By Top IITs in India 2025: A Unique Guide to the Nation’s Pioneers in Engineering
Which Are the Top IITs in India? Over view by BANSAL CLASSES.
With 23 Indian Institutes of Technology spread across the country, “Which IIT is best?” is not a coffee table debate. Rankings decide everything from placement offers to research grants. India’s Ministry of Education’s National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) remains the most‐quoted benchmark, ranking five weighted parameters:
| Factor | Weight | What It Measures |
| Teaching, Learning & Resources (TLR) | 30 % | Faculty–student ratio, lab infrastructure, library holdings |
| Research & Professional Practice (RP) | 30 % | Publications, patents, sponsored projects |
| Graduation Outcomes (GO) | 20 % | Placements, higher‑study statistics, median salaries |
| Outreach & Inclusivity (OI) | 10 % | Diversity of gender, region, and economic background |
| Perception (PR) | 10 % | Peer and employer reputation |
Using the 2024 NIRF Engineering list—as well as fresh placement and research data—here’s a deep dive into India’s top ten IITs and what distinguishes each of them.
1. IIT Madras (Chennai)
NIRF Ranking: #1 for nine consecutive years (2016–24)
Why it’s a leader: Unrivalled combination of research quality and industry sponsorship. Its Centre for Innovation (CFI) boasts more than 200 student start-ups—more than any other IITs.
Signature strengths
• Transdisciplinary superclusters in sustainable energy, quantum technology, and water resources
• Research Park housing 250+ R&D units of companies like Bosch and Qualcomm
•Placements 2024: Median CTC ₹22 lakh; highest international offer ≈US $330k
Campus life: A green 600-acre campus with deer and blackbucks surrounding it, and the “Open Air Theatre” where the much popular cult Saarang fest is held.
2. IIT Delhi
NIRF Ranking: #2
USP: Location near the country’s policymaking center. Partnerships with DRDO, ISRO, and NITI Aayog guarantee high-impact programs.
Stand out assets
• School of Artificial Intelligence—India’s first AI school in an IIT
• International internships: 350+ MoUs between TU Munich to National Univ. of Singapore
• Start-up powerhouse: Alumni started Zomato, Flipkart, Delivery
Campus culture: Global; weekend outings to Hauz Khas; famous hostel rivalry at Rendezvous cultural fest.
3. IIT Bombay
NIRF Ranking: #3
What tips the scale: Silicon Valley like ecosystem. Powai’s IITB Research Park + Society for Innovation & Entrepreneurship (SINE) have birthed unicorns such as InMobi and ideaForge.
Academic advantage
• Asia Pacific surveys top ranked Aerospace, Electrical, and Metallurgical programs
•Asia’s largest student-initiated science & technology festival, Techiest, and cult cultural festival, Mood Indigo
Placements 2024: Top package ₹3.67 crore; average CTC ₹25 lakh.
4. IIT Kanpur
NIRF Rank: #4
Hallmark: Research intensity—highest number of citations per publication by Indian institutions (Scopus 2023).
Flagship centers
• National Centre for Flexible Electronics
• Flight Lab with Cessna aircraft for experiential aerospace learning
• New e master’s programs that enable professionals to earn IIT degrees online
Student life: Chilly winters, warm quizzing culture, and the thrill of Antaragni fest.
5. IIT Kharagpur
NIRF Ranking: #5
Distinction: Oldest (est. 1951) and largest campus—2,_100 acres.
Why it excels
• First IIT to provide an L LB in Intellectual Property Law
• Centre of Excellence in Advanced Manufacturing—connects with Tata Steel & Boeing
• 3 million document mega library; 24×7 access
Placements 2024: 1,800+ offers; 45 international; average CTC ₹19 lakh
6. IIT Roorkee
NIRF Rank: #6
Distinctive heritage: Founded as Thomason College (1847), the first engineering college in Asia.
Main areas
• Hydrology, earthquake engineering due to Himalayan proximity
• Institute Instrumentation Centre—open to researchers nationwide
• Platform for India’s first student-designed nanosatellite, SURYASAT (under ISRO review)
Scenery: Colonial buildings, Ganga Canal walks, and monsoon thunder.
