The Ministry of Education has released the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) 2025, including the list of institutions in the Agriculture and Allied Sectors category. Once again, the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi has secured the top position, maintaining its dominance in agricultural education and research. ICAR–National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI), Karnal retained the second rank, while the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana stood firm at third place.
Since 2023, NIRF has introduced a separate ranking for institutions in agriculture and allied fields. For three consecutive years, IARI, NDRI, and PAU have consistently held the top three positions. Banaras Hindu University (BHU) emerged as the fourth-best agricultural institution in the country. Notably, two private universities—Amity University, Gautam Buddha Nagar (15th rank) and Lovely Professional University (LPU), Phagwara (17th rank)—entered the top 20 for the first time, signaling the growing role of private players in agricultural education.
In the overall top 100 institutions of the country, IARI secured the 24th position. Its continued leadership in agriculture for three straight years reflects the institute’s academic and research strength. Known as the Pusa Institute, IARI began in 1905 as the Agriculture Research Institute (ARI) in Pusa, Bihar. It was later renamed the Imperial Agriculture Research Institute, and in 1934 shifted to Delhi. After independence, it was rechristened as the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI). The institute played a pivotal role in India’s Green Revolution and was once led by legendary agricultural scientist Dr. M.S. Swaminathan.
The top 10 agriculture institutions also include the Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI), Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU), Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST), Kashmir, Central Institute of Fisheries Education (CIFE), Mumbai, GB Pant University of Agriculture & Technology, Pantnagar, and Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University (CCS HAU), Hisar. These institutions continue to excel in academic and research activities.
However, India’s first agricultural university, GB Pant University in Pantnagar, has seen a decline in performance in recent years. In 2025, it slipped from 8th to 9th rank and also dropped out of the overall top 100 list. On the other hand, SKUAST, Kashmir improved its position, climbing to the 7th spot.
A total of 40 institutes in agriculture and allied sectors have been ranked in the NIRF list. Among them, only four agricultural universities — IARI, PAU, TNAU, and SKUAST — managed to secure a place in the overall top 100 institutes. The institutions were evaluated on a range of parameters, including teaching, research, and academic performance.