Top Research Institutes in India in 2025: NIRF Ranking 2025, Courses & Admission Process

India is emerging as a hub of scientific research and innovation in the world. To foster a suitable environment for this, the Indian government and private bodies have established research institutes. To help research aspirants with their educational goals, SciAstra has prepared a list of the top research institutes in India in 2025 based on NIRF Rankings 2025. It also 

What is a Research Institute? 

A research institute is an organisation that provides research education and supports research and development work dedicated to the research and development in fields like Science, Technology, Engineering, Medical Science, Agriculture, Social Science etc. Some renowned institutes renowned for research education in India are IISC Bangalore, IIT Madras and IIT Delhi. 

Also Read: How to Fill IIT JAM 2026 Application Form

What is NIRF Ranking? 

The National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) is a system launched by the Ministry of Education, Government of India in 2015. This system ranks higher education institutions across the country based on the following parameters:

1. Teaching, Learning & Resources (TLR)
2. Research & Professional Practices (RP)
3. Graduation Outcomes (GO)
4. Outreach & Inclusivity (OI)
5. Perception (PR)

List of Top Research Institutes in India: NIRF 2025

The NIRF 2025 Rankings were published on September 4, 2025 on the official NIRF website – nirfindia.org. Based on these rankings, SciAstra has listed the top research institutes in India in 2025: 

Top 10 Research Institutes in India: NIRF 2025
Research Institute	State	NIRF Ranking 2025
Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru	Karnataka	1
Indian Institute of Technology, Chennai	Tamil Nadu	2
Indian Institute of Technology, New Delhi	Delhi	3
Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay	Maharashtra	4
Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur	West Bengal	5
Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur	Uttar Pradesh	6
Homi Bhabha National Institute, Mumbai	Maharashtra	7
Institute of Technology, Roorkee	Uttarakhand	8
Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research, Ghaziabad	Assam	9
Indian Institute of Medical Sciences, Delhi	Delhi	10

 

Also Read: IIT JAM Participating Institutes

Indian Institute of Science Bengaluru (IISC Bengaluru)

The Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, is ranked 1st among research universities in India according to NIRF 2025. It offers undergraduate, postgraduate, and integrated Ph.D. programs. The institute has the following research divisions:

• Core Lab for Co-Innovation and Research
• STEM Cell for Deep Science Incubation
• Time2 for New Product Development 
• SEED for Targeted Research and Innovation
• Strategic Programs for Incubation Projects of National Importance 

IISC Bengaluru Overview
Courses Offered	Integrated PhD Programmes MTech (Research) and PhD External Registration Program (ERP) for PhD/MTech (Research)
Admission Process	IIT JAM exam/GATE
Fee (approx.)	INR 78,000
Career Opportunities After Education	University professor/lecturer Research Scientist (national labs, CSIR, DRDO, ISRO, etc.) Industrial R&D Professional Data Scientist/Analyst Policy Advisor in Science & Technology Postdoctoral Researcher (abroad/India) Science Communicator/Writer Academic Faculty (Engineering/Technology Colleges) Senior Research Scientist in corporate R&D Industrial R&D head
Average Package	INR 28-30 Lakh per annum

Top Research Institutes in India: Course, Admission Process & Career Options

Check out the courses offered by the top research institutes in India in 2025, along with their admission processes and the career opportunities available after these courses:

Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras)

IIT Madras, established in 1959, is ranked 2 among the top research institutes in India as per the NIRF Ranking 2025. The institute is renowned for providing research students with an entrepreneurial environment where they can understand the economic importance of research work, its commercial relevance, and its contribution to national well-being.

IIT Madras offers diverse courses in engineering, sciences, humanities, and management. Students gain exposure through advanced labs, industry tie-ups, and exchange programs.

IIT Madras Overview
Courses Offered	PhD in Applied Mechanics & Biomedical Engineering
Admission Process	PhD in Applied Mechanics & Biomedical Engineering Admission:  Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering/ CivilEngineering /Aerospace Engineering/Electrical Engineering /Chemical Engineering/ Metallurgical Engineering, or any other related areas of Engineering and/or Technology (M.Tech/M.E./M.S.).  These candidates can also apply: Non-engineering degrees who demonstrate a strong interest and aptitude for research in our faculty’s areas of expertise:  1. Biomedical Engineering – MSc in all areas of sciences and mathematics  2. Fluid Mechanics – MSc in all areas of sciences and mathematics  3. Solid Mechanics – MSc in Physics / Mathematics / Chemistry / Nanoscience and nanotechnology / Material science and relevant departments
Fee (approx.)	INR 50,000-55,000
Career Opportunities After Education	Professor/Lecturer Research Scientist Biomedical Engineer Product Development Engineer Clinical Researcher R&D Specialist Consultant (Healthcare/Technology) Entrepreneur (Medical Devices/Health Tech) Scientists in Government Labs (DRDO, CSIR, ICMR, ISRO) Innovation/Patent Specialist
Average Package	INR 28-30 Lakh

Also Read: IIT JAM 2026 Seat Intake

Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT Delhi)

The Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, established in 1961, is a reputed institution offering advanced education in engineering, management, and research fields. The institute is renowned for its strong foundation in innovation. It played a crucial role in developing KisanMitra, a low-cost water management and agricultural solution. It also hosts India’s largest student entrepreneurship platform, the Foundation for Innovation and Technology Transfer (FITT).

