A chorus of universities across India has called for a complete revamp of the Education Ministry’s National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF), citing outdated criteria and persistent inconsistencies in the rankings. The appeal comes in the wake of the 2025 rankings, which stirred controversy due to abrupt ups and downs in the positions of several institutions.

On October 17 evening, a high-profile meeting at the IISc Habitat in Delhi brought together key stakeholders, including Education Secretary Vineet Joshi, Anil Sahasrabudhi, Chairman of the Executive Council of the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC), representatives from IITs in Roorkee, Mumbai, Madras, Delhi, Bhubaneswar, and numerous National Institutes of Technology and universities from Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Jammu & Kashmir.

The meeting focused on pressing reforms to the decade-old NIRF methodology, overseen by the National Board of Accreditation (NBA). The 2025 rankings were delayed and required third-party vetting by Ernst & Young before release, highlighting the deep concerns over transparency and fairness.

A senior educationist, speaking on condition of anonymity, criticized the heavy weight assigned to the `Perception’ factor, which contributes 10 out of 100 marks in the rankings. “Perception is inherently subjective. Despite consulting peers, professors, and the public, this metric does not fairly reflect institutional quality,” the educationist said, noting that multiple university heads recommended its removal.

Concerns were also raised about the 20 marks allocated for Graduation Outcomes, currently focused solely on traditional employment. “Hundreds of graduates start family businesses or entrepreneurial ventures—these contributions are invisible under the current system. Rankings should recognize diverse career paths,” the official added.

Other criticisms included the inclusion of institutions not recognized by the National Medical Commission, Dental Council of India, Bar Council of India, or the All India Council for Technical Education. Experts also highlighted that nearly 20 technical universities remain absent from NIRF rankings, a gap that, if addressed, could bolster professional competitiveness.

As universities push for these reforms, the call is clear: India’s premier ranking system must evolve to reflect modern educational realities, rewarding innovation, entrepreneurship, and genuine academic excellence rather than outdated metrics.