College Rankings
NIRF 2021

NIRF 2021 Research rankings

The official NIRF 2021 Research ranking in this database contains 50 ranked institutions. Indian Institute of Science leads at rank 1 with a score of 86.48. IIT Madras is second and IIT Bombay is third.

Among institutions classified by NIRFRank, 43 are government and 7 are private. VIT Vellore is the leading private entry at rank 12 with a score of 55.58. The list covers 17 states and 36 cities. A smaller rank number is better, and scores should be compared only within the same category and year.

Movement compares each year with the preceding available edition. Newly listed means absent from the comparison year, not necessarily a first appearance. Absence does not establish why an institution is missing. Rank changes alone do not explain changes in quality.

Highlights and changes in 2021

View full 2021 ranking with scores and college profiles

2021 is the earliest Research edition available in this database, so movement, entry and exit groups cannot be calculated for this year.

Official NIRF 2021 Research ranking opens in a new tab

Learn how to interpret NIRF ranks and scores

Private

Top private — Research 2021

VIT Vellore · Vellore #12 · 55.58
MAHE Manipal · Manipal #27 · 48.73
Amrita · Coimbatore #29 · 48.29

Top 10 Research colleges — NIRF 2021

Official rank order
#1 · Bengaluru, Karnataka Indian Institute of Science Score 86.48 #2 · Chennai, Tamil Nadu IIT Madras Score 86.01 #3 · Mumbai, Maharashtra IIT Bombay Score 80.93 #4 · New Delhi, Delhi IIT Delhi Score 78.02 #5 · Kharagpur, West Bengal IIT Kharagpur Score 73.21 #6 · Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh IIT Kanpur Score 68.56 #7 · Roorkee, Uttarakhand IIT Roorkee Score 66.50 #8 · New Delhi, Delhi AIIMS Delhi Score 66.26 #9 · Guwahati, Assam IIT Guwahati Score 64.99 #10 · Mumbai, Maharashtra Tata Institute of Fundamental Research Score 64.35

Private and government Research colleges

NIRF 2021
Top private colleges VIT Vellore Best rank #12 Top government colleges Indian Institute of Science Best rank #1

State-wise Research ranking

Featured state

Karnataka

Top Research colleges in Karnataka, filtered from the official NIRF 2021 ranking table.

Indian Institute of ScienceBest college in the state
#1 · 5 rankedBest rank and ranked colleges
View Karnataka ranking
Other states

11 more states

Open any other state to see its filtered NIRF 2021 Research ranking page.

Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, DelhiEvery state with ranked colleges
37+ ranked institutionsAcross the official NIRF 2021 list
Browse all states

State-wise Research ranking

All states
Top Research colleges in Karnataka Indian Institute of Science #1 · 5 ranked Top Research colleges in Tamil Nadu IIT Madras #2 · 8 ranked Top Research colleges in Maharashtra IIT Bombay #3 · 6 ranked Top Research colleges in Delhi IIT Delhi #4 · 5 ranked Top Research colleges in West Bengal IIT Kharagpur #5 · 6 ranked Top Research colleges in Uttar Pradesh IIT Kanpur #6 · 4 ranked Top Research colleges in Uttarakhand IIT Roorkee #7 · 1 ranked Top Research colleges in Assam IIT Guwahati #9 · 1 ranked Top Research colleges in Telangana IIT Hyderabad #15 · 2 ranked Top Research colleges in Jharkhand IIT ISM Dhanbad #20 · 1 ranked Top Research colleges in Madhya Pradesh IIT Indore #26 · 2 ranked Top Research colleges in Chandigarh Panjab University #28 · 1 ranked
Showing 25 of 50 Sort: NIRF rank
1 Indian Institute of Science Bengaluru, Karnataka Govt 86.48 NEW
NIRF Rank Trend (Research)
  • 2021: rank 1

Lower rank is better.