IIT Delhi Overview
Courses Offered	PhD in Humanities and Social Sciences (Areas/Specialisations in PhD: Psychology, Sociology, Philosophy, Economics, Linguistics and Literature)
Admission Process	GATE/CSIR/UGC/ICAR/NET/ICMR/DST-INSPIRE Fellowship
Fee (approx.)	INR 55,000 – 60,000 (per year)
Career Opportunities After Education	University Professor / Lecturer Research Scientist / Policy Analyst Clinical or Counseling Psychologist (for Psychology) Economic Analyst / Financial Consultant Sociologist / Social Researcher Linguist / Language Specialist / Translator Writer / Literary Critic / Editor Public Policy Consultant / Think Tank Researcher NGO Specialist / Social Development Consultant Cultural or Heritage Specialist
Average Package	INR 25-26 Lakh

Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay)

IIT Bombay was established in 1958. It ranks 3rd in the NIRF 2025 Rankings for research institutions. The institute offers UG, PG, and integrated Ph.D. courses in various areas of science and technology. It provides students with access to well-equipped, technologically advanced research labs and facilitates international collaborations that support career development and industrial exposure.

IIT Bombay Overview
Courses Offered	M.Tech./M.Tech.+ Ph.D. (Dual Degree) in the following areas:  Aerospace Engineering Biomedical Engineering  Chemical Engineering Civil Engineering Computer Science & Engineering Earth Sciences Electrical Engineering Energy Systems Engineering Environmental Science & Engineering Geoinformatics and Natural Resources Engineering Industrial Engineering & Operations Research Mechanical Engineering Metallurgical Engineering & Materials Science Materials Manufacturing and Modeling Systems and Control Engineering Technology and Development Educational Technology Centre for Climate Studies M.Sc.-Ph.D. (Dual Degree) in Energy MA+Ph.D. (Dual Degree) in Philosophy  Ph.D. in one of the following areas:  Aerospace Engineering Biosciences and Bioengineering Chemical Engineering Chemistry Civil Engineering Climate Studies Computer Science and Engineering Industrial Design Earth Sciences Educational Technology Electrical Engineering Energy Science & Engineering Environmental Science and Engineering, Economics Geoinformatics and Natural Resources Engineering Humanities and Social Sciences Industrial Engineering & Operations Research Management Mathematics Mechanical Engineering Metallurgical Engineering and Materials Science Nanotechnology & Science Physics Policy Studies Systems & Control Engineering Technology and Development Urban Science & Engineering Digital Health Machine Intelligence and Data Sciences
Admission Process	GATE/CSIR/UGC/ICAR/NET/ICMR/DST-INSPIRE Fellowship
Fee (approx.)	INR 55,000 – 60,000 (per year)
Career Opportunities After Education	University Professor / Lecturer Research Scientist / Principal Investigator Postdoctoral Researcher Data Scientist / Machine Learning Engineer Aerospace Engineer / Aerodynamics Specialist Biomedical Engineer / Medical Device Designer Chemical Process Engineer Civil Engineer / Structural Consultant Energy Analyst / Renewable Energy Consultant Materials Scientist / Metallurgical Engineer Note: The career options after pursuing the mentioned are limited to the options listed above.
Average Package	INR 22-24 Lakh

Indian Institute of Kharagpur (IIT Kharagpur)

IIT Kharagpur, the first IIT in India, was established in 1951. It ranks 5th among the top research institutes in India according to NIRF 2025. With an area of 2,100 acres, it is the largest among all the IITs. The institute is renowned for its distinguished alumni, including business leaders such as Sundar Pichai (CEO of Alphabet Inc.) and Arjun Malhotra (Co-founder of HCL Technologies).

IIT Kharagpur Overview
Courses Offered	Joint MSc-Phd Program
Admission Process	IIT JAM
Fee (approx.)	INR 28,000-34,000 (per year)
Career Opportunities After Education	Research Scientist / Principal Investigator University Professor / Academic Researcher Data Scientist / AI & Machine Learning Specialist R&D Engineer in government labs or private industry Specialist roles in Biomedical, Aerospace, Materials, Energy, or Environmental sectors
Average Package	INR 23-26 Lakh

Conclusion 

According to NIRF 2025, India’s leading research institutes are IISc Bengaluru (Rank 1), IIT Madras (Rank 2), IIT Delhi (Rank 3), IIT Bombay (Rank 4), and IIT Kharagpur (Rank 5). These institutes are shaping global innovation. With advanced programs, world-class labs, and strong industry ties, they provide unmatched opportunities for research excellence and career advancement.