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NIRF 2025: What Led to IIM Calcutta’s Sharp Fall to 7th While IIM Ahmedabad Stays Unchallenged at No. 1?
The NIRF MBA Rankings 2025 have once again confirmed IIM Ahmedabad’s dominance, as it secured the #1 position for the sixth consecutive year in a row with an overall score of 83.2. In contrast, IIM Calcutta witnessed a steep fall to rank #7, despite having a Graduation Outcomes score of 98.7 and achieving 100% placement with a median salary of around Rs. 30 LPA. The main reason behind its decline can largely be attributed to weaker scores in Research & Professional Practice (54.52) and Perception (85.23), combined with stiffer competition from IIM K, IIM L, IIT Delhi and IIT Bombay.
This Story also Contains
- Why IIM Ahmedabad Still Rules at #1?
- IIM Ahmedabad (PG) Placement Highlights
- Why IIM Calcutta Dropped to #7?
- The Role of NIRF Methodology in the Shift
- Which is Better: IIM Ahmedabad or IIM Calcutta
- What Factors Affect NIRF MBA Rankings?
Why IIM Ahmedabad Still Rules at #1?
IIM Ahmedabad (IIM A), for the sixth consecutive year, has been in the #1 spot in the NIRF MBA Rankings 2025, with an overall score of around 83.2. Aspirants must note that this consistency is not sudden - it is the result of having a balanced performance across teaching, perception, placements and research.
Check out the following reasons why IIM A has been securing the #1 spot in the NIRF MBA rankings.
Superior Teaching, Learning & Resources (TLR)
IIM Ahmedabad’s TLR score (91.84) is among the highest in the country. This number reflects the following:
Strong faculty-student ratio
Advanced infrastructure - libraries, learning labs and digital resources
Rigorous pedagogy centred around the Harvard-style case method
High proportion of PhD-qualified professors.
Outstanding Placement Outcomes (Graduation Outcomes - GO)
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With a GO score of 98.72, IIM A continues to dominate the placements for the following reasons:
Consistently high average and median packages
Strong recruiter base across consulting, finance, technology and FMCG.
International offers and leadership track roles for graduates
Strong alumni network
Unbeatable Perception and Brand Value
Perception carries 10% weight in the NIRF rankings, and IIM A’s score of 93.26 reflects unmatched brand power.
Recruiters and industry leaders consistently rank IIM as the best.
Alumni are in CXO and leadership positions across the globe.
Strong collaborations with global universities.
Balanced Research & Professional Practice (RPC)
IIM Ahmedabad’s RPC (64.92) might not be the highest, but it is stable and credible. Here’s why.
High-quality case studies and research output
Industry consulting projects that connect academia with practice
Doctoral and research programmes that feed future academic leaders.
IIM Ahmedabad (PG) Placement Highlights
As you will notice in the placement data mentioned below, across 2021-22 through 2023-24, nearly 100% of PGP students were placed. These placement figures show that IIM A delivers consistently strong results.
Academic Year | No. of students graduating | Students placed | Median salary (Rs.) | No. of students selected for Higher studies |
2023-24 | 431 | 431 | Rs, 30,00,000 | 0 |
2022-23 | 444 | 423 | Rs. 31,00,000 | 12 |
2021-22 | 444 | 434 | Rs. 31,00,000 | — |
Based on all the parameters mentioned, unlike other institutes, IIM Ahmedabad has consistently outperformed across all five NIRF parameters - TLR, RPC, GO, OI and Perception.
Why IIM Calcutta Dropped to #7?
As can be seen from the latest NIRF 2025 MBA rankings, the sharp fall of IIM Calcutta (IIM C) to Rank #7 has come as a surprise to many, given its elite reputation as part of the IIM ‘ABC’ trio. Scores pointing to placements (GO score - 98.87) remained at the top, and the decline is largely due to weakness in research and perception, combined with tougher competition from fellow IIMs and IITs.
Let us look at all the scores in depth to understand the reason behind the decline in NIRF 2025 ranking for IIM Calcutta.
To rank a college/institute, the NIRF has several parameters. The scores obtained by IIM Calcutta for these parameters are mentioned below.
Parameter | Score |
TLR (Teaching, Learning & Resources) | 85.28 |
RPC (Research and Professional Practice) | 54.52 |
GO (Graduation Outcomes) | 98.87 |
OI (Outreach and Inclusivity) | 71.15 |
Perception | 85.23 |
Now, let us look at the placement and higher studies data for the PG program at IIM C of the past three academic years, indicating its performance.
Academic Year | No. of students graduating | No. of students placed | Median salary of placed graduates (Rs.) | No. of students selected for Higher studies |
2023-24 | 528 | 528 | 30,00,000 | 0 |
2022-23 | 521 | 521 | 33,67,000 | 0 |
2021-22 | 540 | 540 | 31,00,000 | 0 |
To conclude, after going through all the scores and placement data, one can make out that the placements and salary outcomes are not responsible for the drop. It is due to its weak Research and Perception scores.
