Comparative Analysis of Institutional Performance across Medical, Engineering, and Management Disciplines: Insights from the National Institutional Ranking Framework 2024 India Rankings

Abstract The National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) provides a comprehensive evaluation of higher education institutions in India. This study analyzes the performance of the top 50 medical, engineering, and management institutions in India based on the NIRF 2024 rankings. It also compares the scores of the last 5 years (2020–2024). Using secondary data from the NIRF website, five key parameters – teaching, learning, and resources (TLRs); research and professional practices (RPC); graduation outcomes (GO); outreach and inclusivity (OI); and Perception – were compared across these disciplines. ANOVA with post hoc tests was used to identify significant differences. According to the 2024 NIRF ranking, medical institutions lead in TLR, engineering institutions lead in RPC, and management scores highest in GO and OI. However, each discipline also has areas needing improvement, such as research in medicine, outreach in engineering, and teaching resources in management institutions. The study highlights the strengths and areas for enhancement in these disciplines, providing insights for improving the overall quality of higher education in India.