The National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) India Rankings 2025 assesses higher education institutions across several categories, including Management. According to the provided ranking data, the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Ahmedabad secured the first position in the Management category with a score of 83.29.
IIM Bangalore ranked second with 81.56 points, followed by IIM Kozhikode in third place with 79.85 points. The top 10 includes several established Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), along with specialised management institutions such as XLRI – Xavier School of Management and Management Development Institute (MDI).
Top 10 Management Institutions in India Rankings 2025
The following table presents the top 10 institutions in the Management category, along with their locations, states, scores, and national ranks.
| Rank | Institution | City | State/UT | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad | Ahmedabad | Gujarat | 83.29 |
| 2 | Indian Institute of Management Bangalore | Bengaluru | Karnataka | 81.56 |
| 3 | Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode | Kozhikode | Kerala | 79.85 |
| 4 | Indian Institute of Technology Delhi | New Delhi | Delhi | 78.94 |
| 5 | Indian Institute of Management Lucknow | Lucknow | Uttar Pradesh | 77.97 |
| 6 | Indian Institute of Management Mumbai | Mumbai | Maharashtra | 77.58 |
| 7 | Indian Institute of Management Calcutta | Kolkata | West Bengal | 77.34 |
| 8 | Indian Institute of Management Indore | Indore | Madhya Pradesh | 75.68 |
| 9 | Management Development Institute (MDI) | Gurugram | Haryana | 71.96 |
| 10 | XLRI – Xavier School of Management | Jamshedpur | Jharkhand | 70.63 |
Source: National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF), India Rankings 2025, Management category.
IIM Ahmedabad Secures First Position
The Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad, located in Gujarat, ranked first with a score of 83.29. Established as one of India's prominent management education institutions, IIM Ahmedabad is known for its postgraduate management programmes, research, executive education, and engagement with industry.
Its leading position reflects its performance under the NIRF assessment framework. IIM Ahmedabad scored 1.73 points higher than IIM Bangalore, which secured second place.
IIM Bangalore Ranks Second
IIM Bangalore, located in Bengaluru, Karnataka, secured second place with a score of 81.56. The institution offers management education through postgraduate programmes, doctoral studies, and executive education.
Its academic activities cover areas such as strategy, finance, marketing, operations, entrepreneurship, and organisational management. IIM Bangalore also has an established presence in management research and industry engagement.
IIM Kozhikode Secures Third Place
IIM Kozhikode, located in Kerala, ranked third with a score of 79.85. The institution provides management education through postgraduate, doctoral, and executive learning programmes.
Its position among the top three highlights the presence of leading management institutions beyond India's largest metropolitan business centres.
IIT Delhi Ranks Fourth in Management
The Indian Institute of Technology Delhi secured fourth place in the Management category with a score of 78.94.
Although widely recognised for engineering and technology, IIT Delhi also offers management education through its management department. Its programmes connect business and management concepts with technology, innovation, analytics, and entrepreneurship.
Its fourth-place position illustrates the contribution of technical institutions to management education in India.
IIM Lucknow and IIM Mumbai Occupy Fifth and Sixth Positions
IIM Lucknow ranked fifth with a score of 77.97, while IIM Mumbai secured sixth place with 77.58 points.
IIM Lucknow is known for its postgraduate management education, research, and executive learning programmes. IIM Mumbai, formerly the National Institute of Industrial Engineering (NITIE), has a strong association with operations, supply chain management, industrial management, and related areas.
The two institutions recorded a difference of 0.39 points.
IIM Calcutta and IIM Indore Feature in the Top Eight
IIM Calcutta, located in Kolkata, West Bengal, ranked seventh with a score of 77.34. The institution is recognised for its management programmes and strengths in areas such as finance, analytics, strategy, and research.
IIM Indore secured eighth place with a score of 75.68. Located in Madhya Pradesh, it offers management education through postgraduate programmes, doctoral studies, and executive learning opportunities.
Both institutions remain prominent options for students exploring management education in India.
MDI Gurugram Ranks Ninth
Management Development Institute (MDI), Gurugram, Haryana, secured ninth place with a score of 71.96.
MDI is a specialised management institution offering programmes in areas such as business administration, human resource management, finance, marketing, and related disciplines.
Its inclusion in the top 10 demonstrates that leading management education in India extends beyond the IIM network.
XLRI Jamshedpur Completes the Top 10
XLRI – Xavier School of Management, located in Jamshedpur, Jharkhand, ranked tenth with a score of 70.63.
XLRI is particularly recognised for its programmes in human resource management, business management, leadership, and organisational development. It has an established role in management education and professional development.
Its position among the top 10 highlights the contribution of specialised business schools to India's management education ecosystem.
State-Wise Representation Among the Top 10
The top 10 management institutions represent several states and administrative regions:
Gujarat: IIM Ahmedabad.
Karnataka: IIM Bangalore.
Kerala: IIM Kozhikode.
Delhi: IIT Delhi.
Uttar Pradesh: IIM Lucknow.
Maharashtra: IIM Mumbai.
West Bengal: IIM Calcutta.
Madhya Pradesh: IIM Indore.
Haryana: MDI Gurugram.
Jharkhand: XLRI Jamshedpur.
Each institution in the provided top 10 represents a different state or administrative region. This distribution provides a snapshot of the geographical spread of leading management institutions in the country.
How NIRF Evaluates Management Institutions
NIRF uses a structured assessment framework to compare institutions across multiple dimensions of academic performance. Its broad parameters include:
- Teaching, Learning and Resources (TLR): Evaluates faculty strength, infrastructure, and learning resources.
- Research and Professional Practice (RP): Assesses research output, research quality, and professional activities.
- Graduation Outcomes (GO): Examines student outcomes and related academic indicators.
- Outreach and Inclusivity (OI): Considers diversity, accessibility, and inclusiveness.
- Perception (PR): Evaluates institutional reputation among relevant stakeholders.
These parameters provide a common basis for comparing institutions. However, the ranking does not directly determine the best institution for every specialisation, career objective, or individual student.
Importance of Management Rankings for MBA Aspirants
The NIRF Management rankings can help prospective students prepare an initial shortlist of institutions for MBA and other management programmes.
Applicants should also evaluate admission criteria, entrance examinations, programme fees, scholarships, placement reports, average and median salaries, recruiter profiles, faculty expertise, alumni networks, and specialisations offered.
Students interested in finance, consulting, marketing, human resources, operations, entrepreneurship, or business analytics should compare the strengths of individual programmes rather than relying exclusively on an institution's overall rank.
Official source: NIRF India Rankings 2025 – Management Category
