
| Preparatory Course (PC) Rank List | 1.83% | 6.39% |
JEE Advanced 2026 Qualifying Marks:
| Rank List | Minimum Marks in Each Subject | Minimum Aggregate Marks |
| Common Rank List (CRL) | 8 | 92 |
| OBC-NCL Rank List | 7 | 82 |
| GEN-EWS Rank List | 7 | 82 |
| SC Rank List | 4 | 46 |
| ST Rank List | 4 | 46 |
| Common-PwD Rank List (CRL-PwD) | 4 | 46 |
| OBC-NCL-PwD Rank List | 4 | 46 |
| GEN-EWS-PwD Rank List | 4 | 46 |
| SC-PwD Rank List | 4 | 46 |
| ST-PwD Rank List | 4 | 46 |
| Preparatory Course (PC) Rank List | 2 | 23 |
From 2026 onwards, Maharashtra CET Cell will conduct the MHT CET exam twice a year in April and May. MHT CET 2026 exam dates have been announced for both April and May session exams. The details about exam dates for both PCM and PCB groups have been released on the official website and the same can be checked on this page.
NIRF rankings are widely used by students while comparing colleges and universities. The Engineering ranking, in particular, is helpful for students who seek admissions at IITs, NITs and other premier engineering institutes in the country. Students use the rankings along with placement records, course-wise cut-offs, fees, infrastructure and academic outcomes before making admission decisions.
Must read: NIRF Ranking 2026 Awaited: Check How NITs Have Performed Against IITs in Last 5 Years
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