NIRF 2025 rankings face scrutiny: BHU dental college listed twice amid data discrepancies

The National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) 2025 rankings, released recently, have come under scrutiny due to a significant anomaly involving Banaras Hindu University’s (BHU) Faculty of Dental Sciences. For the first time, a premier institution has appeared twice in the same category, sparking concerns about data accuracy and verification in India’s flagship ranking system.

BHU’s Faculty of Dental Sciences is listed both at 15th and 18th positions in the dental category, owing to separate submissions from the central administration and the dental faculty itself. The discrepancy is further compounded by conflicting data on graduate placements and median salaries, raising questions about the methodology used to compile and validate submissions.

Duplicate listing: How BHU appeared twice

The anomaly occurred because both BHU’s central administration and its Faculty of Dental Sciences independently submitted their data to the NIRF.

This resulted in two separate rankings for the same institution, a situation previously unseen in the framework’s history. The Faculty of Dental Sciences claimed 20 undergraduate placements in 2021-22, while the central BHU submission reported zero placements for the same year. Similarly, the median salary reported by the faculty was higher than that in the central submission.Check the image below for reference:

Implications for students and rankings

This duplication and conflicting data can mislead students and parents relying on NIRF rankings for college selection.

Accurate data on placements and graduate outcomes is a critical factor in ranking calculations and affects institutional reputation. Experts suggest that stricter verification processes and cross-checking mechanisms are needed to prevent such inconsistencies in future editions.

Calls for methodology review

While NIRF remains the most recognised national ranking system, incidents like this highlight the necessity of refining its methodology.

Ensuring that multiple submissions from the same institution are reconciled could enhance credibility and maintain trust among stakeholders, including students, educators, and policymakers.The BHU dental college case serves as a cautionary tale for India’s higher education ranking process. While NIRF provides a valuable benchmark, transparency, accuracy, and verification must be prioritised to maintain the integrity of rankings that influence critical decisions in education and career planning.