Despite protests and controversy, Jamia improves NIRF rank to become the 10th best varsity in India

The previous academic year was certainly not a smooth one for Jamia Millia Islamia. Despite instances of continuous protests, violence, police clashes, the university has bagged the tenth rank in the NIRF's 2020 list of universities. This is a major jump for JMI, which did not make it to the top 10 in the last two years. In the overall category, it has bagged the 16th rank.

As early as mid-December, when the pretests against the National Register of Citizens and the Citizenship Amendment Act sprouted on Indian campuses, Jamia witnessed an ugly incident of violence, where the Delhi police clashed with the student protestors. What followed was days of protests, arrests and name-calling. February then saw an ugly riot in Delhi, following which students of the university were arrested under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
 
Established in 1920, JMI became a deemed central university in 1988. Academic Najma Akhtar is its Vice-Chancellor. The university boasts of alumni like Shah Rukh Khan, filmmaker Kiran Rao and cricketer Virender Sehwag.

This is the first NIRF ranking that was announced under the leadership of HRD Minister Pokhriyal. The number of Indian institutes registered for the NIRF ranking this year has increased from 20 per cent as compared to last year. This year for the first time dental institutes will also be 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.