NIRF 2025 Management Rankings: IIM Ahmedabad Tops List for 6th Year, IIT Delhi, MDI & XLRI Among Top 10

The Ministry of Education has released the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) 2025 rankings for management institutes, and as expected, IIM Ahmedabad has claimed the top spot yet again. This marks the sixth consecutive year that the premier B-school has been ranked India’s best management institute, reaffirming its longstanding leadership in management education.

Top 10 Management Institutes – NIRF 2025 Rankings

IIMs Continue to Lead the Way

India’s prestigious Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) have once again dominated the rankings, occupying seven out of the top ten positions. IIM Ahmedabad leads the pack with consistently high scores across teaching, learning, research output, placement records, and international collaborations.

IIM Bangalore retains its second place, followed closely by IIM Kozhikode in third, marking a significant rise in recent years for the Kerala-based institute. Other IIMs like Lucknow, Mumbai (formerly NITIE), Calcutta, and Indore also continue to demonstrate strong academic and placement performance.

IIM Ahmedabad: A Benchmark in Management Education

With its signature case study pedagogy, robust global exchange programs, and a vast alumni network spanning the globe, IIM Ahmedabad has firmly entrenched its position as the flagship business school in India.

The institute has consistently scored high on the NIRF parameters:

• Teaching & Learning Resources
• Research & Professional Practices
• Graduation Outcomes
• Outreach & Inclusivity
• Perception

Its consistent top ranking sends a strong message to MBA aspirants: IIM Ahmedabad continues to be the gold standard for management education in India.

Rapid Rise: IIM Kozhikode, IIM Indore & IIM Mumbai

Among the IIMs, IIM Kozhikode has shown remarkable upward mobility, rising in the ranks due to its innovative curriculum, emphasis on digital transformation, and growing global collaborations.

IIM Mumbai, formerly known as NITIE, has been officially inducted into the IIM family and debuts strongly at 6th place in the rankings. This reflects the quality of its industrial management programs, corporate interface, and infrastructure.

IIM Indore continues to rise steadily, now placed at 8th, reinforcing its role as a key B-school in Central India with a strong reputation for its 5-year Integrated Programme in Management (IPM) as well.

Non-IIMs Make a Strong Showing

While the IIMs continue to dominate, three non-IIM institutes have secured spots in the top 10—demonstrating that excellence in management education is not limited to government-funded IIMs.

1. IIT Delhi – Department of Management Studies (Rank 4)

Emerging as the top non-IIM management school, IIT Delhi’s DMS offers a rigorous MBA program with a strong focus on analytics, operations, and innovation. It ranks ahead of many IIMs, underlining its growing stature in the B-school ecosystem.

2. MDI Gurgaon (Rank 9)

One of India’s top private B-schools, MDI Gurgaon continues to hold its ground among government-run institutes, with strong placement records, corporate linkages, and an industry-oriented curriculum.

3. XLRI Jamshedpur (Rank 10)

Known for its legacy and expertise in Human Resource Management, XLRI remains a favourite among students looking for value-based leadership, ethical management, and social impact. Its continued presence in the top 10 reaffirms its reputation as a world-class private B-school.

What the NIRF Rankings Mean for MBA Aspirants

The NIRF 2025 rankings offer a clear and data-driven perspective for students seeking to pursue MBA and PGDM programs in India. By evaluating colleges on objective criteria such as:

• Faculty-student ratio
• Research output
• Graduate employability
• Inclusivity and diversity
• Peer perception and reputation

…the rankings help students identify the best fit for their academic and professional goals.

For many MBA aspirants, these rankings are not just numbers—they influence critical decisions around:

• Applications and admissions
• Loan and scholarship applications
• Return on investment (ROI) and career prospects

Conclusion: A Diverse and Evolving Management Landscape

While IIM Ahmedabad continues to lead the pack, the growing performance of non-IIMs like IIT Delhi, MDI Gurgaon, and XLRI showcases the diversity and competitiveness of India’s management education system.