Overview
The India Institutional Ranking Consortium (IIRC) released its India University Rankings 2026, a multidimensional assessment that aggregates Institutional Strength, Academic Capability, and Governance & Outcomes into a composite score out of 100. The Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru secured the top overall position with an aggregate performance score of 84.53, derived from 30.03 out of 34 in Institutional Strength and 22.92 out of 26 in Academic Capability.
Top Performers
Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Manipal ranked second with a total score of 72.66, making it the highest‑ranked privately managed/deemed‑to‑be university. Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi held the third overall slot with a score of 70.38 and achieved the highest pillar score in Governance & Outcomes, recording 34.40 out of a possible 40. The University of Delhi followed at rank four with a Governance & Outcomes score of 33.38, and Jamia Millia Islamia placed fifth with 32.47.
Geographic Distribution
Karnataka institutions dominated the overall top two positions, while Delhi‑based universities occupied the next three spots in the Governance & Outcomes pillar, underscoring a regional split between overall institutional strength and governance performance. Banaras Hindu University was sixth, followed by Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, BITS Pilani, Aligarh Muslim University, and Jadavpur University completing the national Top 10.
Methodology Note
The IIRC framework combines publicly available data from sources such as the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) and the Ministry of Education, applying a 9‑dimensional performance model that evaluates academic, administrative, research, digital, governance, and outcome‑oriented metrics. The rankings are independent of the Ministry of Education and are not officially endorsed by the Government of India.
Disclaimer
The press release is provided under an arrangement with NRDPL; PTI assumes no editorial responsibility for its content.