Northeast Institutions Make Mark in NIRF 2025: Assam Leads, Mizoram Shines, Meghalaya Struggles

EduNe Bureau

Guwahati: The National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) 2025 results have placed Northeast India firmly on the map of academic excellence, with 11 institutions from the region securing ranks across six different categories.

From engineering to law, management to pharmacy, the rankings reflect a steady rise in performance, research output, and recognition of higher education in the region.

Yet, beneath this success lies a sobering reality—financial constraints and underutilized capital grants threaten to slow down this momentum.

Assam Leads the Charge

Assam emerged as the frontrunner in the Northeast, with eight institutions earning a place in the national rankings. Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati retained its status as the region’s crown jewel, ranking 8th in Engineering and 11th Overall. While still among the country’s elite, the institute slipped slightly from its previous 7th and 9th positions in Engineering and Overall categories, respectively. It, however, held on to its 10th rank in Research.

Gauhati University (GU) delivered one of the most striking performances this year, breaking into the top 10 state public universities nationwide with a 9th-place finish, up from 13th last year.

It was ranked 33rd among universities and 52nd overall, a leap credited to the collaborative efforts of faculty, students, and administrators.

Other Assam institutions also maintained visibility: National Institute of Technology (NIT) Silchar ranked 50th in Engineering and 97th Overall, Tezpur University stood at 79th in the University category, and Assam University-Silchar ranked 97th among universities and 76th in Pharmacy.

In the pharmacy segment, the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER) Guwahati excelled at 12th, while Dibrugarh University secured the 53rd spot in Pharmacy and a 101-150 banding among universities.

The National Law University and Judicial Academy in Kamrup also made a mark, becoming the only law institute from the Northeast to be featured, with a 35th rank.

Mixed Fortunes for Meghalaya

Meghalaya’s performance showcased specialized strength but also revealed areas of concern. The Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Shillong slipped to 38th in Management from 24th last year. NIT Meghalaya too fell to 83rd in Engineering from 68th. North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU), the state’s only central university, continued its downward trend, dropping from the 101-150 band to 151-200 in universities, while also disappearing from the overall rankings.

On a more positive note, the University of Science and Technology Meghalaya (USTM) held steady in the 151-200 university band for the fourth consecutive year.

However, no college from the state made it into the top 300 this year—a decline from 2024, when St. Anthony’s College was ranked in the 201-300 bracket.

Mizoram and Beyond

Mizoram delivered a standout performance, with Mizoram University ranked 82nd among universities and Pachhunga University College securing an impressive 49th spot among colleges, making it the only Northeastern college to break into the top 100 nationally.

Elsewhere, Manipur University featured in the 101-150 university band, while Nagaland University registered significant progress by breaking into the 151-200 band.

Alongside them, Rajiv Gandhi University (Itanagar), Central Agricultural University (Manipur), Sikkim Manipal University, USTM, and NEHU also occupied positions in the same band.

Research Growth and Ranking Methodology

The NIRF methodology is built on five parameters: Teaching, Learning and Resources (TLR); Research and Professional Practices (RP); Graduation Outcomes (GO); Outreach and Inclusivity (OI); and Perception (PR). A major focus lies on research publications, with 70% of weightage in RP given to scholarly output and its quality.

Studies indicate that North-East universities have significantly improved research productivity since the introduction of NIRF rankings in 2015, with more publications in global databases like Scopus and Web of Science. This improvement has directly contributed to their climb in national standings.

The Funding Paradox

Despite these gains, financial challenges remain a stumbling block. A study of higher education funding in Assam, Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh, and Mizoram from 2018-19 to 2021-22 revealed a skewed reliance on revenue expenditure over capital investment. Revenue funds—covering salaries, services, and maintenance—consumed over 60% of grants, while capital funds for infrastructure development lagged far behind.

The disparities are stark: Arunachal Pradesh’s capital allocation plummeted from 36.27% in 2018-19 to just 12.67% by 2021-22; Tripura fell from 23.22% to 10.68%; Assam fluctuated between 4.81% and 7.8%; and Mizoram reported 0% capital grants in 2020-21 and 2021-22. Even when funds were allocated, utilization was poor—Assam consistently used less than half of its capital grants.

Such imbalances directly affect the ability of universities to expand infrastructure and meet National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 targets, including achieving a 50% Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) by 2035.

The Road Ahead

The NIRF 2025 results confirm that Northeastern institutions are steadily gaining ground, but sustaining this trajectory requires structural reforms. Experts suggest expanding research capabilities in medical and agricultural sciences, creating specialized programs in law and pharmacy, and fostering inter-institutional collaboration within the region.

On the financial front, states must boost capital grants, ensure efficient utilization, and explore public-private partnerships to bridge funding gaps. Only with balanced and consistent investment can the region build a robust foundation to match its growing reputation.

For now, the rankings are both a cause for celebration and a reminder: while the Northeast is learning to soar, its wings still need stronger support to fly higher.