Highlights

Ranked #1 in both 2021 and 2021.

Consistently ranked among India's top research institutions.

Compare with another college View college profile
2 IIT Madras Chennai, Tamil Nadu Govt 86.01 NEW
NIRF Rank Trend (Research)
  • 2021: rank 2

Lower rank is better.

Highlights

Ranked #2 in both 2021 and 2021.

Consistently ranked among India's top research institutions.

Compare with another college View college profile
3 IIT Bombay Mumbai, Maharashtra Govt 80.93 NEW
NIRF Rank Trend (Research)
  • 2021: rank 3

Lower rank is better.

Highlights

Ranked #3 in both 2021 and 2021.

Consistently ranked among India's top research institutions.

Compare with another college View college profile
4 IIT Delhi New Delhi, Delhi Govt 78.02 NEW
NIRF Rank Trend (Research)
  • 2021: rank 4

Lower rank is better.

Highlights

Ranked #4 in both 2021 and 2021.

Consistently ranked among India's top research institutions.

Compare with another college View college profile
5 IIT Kharagpur Kharagpur, West Bengal Govt 73.21 NEW
NIRF Rank Trend (Research)
  • 2021: rank 5

Lower rank is better.

Highlights

Ranked #5 in both 2021 and 2021.

Consistently ranked among India's top research institutions.

Compare with another college View college profile
6 IIT Kanpur Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh Govt 68.56 NEW
NIRF Rank Trend (Research)
  • 2021: rank 6

Lower rank is better.

Highlights

Ranked #6 in both 2021 and 2021.

Consistently ranked among India's top research institutions.

Compare with another college View college profile
7 IIT Roorkee Roorkee, Uttarakhand Govt 66.50 NEW
NIRF Rank Trend (Research)
  • 2021: rank 7

Lower rank is better.

Highlights

Ranked #7 in both 2021 and 2021.

Consistently ranked among India's top research institutions.

Compare with another college View college profile
8 AIIMS Delhi New Delhi, Delhi Govt 66.26 NEW
NIRF Rank Trend (Research)
  • 2021: rank 8

Lower rank is better.

Highlights

Ranked #8 in both 2021 and 2021.

Consistently ranked among India's top research institutions.

Compare with another college View college profile
9 IIT Guwahati Guwahati, Assam Govt 64.99 NEW
NIRF Rank Trend (Research)
  • 2021: rank 9

Lower rank is better.

Highlights

Ranked #9 in both 2021 and 2021.

Consistently ranked among India's top research institutions.

Compare with another college View college profile
10 Tata Institute of Fundamental Research Mumbai, Maharashtra Govt 64.35 NEW
NIRF Rank Trend (Research)
  • 2021: rank 10

Lower rank is better.

Highlights

Ranked #10 in both 2021 and 2021.

Consistently ranked among India's top research institutions.

Compare with another college View college profile
11 University of Delhi Delhi, Delhi Govt 56.96 NEW
NIRF Rank Trend (Research)
  • 2021: rank 11

Lower rank is better.

Highlights

Ranked #11 in both 2021 and 2021.

Consistently ranked among India's top research institutions.

Compare with another college View college profile
12 VIT Vellore Vellore, Tamil Nadu Private 55.58 NEW
NIRF Rank Trend (Research)
  • 2021: rank 12

Lower rank is better.

Highlights

Ranked #12 in both 2021 and 2021.

Consistently ranked among India's top research institutions.

Compare with another college View college profile
13 Homi Bhabha National Institute Mumbai, Maharashtra Govt 55.24 NEW
NIRF Rank Trend (Research)
  • 2021: rank 13

Lower rank is better.

Highlights

Ranked #13 in both 2021 and 2021.

Consistently ranked among India's top research institutions.

Compare with another college View college profile
14 Banaras Hindu University Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh Govt 54.96 NEW
NIRF Rank Trend (Research)
  • 2021: rank 14

Lower rank is better.