The Role of NIRF Methodology in the Shift
In NIRF 2024-25, the Ministry of Education has tightened the rules for measuring Research & Professional Practice (RPC), which are as follows:
Self-citations excluded
Negative marking for retracted papers
More emphasis on the quality of journals and global impact rather than just publication count.
Impact of these Changes
IIM Ahmedabad balanced across TLR, RPC, GO and Perception and stayed stable.
Whereas, IIM Calcutta, which had a mid-range RPC score (54.5) and with stricter evaluation, could not keep pace.
Which is Better: IIM Ahmedabad or IIM Calcutta
Both IIM Ahmedabad (IIM A) and IIM Calcutta (IIM C) belong to the elite IIM ‘ABC’ trio, and both have consistently featured in the top tier of B-school rankings. But what happened that led to the sudden decline of IIM C, and which one is better: IIM A or IIM C? Let’s find out.
Parameters | IIM Ahmedabad | IIM Calcutta | Final Verdict |
NIRF 2025 Ranking | #1 | #7 | Ahmedabad leads |
Teaching, Learning & Resources (TLR) | 91.8 | 85.3 | Ahmedabad stronger |
Research & Professional Practice (RPC) | 64.9 | 54.5 | Ahmedabad ahead |
Graduation Outcomes (Placements & Higher Studies) | 98.7 | 98.7 | Both strong |
Outreach & Inclusivity (OI) | 72.1 | 71.2 | Almost equal |
Perception | 93.2 | 85.2 | Ahmedabad leads |
Placement Strength | Consulting, General Management, FMCG, Tech | Finance, Investment Banking, Analytics | Depends on career goal |
Median Salary (2023-24) | Rs. 31-32 LPA (approx.) | Around Rs. 30 LPA | Almost same |
Alumni Network | Broader across industries | Strong in finance & global IB | Tie |
Key Takeaways
IIM Ahmedabad is quite balanced and has the strongest brand.
IIM Calcutta is best for finance & quantitative careers, still elite, but slipped due to research and perception.
What Factors Affect NIRF MBA Rankings?
The following table mentions the factors that affect NIRF MBA rankings.
Parameter | Weightage |
Teaching, Learning & Resources (TLR) | 30% |
Research & Professional Practice (RPC) | 30% |
Graduation Outcomes (GO) | 20% |
Outreach & Inclusivity (OI) | 10% |
Perception | 10% |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: What decides NIRF ranking?
A:
The National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) ranks Indian higher education institutions based on five parameters: Teaching, Learning & Resources (TLR), Research and Professional Practice (RO), Graduation Outcomes (GO), Outreach and Inclusivity (OI) and Perception (PR).
Q: What is the rank of IIM Calcutta in NIRF 2025 MBA rankings?
A:
As per NIRF 2025 MBA rankings, IIM Calcutta saw a sharp decline and dropped to #7 position. The institute had consistently occupied the third rank from 2016 to 2022 and was on #5 last year.
Q: What is the rank of IIM Ahmedabad MBA in NIRF 2025 rankings?
A:
IIM Ahmedabad in NIRF 2025 MBA rankings has secured the #1, for the past six consecutive years.
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Questions related to IIM Ahmedabad (IIMA)
On Question asked by student community
Have a question related to IIM Ahmedabad (IIMA) ?
With a CAT 2025 percentile of 99.27 and all sectional percentiles above 93, your son has a strong and competitive profile, but calls from IIM Ahmedabad, Bangalore, and Calcutta depend on more than just CAT score.
For IIM Ahmedabad, the CAT cutoff for the general category is usually very high
With an NC-OBC category, 85.77 percentile in CAT, a strong 9/9/8 academic profile, and a graduation background in Horticulture, you do have some chances, but they differ significantly between IIM Ahmedabad FABM and IIM Lucknow ABM.
For IIM Ahmedabad – FABM, the institute usually has a very high CAT percentile
Yes, if you appear for the CBSE improvement exam as a private candidate and score higher marks, then the latest marksheet will be considered as your valid Class 12th result. For IIM A, B, C and other top IIMs, they look at the final updated marksheet that you present at
Hey Ramesh! Looking at your profile—10th: 92%, 12th: 93%, Master’s CGPA: 8.3, no work experience, SC category—you have a solid academic record. For top IIMs like Ahmedabad, Bangalore, and Calcutta, SC category candidates usually need a CAT percentile of around 92–94 to have a realistic chance at admission. Other IIMs
Hi Lokendra
As you are from SC category and also a PWD candidate, your chances of getting a call from IIM A,B,C will be very good at 60 - 65 percentile. The official minimum percentile required for your category (cutoff) is 50 percentile but the safe percentile for getting a
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