The National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) was introduced in 2015 by the Ministry of Education, Govt. of India to rank Indian higher education institutions based on various parameters such as teaching, learning, research, outreach, and inclusivity. The primary objective was to encourage competition among institutions and motivate them to improve their overall performance.

• NIRF ranks institutions in the categories of engineering, management, pharmacy, universities, law, architecture, and overall institutions.
• The ranking methodology is based on objective criteria and is revised annually.
• The parameters used in the ranking process include teaching, learning, research, outreach, and inclusivity.
• The framework also identifies the best higher education institutions in India and ranks them accordingly.
• The ranking provides students with insights into an institution's strengths and weaknesses. It also helps institutions to identify areas for improvement.
• There have been criticisms about the ranking's validity for not taking into account factors such as faculty and student diversity and community engagement activities.

Despite the criticisms, the NIRF remains a vital tool for ranking institutions, encouraging healthy competition, and pushing institutions to perform better.