Highlights

Ranked #14 in both 2021 and 2021.

Consistently ranked among India's top research institutions.

Compare with another college View college profile
15 IIT Hyderabad Hyderabad, Telangana Govt 54.70 NEW
NIRF Rank Trend (Research)
  • 2021: rank 15

Lower rank is better.

Highlights

Ranked #15 in both 2021 and 2021.

Consistently ranked among India's top research institutions.

Compare with another college View college profile
16 IISER Pune Pune, Maharashtra Govt 54.50 NEW
NIRF Rank Trend (Research)
  • 2021: rank 16

Lower rank is better.

Highlights

Ranked #16 in both 2021 and 2021.

Consistently ranked among India's top research institutions.

Compare with another college View college profile
17 Jadavpur University Kolkata, West Bengal Govt 54.02 NEW
NIRF Rank Trend (Research)
  • 2021: rank 17

Lower rank is better.

Highlights

Ranked #17 in both 2021 and 2021.

Consistently ranked among India's top research institutions.

Compare with another college View college profile
18 Jawaharlal Nehru University New Delhi, Delhi Govt 53.52 NEW
NIRF Rank Trend (Research)
  • 2021: rank 18

Lower rank is better.

Highlights

Ranked #18 in both 2021 and 2021.

Consistently ranked among India's top research institutions.

Compare with another college View college profile
19 JNCASR Bengaluru Bengaluru, Karnataka Govt 52.57 NEW
NIRF Rank Trend (Research)
  • 2021: rank 19

Lower rank is better.

Highlights

Ranked #19 in both 2021 and 2021.

Consistently ranked among India's top research institutions.

Compare with another college View college profile
20 IIT ISM Dhanbad Dhanbad, Jharkhand Govt 52.40 NEW
NIRF Rank Trend (Research)
  • 2021: rank 20

Lower rank is better.

Highlights

Ranked #20 in both 2021 and 2021.

Consistently ranked among India's top research institutions.

Compare with another college View college profile
21 Institute of Chemical Technology Mumbai, Maharashtra Govt 51.22 NEW
NIRF Rank Trend (Research)
  • 2021: rank 21

Lower rank is better.

Highlights

Ranked #21 in both 2021 and 2021.

Consistently ranked among India's top research institutions.

Compare with another college View college profile
22 Academy of Scientific & Innovative Research Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh Govt 51.18 NEW
NIRF Rank Trend (Research)
  • 2021: rank 22

Lower rank is better.

Highlights

Ranked #22 in both 2021 and 2021.

Consistently ranked among India's top research institutions.

Compare with another college View college profile
23 Bharathiar University Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu Govt 50.88 NEW
NIRF Rank Trend (Research)
  • 2021: rank 23

Lower rank is better.

Highlights

Ranked #23 in both 2021 and 2021.

Consistently ranked among India's top research institutions.

Compare with another college View college profile
24 Aligarh Muslim University Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh Govt 49.81 NEW
NIRF Rank Trend (Research)
  • 2021: rank 24

Lower rank is better.

Highlights

Ranked #24 in both 2021 and 2021.

Consistently ranked among India's top research institutions.

Compare with another college View college profile
25 University of Hyderabad Hyderabad, Telangana Govt 49.25 NEW
NIRF Rank Trend (Research)
  • 2021: rank 25

Lower rank is better.

Highlights

Ranked #25 in both 2021 and 2021.

Consistently ranked among India's top research institutions.

Compare with another college View college profile

Data source: NIRF, Ministry of Education, Government of India. Ownership labels apply only to institutions classified in the NIRFRank database.

About this NIRF ranking

What is the NIRF 2021 Research ranking?

It is the imported official NIRF 2021 Research list, organized by rank with score and institution location details.

Can I use this for NIRF college ranking research?

Yes. Use the search box, year selector and private filter to narrow the ranking list, then open tracked college profiles for more history and comparison data.