IIM Ahmedabad Retains No. 1 Position for Six Years as Perception Score Hits Six-Year Low
IIM Ahmedabad (IIMA) remained India’s top management institute in the NIRF 2025 rankings, extending its first-place streak to six consecutive years from 2020 to 2025. Its perception score, however, fell to 93.26 out of 100—the lowest level recorded during that six-year run. The result shows how an institute can retain the overall lead even when one ranking metric declines.
IIM Ahmedabad NIRF Ranking 2025: Key Scores
| Ranking detail | IIM Ahmedabad score |
|---|---|
| Management category rank | 1 |
| Overall NIRF score | 83.29 |
| Teaching, Learning and Resources (TLR) | 91.84 |
| Research and Professional Practice (RPC) | 64.92 |
| Graduation Outcomes (GO) | 98.72 |
| Outreach and Inclusivity (OI) | 72.01 |
| Perception (PR) | 93.26 |
Perception Score Trend: 2020–2025
| NIRF year | Perception score |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 95.99 |
| 2021 | 98.53 |
| 2022 | 98.62 |
| 2023 | 96.14 |
| 2024 | 96.81 |
| 2025 | 93.26 |
The score dropped by 3.55 points compared with 2024. It remained above 90, but the decline is notable because it contrasts with IIMA’s continuing position at the top of the Management category. NIRF rankings combine several parameters, so a change in one score does not by itself determine an institute’s overall rank.
Why IIMA Stayed at Rank 1
IIMA recorded strong scores in graduation outcomes and teaching, learning and resources, alongside its perception score. These results contributed to an overall NIRF score of 83.29. The ranking evaluates institutions across multiple areas, including teaching resources, research and professional practice, graduate outcomes, outreach and inclusivity, and perception. The overall position therefore reflects the combined assessment rather than one metric alone.
- Six-year lead: IIMA held the No. 1 Management position from 2020 through 2025.
- Strong outcomes: Its 2025 Graduation Outcomes score was 98.72.
- Metric movement: The perception score fell from 96.81 in 2024 to 93.26 in 2025.
- Multi-factor ranking: NIRF combines five parameters to produce the overall score.
NIRF Ranking Timeline
- 2020: IIMA began its current six-year stretch at No. 1 in Management.
- 2024: It retained the top rank with a perception score of 96.81.
- 2025: IIMA remained No. 1; its perception score declined to 93.26.
What the result means: The lower perception score is one part of the NIRF 2025 assessment, not a standalone verdict on IIMA’s academic quality or student experience. Prospective MBA applicants can use the ranking as one comparison point and also review programme fit, curriculum, fees, admissions criteria and career outcomes before choosing a business school.
