In a landmark move to enhance transparency and accountability in higher education, the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) is set to introduce negative marking for certain parameters, including retracted research papers and citations of tainted publications, officials have confirmed. This is the first time since its inception that the NIRF will incorporate penalties into its evaluation system, signaling a major shift toward promoting ethical research practices in Indian institutions.
NIRF’s Tenth Edition Marks a Policy Transformation
Announcing the tenth edition of NIRF, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan emphasized that the new system aims to strengthen the credibility and global standing of Indian universities and colleges. Since its launch in 2015, the NIRF has ranked institutions based on five key parameters — Teaching and Learning Resources, Research and Professional Practices, Graduation Outcomes, Outreach and Inclusivity, and Perception.
With over 8,700 institutions participating in the 2024 cycle, the NIRF has emerged as a crucial benchmark for students, recruiters, and policymakers. However, growing concerns over the quality and integrity of research outputs have prompted this significant reform.
Penalising Research Misconduct and Misrepresentation
Anil Sahasrabudhe, Chairman of the National Board of Accreditation (NBA) — the body responsible for managing NIRF — stated that the inclusion of penalties was necessary to discourage research misconduct and data misrepresentation.
“For the first time, penalties are being formally stitched into the ranking methodology to act against research malpractice and misrepresentation of data. The negative marking system will soon be declared, and draft norms are being readied,” Sahasrabudhe said.
The upcoming negative marking system will deduct points for retracted publications and for citations of papers found to be fraudulent, unethical, or plagiarised. The move aims to ensure that institutions are rewarded for quality research output, not quantity.
Retractions Raise Credibility Concerns
In recent years, several prominent Indian institutions have seen a sharp rise in retracted research papers, often due to plagiarism or data fabrication. This trend has raised questions about the authenticity of institutional rankings.
Sahasrabudhe explained that without a system of negative scoring, universities with questionable research practices continued to perform well in national and international rankings such as QS and Times Higher Education (THE).
“Unless we give negative marks, people will not correct it,” he noted.
Legal and Public Scrutiny of Ranking Transparency
The issue of transparency in the NIRF rankings was also brought before the Madras High Court earlier this year. A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed in April alleged that NIRF relied solely on self-reported data from institutions, without proper verification or auditing. The court initially stayed the publication of rankings, but the Centre later intervened, assuring that the NIRF followed a scientific and expert-led methodology. The stay was subsequently lifted.
Promoting Research Integrity and Global Competitiveness
The inclusion of negative marking in NIRF 2025 is expected to improve the integrity of India’s academic ecosystem, aligning it with global standards. The reform encourages institutions to prioritise ethical research, robust peer review processes, and data transparency.
As India pushes toward becoming a global education hub, the NIRF’s new framework will likely play a pivotal role in shaping trustworthy, high-quality higher education.
