What is NIRF? The National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF), is a framework that outlines a methodology to rank institutions across the country. NIRF was approved by the MHRD (Ministry of Human Resource Development) and launched by Minister of Human Resource Development on September 29, 2015. NIRF India Ranking 2018 is the third edition of NIRF rankings. The HRD Ministry has made participation by public institutions in the national institutional ranking framework (NIRF) mandatory from next year. Mr. Javadekar, Union Minister of HRD (Human Resource Development) said " "And, those public institutions which will not take part in it will face fund cut,".
NIRF framework as mentioned above gives a methodology to rank institutions across the country. The methodology draws from the overall and immense understanding arrived by a Core Committee set up by MHRD, to identify the parameters for ranking various universities and institutions. The parameters will cover “Teaching, Learning and Resources,” “Research and Professional Practices,” “Graduation Outcomes,” “Outreach and Inclusivity,” and “Perception”.

How many categories and institutions were included in the NIRF 2018 Ranking? The NIRF India Ranking 2018, was released on April 3, 2018, by Prakash Javadekar, Union Minister of HRD (Human Resource Development).
The NIRF India Ranking 2018 was released in 9 categories which included Overall, Universities, Engineering, Colleges, Management, Pharmacy, Medical, Architecture, and Law. A total of 2,809 institutions have participated in the above mentioned 9 categories. Collectively they have submitted 3,954 distinct profiles, some in multiple disciplines/categories. Click Here - List of Participating Institutions
This includes 301 universities, 906 engineering institutions, 487 management institutions, 286 pharmacy institutions, 71 law institutions, 101 medical institutions, 59 architecture institutions and 1087 general degree colleges. HRD awarded only three institutes were honored this year, while in other categories top 10 institutes were honoured.

What are the factors considered for the NIRF 2018 Ranking? The overall ranking is based on the following factors.

• Teaching, Learning & Resources,(TLR)
• Reasearch and Professional Practice, (RPC)
• Graduation Outcomes,(GO)
• Outreach & inclusivity,(OI)
• Perception (PR)

What are the Key Highlights of NIRF 2018 Ranking

1. In the Overall category, IISC Ranked First
2. In the Universities category, IISC Ranked First
3. In the Engineering category, IIT Madras Ranked First
4. In the Colleges category, Miranda House, Delhi, Ranked First
5. In the Management category, IIM Ahmedabad
6. In the Pharmacy category, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Mohali, Ranked First
7. In the Medical category, AIIMS, New Delhi, Ranked First
8. In the Architecture category, IIT Kharagpur, Ranked First
9. In the Law category, National Law School of India University , Bengaluru, Ranked First
10. IITs made their presence in major categories like Overall, Universities and Engineering.
11. Among the top 10 institutes in the overall category were IISc, six IITs in Madras, Bombay, Delhi, Kharagpur, Kanpur and Roorkee, JNU, BHU and Anna University in Chennai.

What are the Top 10 Educational Institutes in each category?