Chandigarh, Sept. 4 — Panjab University (PU), Chandigarh, has secured the third position in two categories of the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) Rankings 2025, released by the Ministry of Education on Thursday. The university stood third in the pharmacy category as well as in the State Public Universities category.
The 2025 edition marks the tenth year of the NIRF exercise, which evaluates institutions across multiple disciplines. While PU’s overall ranking is yet to be announced, officials recalled that the university slipped to 60th place in 2024, the lowest since the rankings began in 2016.
“Securing the third position in both pharmacy and the State Public Universities category is a matter of pride for the institution,” a PU faculty member said, noting that the rankings reflect years of academic and research efforts.
In the medical category, the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, maintained its strong national standing, taking the second spot behind the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi. “PGIMER’s consistent ranking near the top underscores its reputation as a premier healthcare and research institution,” an official remarked.
Meanwhile, the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Mohali, retained its ninth spot in the top 10 list of pharmacy institutions. NIPER had ranked sixth in 2023 and climbed as high as fourth in 2022, but has since seen a drop.
The annual NIRF exercise ranks institutions in areas such as teaching, learning and resources, research and professional practice, graduation outcomes, outreach and inclusivity, and perception. This year’s detailed overall rankings are expected to be released soon.
