NIRF Categories Explained
NIRF isn't one list — it's about 17. The five areas are the same everywhere, but the weights change by category, so where you compete matters.
The categories (2025)
Broad: Overall, Universities, Colleges, Research Institutions, Innovation, Open Universities, State Public Universities, Skill Universities, and a new SDG list.
Subject domains: Engineering, Management, Pharmacy, Medical, Dental, Law, Architecture & Planning, Agriculture & Allied Sectors.
Weights differ by category — know this
| Area | Engineering / Overall | College |
|---|---|---|
| TLR | 0.30 | 0.40 |
| RP | 0.30 | 0.15 |
| GO | 0.20 | 0.25 |
| OI | 0.10 | 0.10 |
| PR | 0.10 | 0.10 |
Engineering rewards research heavily; the College category leans on teaching. An institution can appear in several lists at once — pick the one where your profile is strongest.
New to all this? Start with NIRF explained.
See where your college stands — free
Estimate your NIRF score, find where you lose marks, get a priority action list. Runs in your browser, nothing stored.
Open the free NIRF tool