NIRF 2025 Introduces Sustainable Development Goals Category; Full List of Top 10 Institutions
NIRF 2025 Rankings introduces Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) rankings. IIT Madras has topped, with IARI, Jamia Millia Islamia, SRM, MAHE, JNU, and BHU in the Top 10.
The National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) 2025 has, for the first time, introduced Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) category, thus making 17 categories of NIRF India Rankings. IIT Madras has emerged at the top, it is followed by the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) and Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI), New Delhi. A total of 10 institutions, including SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), and Banaras Hindu University (BHU), have been recognised by NIRF for their role in advancing sustainability and social impact.
NIRF 2025 SDG Rankings: Top 10 Institutions
| Rank | Institution | City, State |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | IIT Madras | Chennai, Tamil Nadu |
| 2 | Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) | New Delhi |
| 3 | Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) | New Delhi |
| 4 | SRM Institute of Science and Technology | Chennai |
| 5 | Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) | Manipal, Karnataka |
| 6 | IIT Roorkee | Roorkee, Uttarakhand |
| 7 | Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) | New Delhi |
| 8 | IIT Delhi | New Delhi |
| 9 | NIT Rourkela | Rourkela, Odisha |
| 10 | Banaras Hindu University (BHU) | Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh |
What Does the SDG Category Measure?
The new SDG category recognises higher education institutions that:
Implement sustainable campus practices (energy efficiency, waste management, water conservation).
Align their research with UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Strengthen community outreach and social initiatives.
Promote inclusivity, diversity, and equity on campus.
No Scores Released in SDG Rankings
Unlike other NIRF 2025 Rankings categories such as Engineering, Management, Colleges, where institutions’ scores are published with their rank, the SDG category currently lists only the Top 10 institutions without releasing score details. This makes the 2025 edition of this ranking more of a recognition exercise, with detailed scoring expected in future editions.
National vs Global Context
Interestingly, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham and Lovely Professional University (LPU) which appear frequently in THE Impact Rankings for SDGs, they do not feature in the NIRF’s Top 10. This also indicates a difference in methodology, with the domestic framework highlighting India’s traditional institutions like the IITs, central universities, and major agricultural and technical institutions.
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Banaras Hindu University has been ranked at eighth position amongst the top university and colleges under the “Medical” category by NIRF 2023 rankings. Moreover, the median package offered to UG (5-Year) course was INR 15 LPA as per BHU NIRF report 2023. Many reputed companies participate in the BHU placements drive. Hence, it might not be the best university for MBBS in India but is definitely a good option for the medical course aspirants.