Osmania University ranking stagnates in NIRF list
HYDERABAD: Osmania University has failed to significantly improve its standing in teaching and research, with faculty shortages and weak research output continuing to weigh down its performance in national rankings.
In the latest National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) rankings, the university has secured the same overall rank it held five years ago, despite brief signs of improvement in the interim. The stagnation has raised concerns about Osmania University’s ability to position itself among the country’s top higher education institutions.
The Union Ministry of Education releases NIRF rankings annually to assess academic institutions not only on infrastructure, faculty strength and placements, but also on social responsibility, community oriented research, environmental sustainability and inclusive policies. Students and parents increasingly rely on these rankings while choosing universities for higher education.
No net progress in five years
Despite its century-old legacy, expansive campus and wide range of academic programmes, Osmania University has been unable to translate these strengths into a sustained improvement in rankings.
In the overall category, the university ranked 53rd in 2020 and holds the same rank in 2025. Although this marks an improvement over 2024, when it slipped to 70th, the broader picture shows no progress over five years.
In the university category, Osmania stood at 29th in 2020 and is now ranked 30th in 2025. While this is an improvement from 43rd rank in 2024, the university has failed to surpass its earlier performance.
Research output fails to benefit society
Critics point to poor-quality research as a major factor behind the stagnant rankings. Due to faculty shortages, individual professors are often assigned more PhD scholars than prescribed norms, affecting the quality of supervision and limiting high-impact research.
The university has also lagged in securing patents based on research outcomes. Several studies are criticised for failing to address societal needs, while innovation and new discoveries remain limited. Industry partnerships based on research outputs have not expanded.
PhD research across arts, science and engineering departments has reportedly received little government support, with grants failing to materialise. As a result, research is increasingly pursued only to obtain doctoral degrees, with minimal real-world application.
There are also allegations that some faculty members lack adequate capacity to guide doctoral research effectively. Promotions, critics allege, have been granted based on favouritism rather than merit and competence, reducing research to paperwork rather than meaningful academic contribution.
Recently, a senior professor at the university reportedly withdrew 31 publications following allegations of incorrect or improper research, highlighting deeper concerns about academic standards.
Osmania University: NIRF rankings at a glance
| Year | Overall Rank | University Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 53 | 29 |
| 2021 | 45 | 28 |
| 2022 | 46 | 36 |
| 2024 | 70 | 43 |
| 2025 | 53 | 30 |
