While securing the first position for two consecutive years itself is considered a great feat for an institution, IIT Madras has been NIRF #1 in Engineering for ten continuous years — and #1 Overall for seven. No other institution has held the top engineering spot for every single year since NIRF was introduced. This is a record unique to IIT Madras in Indian education history.
Why NIRF?
After tackling the JEE and finally landing a spot at an IIT, students dive into researching colleges, choosing a bunch of them after weighing their options. For some, it's all about landing their preferred branch regardless of the location, while others aim for what they consider the 'best' institute. And how do they judge that? Here is where rankings come into the picture — higher rank, better institute, right? Specifically, the NIRF rankings become the go-to comparison tool among these reputed institutes.
But hey, maybe it's time to take a closer peek. It's not just about the rankings; it's about digging into each institute's scores across various parameters. The parameters play a major role in deciding the quality of each of these institutes. That way, you'll get a clearer idea of which institute aligns best with your expectations and goals, ultimately making it easy to choose.
The Parameters
The overall NIRF score is based on the cumulative scores of 5 parameters:
Teaching, Learning, Resources: With a consistently high TLR score, IIT Madras excels in collaborations with top institutions, faculty development, diverse NPTEL courses, modern resources in its Central Library, and cutting-edge facilities in workshops and labs — including a National Supercomputing Mission node, amplifying academic and research excellence.
Outreach and Inclusivity: IIT Madras actively engages international students through cultural events, prioritises women's welfare via the Women's Forum, provides financial support, and maintains excellent accessibility provisions for physically challenged students. From 2024, the institute also became the first IIT to offer Sports Excellence Admission, and now admits students under the Fine Arts and Cultural Excellence (FACE) programme — further broadening its inclusivity efforts.
Research and Professional Practice: IIT Madras has the highest RP score among all IITs, reflecting its standing as one of India's premier research universities. In 2024-25 alone, the institute filed 417 patents, exceeding the Director's target of one patent per day, and incubated more than 100 startups for the first time in a single year.
Graduation Outcomes: Under strong placement facilities, entrepreneurship promotion, and excellent academic resources that foster graduates suitable for top universities across the globe, IIT Madras is undoubtedly among the best when it comes to GO. In NIRF 2025, it also topped the brand-new Sustainability Development Goals category in its debut edition.
Perception: IIT Madras has a perfect 100 score in Perception — showcasing public, industry, and academic trust in the institute, giving insight into its academic standing and professional prospects for students.
With a cumulative top score across all parameters, IIT Madras has evidently been ranked #1 for a decade and is the best institute to study with a holistic education, advanced facilities, and a very strong research culture. Not only on the academic front, but the institute also contributes significantly to developing students' interpersonal skills, leadership qualities, and physical and mental health — ultimately making them better individuals for the future.
If you have more questions on NIRF or rankings, please ask on our community page — AskIITM community