IISc, IITs and other top research institutions
18 colleges in our NIRF 2024 set offer research programmes. The list below is ordered by NIRF Research rank — colleges without a separate rank in this category fall to the end, sorted by their overall NIRF rank where available.
Source: National Institutional Ranking Framework, Ministry of Education, Government of India (2024).
Indian Institute of Science
Bengaluru · Karnataka · est. 1909
India's premier research institution. The only Indian university consistently inside the QS top 200. Undergraduate BS programme admission via JEE Advanced (top-500 typically).
NIRF Overall #2, University #1, Research #1 (2024)
Indian Institute of Technology Madras
Chennai · Tamil Nadu · est. 1959
India's top-ranked institution overall and in engineering for six consecutive NIRF cycles. Strong in mechanical, ocean engineering, computer science and the new BS in Data Science (online + on-campus tracks).
NIRF Overall #1, Engineering #1, Management #4 (2024)
Indian Institute of Technology Bombay
Mumbai · Maharashtra · est. 1958
The largest IIT by departments. Dominant in CSE placements, the only IIT with a campus-based architecture programme, and the SJMSOM management school.
NIRF Overall #3, Engineering #3, Management #10 (2024)
Indian Institute of Technology Delhi
New Delhi · Delhi · est. 1961
Anchor of the Delhi research cluster. Strong CSE + Electrical, large research footprint via SCAI (computational + AI), Bharti School and the textile / fibre engineering programmes.
NIRF Overall #4, Engineering #2, Management #4 (2024)
Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur
Kanpur · Uttar Pradesh · est. 1959
First IIT to set up a computer science programme. Strong in aerospace, materials science, and the country's top startup pipeline through SIIC (Startup Incubation and Innovation Centre).
NIRF Overall #5, Engineering #4 (2024)
Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur
Kharagpur · West Bengal · est. 1951
Oldest IIT and the largest campus. Houses the Rajiv Gandhi School of Intellectual Property Law (RGSOIPL) — India's only IP-focused law school inside a technical university.
NIRF Overall #6, Engineering #5 (2024)
Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati
Guwahati · Assam · est. 1994
The northeast's flagship IIT. Strong in design (IIT Guwahati offers a B.Des), biosciences and bio-engineering. Campus on the Brahmaputra is among the prettiest in the IIT system.
NIRF Overall #9, Engineering #7 (2024)
Jawaharlal Nehru University
New Delhi · Delhi · est. 1969
Central university famous for the social sciences, international studies, languages and life sciences. Admission via CUET / dedicated PG entrance.
NIRF Overall #10, University #2 (2024)
Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad
Hyderabad · Telangana · est. 2008
Youngest IIT in the top 10 engineering ranks. Pioneered the fractal academic system (CSE specialisations), strong AI/ML output, multiple Japanese university partnerships.
NIRF Engineering #8 (2024)
Indian Institute of Technology Indore
Indore · Madhya Pradesh · est. 2009
Among the newer IITs, climbed into the engineering top 15 inside a decade. Strong physics, astronomy and CSE departments.
NIRF Engineering #14 (2024)
University of Hyderabad
Hyderabad · Telangana · est. 1974
Central university particularly strong in basic sciences, integrated MSc programmes and humanities research. The campus is one of the largest in central India.
NIRF University #10 (2024)
National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Mohali
Mohali · Punjab · est. 1998
India's first NIPER and the only one to offer PhD across pharmaceutical disciplines. PG admission via NIPER JEE.
NIRF Pharmacy #3 (2024)
International Institute of Information Technology Hyderabad
Hyderabad · Telangana · est. 1998
Autonomous IIIT focused entirely on computer science and electronics. Admission via JEE Main + UGEE (their own test). Top-tier CS placement track for a non-IIT.
NIRF Engineering #47 (2024)
Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Pune
Pune · Maharashtra · est. 2006
Centrally-funded research-and-undergraduate institute. 5-year integrated BS-MS programme; admission via IISER Aptitude Test (IAT) or KVPY successor channels.
Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Kolkata
Mohanpur · West Bengal · est. 2006
First IISER in eastern India. Strong interdisciplinary sciences and the only IISER offering a BS in Earth Sciences.
Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Mohali
Mohali · Punjab · est. 2007
North India's IISER, particularly strong in mathematics and physics. Hosted India's first quantum computing PhD programme.
Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar
Gandhinagar · Gujarat · est. 2008
Newer IIT with a heavily project-based undergraduate curriculum. Strong materials science and the only IIT offering a BTech in materials engineering as a flagship.
NIRF Engineering #22 (2024)
Indian Institute of Technology Ropar
Rupnagar · Punjab · est. 2008
Punjab's IIT. Particularly strong in CSE and the Centre of Excellence in AI. Newer campus on the Sutlej river.
NIRF Engineering #23 (2024)