The National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) India Rankings 2025 evaluates higher education institutions across various categories, including Engineering. According to the provided ranking data, the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras, located in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, secured first place in the Engineering category with a score of 88.72.
IIT Delhi ranked second with 85.74 points, followed by IIT Bombay in third place with 83.65 points. The top 10 list is dominated by Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), with the National Institute of Technology (NIT) Tiruchirappalli also securing a position among India's leading engineering institutions.
Top 10 Engineering Institutions in India Rankings 2025
The following table presents the top 10 engineering institutions, their locations, scores, and national ranks.
| Rank | Institution | City | State/UT | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Indian Institute of Technology Madras | Chennai | Tamil Nadu | 88.72 |
| 2 | Indian Institute of Technology Delhi | New Delhi | Delhi | 85.74 |
| 3 | Indian Institute of Technology Bombay | Mumbai | Maharashtra | 83.65 |
| 4 | Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur | Kanpur | Uttar Pradesh | 81.82 |
| 5 | Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur | Kharagpur | West Bengal | 78.69 |
| 6 | Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee | Roorkee | Uttarakhand | 75.44 |
| 7 | Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad | Hyderabad | Telangana | 72.31 |
| 8 | Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati | Guwahati | Assam | 72.24 |
| 9 | National Institute of Technology Tiruchirappalli | Tiruchirappalli | Tamil Nadu | 68.14 |
| 10 | Indian Institute of Technology (Banaras Hindu University), Varanasi | Varanasi | Uttar Pradesh | 67.24 |
Source: National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF), India Rankings 2025, Engineering category.
IIT Madras Secures the First Position
IIT Madras topped the Engineering category with a score of 88.72. Located in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, the institution is recognised for its engineering education, scientific research, technological innovation, and industry collaborations.
Its first-place position reflects its strong performance under the NIRF assessment framework. IIT Madras recorded a lead of 2.98 points over IIT Delhi, which secured second place.
IIT Delhi Ranks Second
The Indian Institute of Technology Delhi secured second place with a score of 85.74. Situated in the national capital, the institution offers programmes across engineering, technology, computing, and scientific disciplines.
IIT Delhi is also known for its research activities, entrepreneurship ecosystem, and collaboration with industry and research organisations. Its position among the top two reinforces its standing as one of India's leading engineering institutions.
IIT Bombay Secures Third Place
IIT Bombay, located in Mumbai, Maharashtra, ranked third with a score of 83.65. The institution has established a strong presence in engineering, applied sciences, computer science, and technological innovation.
Its academic and research activities span multiple engineering disciplines, while its links with industry and entrepreneurship contribute to its broader role in India's technology ecosystem.
IIT Kanpur and IIT Kharagpur Occupy Fourth and Fifth Positions
IIT Kanpur secured fourth place with a score of 81.82, followed by IIT Kharagpur in fifth place with 78.69 points.
IIT Kanpur, located in Uttar Pradesh, is known for its programmes and research in engineering, computing, and fundamental sciences. IIT Kharagpur, situated in West Bengal, offers multidisciplinary education and research across engineering, science, and technology.
Both institutions have long-standing roles in India's technical education system and remain prominent in the Engineering category.
IIT Roorkee Ranks Sixth
The Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, located in Uttarakhand, ranked sixth with a score of 75.44.
The institution has a long history in technical education and is associated with research in civil engineering, infrastructure, water resources, environmental engineering, and other scientific and technological fields.
Its position in the top 10 highlights its continued presence among India's leading engineering institutions.
IIT Hyderabad and IIT Guwahati Secure Seventh and Eighth Positions
IIT Hyderabad ranked seventh with a score of 72.31, while IIT Guwahati secured eighth place with 72.24 points.
IIT Hyderabad, located in Telangana, has developed academic and research activities across engineering, artificial intelligence, materials science, and emerging technologies.
IIT Guwahati, situated in Assam, contributes to engineering education and research in areas including technology, energy, environmental studies, and interdisciplinary sciences.
The two institutions recorded a difference of just 0.07 points, indicating closely spaced scores in the rankings.
NIT Tiruchirappalli Ranks Ninth
The National Institute of Technology Tiruchirappalli, commonly known as NIT Trichy, secured ninth place with a score of 68.14.
Located in Tamil Nadu, NIT Trichy is a prominent institution offering undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral programmes across engineering, technology, science, and management.
Its inclusion in the top 10 is notable because it represents a leading National Institute of Technology among institutions otherwise dominated by IITs.
IIT (BHU) Varanasi Completes the Top 10
The Indian Institute of Technology (Banaras Hindu University), Varanasi, ranked tenth with a score of 67.24.
The institution offers engineering and technology programmes across several disciplines and contributes to scientific research and technological development. Its position among the top 10 highlights the continued representation of established technical institutions from Uttar Pradesh.
State-Wise Representation Among the Top 10
The top 10 engineering institutions represent several states and administrative regions:
Tamil Nadu: IIT Madras and NIT Tiruchirappalli.
Uttar Pradesh: IIT Kanpur and IIT (BHU) Varanasi.
Delhi: IIT Delhi.
Maharashtra: IIT Bombay.
West Bengal: IIT Kharagpur.
Uttarakhand: IIT Roorkee.
Telangana: IIT Hyderabad.
Assam: IIT Guwahati.
Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh each have two institutions in the top 10. The remaining six positions are distributed across six other states or administrative regions.
This distribution provides a snapshot of the geographical representation of leading engineering institutions. It does not, by itself, establish the overall quality of engineering education in each state.
How NIRF Evaluates Engineering Institutions
The NIRF framework assesses institutions through multiple parameters intended to capture different dimensions of academic performance. Its broad evaluation framework includes:
- Teaching, Learning and Resources (TLR): Evaluates teaching capacity, faculty strength, infrastructure, and learning resources.
- Research and Professional Practice (RP): Assesses research output, research quality, and professional activities.
- Graduation Outcomes (GO): Examines student progression and graduation-related outcomes.
- Outreach and Inclusivity (OI): Considers diversity, accessibility, and institutional inclusiveness.
- Perception (PR): Evaluates institutional reputation among relevant stakeholders.
These parameters provide a structured basis for comparing engineering institutions. However, a national ranking does not necessarily reflect an institution's position in every individual engineering branch.
Importance of Engineering Rankings for Students
The NIRF Engineering rankings can help students prepare an initial shortlist when considering admission to BTech, MTech, and doctoral programmes.
Students should also examine branch-specific opportunities, curriculum, faculty expertise, research facilities, placement outcomes, internship opportunities, fees, scholarships, and admission requirements. For example, an institution's overall engineering rank may not directly indicate whether it is the strongest choice for a particular specialisation, such as computer science, civil engineering, biotechnology, or electrical engineering.
Official source: NIRF India Rankings 2025 – Engineering Category