7. IIT Guwahati
NIRF Ranking: #7
What’s significant: Rapid rise—from 1994 founding to world top 200 (QS Engineering 2024).
Study niches
• Nanotechnology & Biosciences with world-class clean room facilities
• Centre for Sustainable Polymers—producing biodegradable plastics from waste tea of Assam
•\\Highest proportion of female undergraduates among IITs (≈20 %)
Campus charisma: Mist kissed Brahmaputra vistas, eco lake, and Northeast’s rich culture.
8. IIT Hyderabad
NIRF Ranking: #8
Edge: Japan funded labs give it avant Garde equipment (IoT, 3 D printing).
• AI & Data Science B.Tech—first of its kind in India
• Fab less chip design incubator aligned with India’s semiconductor push
• Student faculty ratio 11:1—the highest among next gen IITs
Placements 2024: Avg. CTC ₹20 lakh; 75% bag core tech jobs.
9. IIT Indore
NIRF Ranking: #9
Strengths: Highest research publications by faculty members in third generation IITs.
Notables
• Astronomy Research Centre with a 50 cm robot telescope
• CERN collaboration in Large Hadron Collider data analysis
• Over 70 % M.Tech students receive international conference grants
Vibe: Youthful but ambitious; students operate social impact ventures under ACIIE incubator.
10. IIT (BHU) Varanasi
NIRF Rank: #10
Heritage + tech: IIT engineering programs date back to 1919, brought together into IIT system in 2012.
Highlights
• Metallurgical & Ceramic Engineering—a century old experience serving India’s metal industry
•
Multidisciplinary laboratories in conjunction with Banaras Hindu University’s medical and arts faculties
•Evening Ganga aarti and ancient city roads provide unparalleled cultural diversity.
Honorable Mentions
- IIT Gandhinagar – human‑centric curriculum and mandatory study‑abroad stint for every B.Tech.
- IIT Ropar – India’s first Water Quality Index; tie‑ups with MIT (USA).
- IIT Mandi – leading Himalayan sustainability research & India’s first bio‑incubator in a hill campus.
Choosing “Your” IIT: Five Practical Filters
| Filter | Why It Matters | Questions to Ask |
| Specialization Fit | Every IIT has niche strengths | Does the institute lead in my intended branch? |
| Research Culture | Vital for MS/PhD or R&D jobs | How many funded projects, PhD seats, patents? |
| Placement Stats | Proxy for industry trust | Median CTC; % core‑sector vs. consulting/IT |
| Campus Life | Impacts mental health & network | Clubs, festivals, sports, international exchange |
| Location & Connectivity | Internships + climate + travel | Can I reach industrial hubs or my hometown easily? |
Admission Snapshot: Cracking the Code
- IIT Gateway: JEE Advanced ranks decide B.Tech seats. Top 2.5 lakh JEE‑Main scorers qualify each year.
- Cut‑off vibes: CS at IITB closed at AIR 66 in 2024; Civil at IIT Indore went to AIR 11,400. Branch flexibility programs allow meritorious branch changes after Year 1 in many IITs.
- Fees & Aid: Tuition ≈₹2.2 lakh/yr. Need‑based fee waivers up to 100 % plus MCM scholarships (₹1,000/m).
Beyond Rankings: The IIT Network Effect
Graduating from any IIT gets you connected to an alumni pool of 400,000+ working professionals in FAANG firms, Silicon Valley start ups, and India’s C suites. The intangible return: mentorship, seed capital, and lifelong friendships.
Final Word
India’s IITs are not merely schools of engineering; they are incubators where country-building projects, start-ups, and patents are conceived. IIT Madras, Delhi, and Bombay lead the way, but all the top ten have world-class laboratories, faculty, and opportunities. Your “best” IIT, therefore, is less a function of number ranking and more one of fit: branch interests, campus culture, research orientation, and life aspirations.
Whatever IIT you want to make it to, clear JEE Advanced with grit, find the unique culture of each institute, and remember: once you’re in, how you make the most of its resources matters as much as which campus you’re on. Cheers to finding the perfect platform for your engineering journey!
