While announcing the National Institute Ranking Framework (NIRF) ranking on Thursday, the Union Minister of Human Resource Development (HRD) Ramesh Pokhriyal said that he does not agree with the international rankings like QS World University and Times Higher Education and that India will create a situation where institutes from across the globe will want to be included in the NIRF ranking.
"I do not agree with the THE and QS ranking. Graduates of our institutes are now heading the global leading organisations. They give us low ranking based on perception and I do not agree with it," said the HRD Minister while addressing the nation online during the e-release of the 2020 NIRF ranking. "We will create a situation when institutes from across the world will want to be listed in the Indian rankings. I request UGC to make it mandatory for all institutes and universities to participate in the Indian rankings, said the HRD minister. Our students, their calibre and their money will be retained in India, we will reach that level," he added.
On a somewhat contrarian note, Sanjay Shamrao Dhotre, Union Minister of State for Human Resource Development who was also present during the e-release, said, "NIRF ranking will prepare Indian institutes for international rankings. We should also further strengthen the structure of our ranking and ensure that life skills that are beyond the academic knowledge of a candidate should also be a parameter in our ranking. I hope NIRF will get as renowned as QS and THE ranking."
This is the first NIRF ranking that was announced under the leadership of HRD Minister Pokhriyal. In the e-launch of NIRF ranking on Wednesday, UGC Chairmain Dhirendra Pal Singh, AICTE Chairman Anil Sahasrabudhe were also present along with other officials.
The number of Indian institutes which registered for the NIRF ranking this year has increased from 20 per cent as compared to the number last year. This year for the first time dental institutes were also ranked. Earlier, Institutes were ranked in multiple categories including – best overall institute, best university, top engineering institute, top college, best management institute, top pharmacy college, best law school, best architecture college, and top medical college. The education institutes and universities all over India are ranked across several parameters including teaching, learning and resources, research and professional practices, graduation outcome outreach and inclusivity, and perception.
