NIRF 2025 Ranking: NLUs in Top 5; NLSIU, Bengaluru Maintains Stronghold at #1, GNLU Enters Top 5

On September 4, 2025, the Ministry of Education released the NIRF (National Institutional Ranking Framework) Rankings 2025, marking its 10th annual edition. While the top law schools continue to lead, there are some important shifts further down the order.

The NIRF rankings for law institutions are based on several parameters, including Teaching, Learning & Resources (TLR), Research and Professional Practice (RP), Graduation Outcomes (GO), Outreach and Inclusivity (OI), and Perception (PR). The rankings have seen some institutions consistently perform well, while others have experienced fluctuations.

This year a total of 267 law schools participated in the NIRF ranking, out of which 13 National Law Universities (NLUs) made it to top 40.

National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bengaluru, retains its position as India’s leading law school. For 7 consecutive yeas, NLSIU has set the benchmark for legal education, combining academic rigor with exceptional placement outcomes.

Its alumni network spans the judiciary, legal practice, business, governance, and academia, reflecting the school’s wide-ranging influence. NLSIU’s continued dominance underscores its ability to perform strongly across all NIRF parameters.

Holding firm in the rankings, National Law University, Delhi, stands at number two, while NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad, secures the third spot once again.

The top three positions have seen minimal changes, with NLSIU, NALSAR, and NLU Delhi maintaining dominance. Institutes like WBNUJS, GNLU, and Symbiosis Law School had shown potential to climb higher last year, with improvements in certain parameters.

This year, while West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences (WBNUJS), Kolkata, continues its steady performance at the 4th position, GNLU has climbed from the 7th to the 5th rank since 2024. The improvement suggests progress across multiple fronts, from faculty strength and infrastructure to research initiatives and graduate outcomes.

The upward movement of GNLU has had consequences for others. Symbiosis Law School, Pune, which stood at the 5th place last year, has slipped to 7th. While it continues to be one of the most prominent private law schools in the country, the fall shows how tightly contested the middle order is.

Meanwhile, IIT Kharagpur’s Rajiv Gandhi School of Intellectual Property Law has maintained its position in the 6th place. Its unique positioning at the intersection of law, technology, and intellectual property continues to distinguish it from conventional law schools.

Jamia Millia Islamia and Aligarh Muslim University have climbed up the list as well and are featured at Ranks 8 and 9, respectively, reflecting the strength of central universities in sustaining quality legal education. Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan University, Bhubaneswar, however, has gone down by a rank from Rank 9 in the 2024 list to Rank 10 in the current NIRF 2025 list.

NIRF Rankings matter in multiple ways. Rankings guide students in making informed choices, help universities evaluate and enhance their performance, and show the legal community where the next generation of professionals are being prepared.

The latest NIRF rankings show that India’s legal education is no longer defined solely by a handful of institutions. While the top NLUs retain their hold, others are catching up. This competition can only benefit students by driving improvements in teaching, research, and opportunities.