IIM Lucknow, IIM Jammu and IIM Sambalpur Record Gains in NIRF 2025 Rankings

NIRF 2025 MBA Rankings: IIM Lucknow has retained its top position, newer ones like IIM Jammu and IIM Sambalpur have consolidated positions, while private ones like Jaipuria institute campuses rose steadily.

The National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) 2025 Rankings for MBA Collges were announced by the Ministry of Education on September 4, with several newly established IIMs making their presence felt in the rankings. Institutions like IIM Lucknow, IIM Jammu and IIM Sambalpur have all recorded gains this year, also showing their increasing acceptance among recruiters and MBA aspirants.

Among the older ones, for which we have talked earlier IIM Lucknow continues to hold its ground among the country’s top B-schools, reaffirming its strong standing in academics, research and placements parameters. The institute has consistently been a go to institute for CAT toppers, and its performance in the latest NIRF Rankings only adds to its reputation as one of the more reliable destinations for MBA education in India.

Among the newer IIMs, Sambalpur and Jammu have made significant progress in the NIRF Rankings. IIM Sambalpur, set up in 2015 in Odisha, is counted among the third-generation IIMs. In the ten years since its establishment, the institute has carved a space for itself with its democratically-run student culture and the recent introduction of AI-assisted classroom simulations — a first in the IIM system. Students at Sambalpur describe the experience as being part of a “start-up campus” where responsibilities are widely shared, giving them a sense of ownership beyond classroom learning.

IIM Jammu, one of the youngest IIMs has also consolidated its position in this year’s NIRF rankings. From infrastructure to academic collaborations, the institute has been working on expanding its profile, and the rankings are seen as a validation of that effort. With Jammu and Sambalpur both featuring higher than before, aspirants are now looking at these institutes as serious alternatives, particularly when the brand value of the IIM system remains intact across campuses.

Alongside the IIMs, private institutions too saw gains. The Jaipuria Institute of Management reported that all four of its campuses were listed among India’s top management institutes. Jaipuria Noida climbed to rank 41, Lucknow to 67, Jaipur to 74, while the Indore campus retained its position in the 101–125 band. Commenting on the achievement, Shreevats Jaipuria, Vice Chairman, said the steady rise reflected the institute’s focus on academic quality, research and student outcomes.

The NIRF Rankings are based on parameters such as teaching and resources, research, graduation outcomes, inclusivity and perception. 

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