National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF): A Critical Assessment of its Parameters and Purpose
UPSC Relevance
Prelims: Social Development, Education, Human Resources; Government Policies & Initiatives (NIRF).
Mains:
General Studies Paper 2 (Social Justice & Governance): Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Education, Human Resources; Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors. The quality, equity, and ranking of higher education is a core GS2 topic.
Key Highlights from the News
National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) - In India Rankings 2025, based on NIRF, old, prestigious public sector institutions continued to be at the forefront.
The article strongly criticizes that there are several shortcomings in the criteria used for NIRF ranking.
The criterion of Peer Perception, based on expert opinion, is subjective and prone to bias. This gives importance to the reputation of the institution rather than its actual quality.
Over-reliance on self-declared inputs by institutions may lead some institutions to provide false information.
In the Outreach and Inclusivity (OI) criterion, information about socially backward students (SC/ST/OBC) and students with disabilities is not accurately considered. This weakens the concept of social justice.
The article also demands that compliance with reservation policies in faculty recruitment should be made an important part of OI.
Instead of viewing NIRF ranking merely as an annual announcement, its findings should be used to address real problems in higher education such as regional imbalances and backwardness in research.
Otherwise, the article warns that NIRF will become merely a platform for private institutions to brand themselves.
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