Homi Bhabha National Institute

How is Homi Bhabha National Institute ranked in 2026?

As of 2026, Homi Bhabha National Institute (HBNI), Mumbai stands at NIRF Overall rank #20, NIRF University rank #12 and NIRF Research rank #7, all from the most recent India Rankings 2025 cycle (the NIRF 2026 list is released later in the year, so the 2025 results define HBNI's current standing). The single most impressive figure is its NIRF Research rank of #7 with a score of 69.39, which makes HBNI the highest-placed research institution in India that is neither an IIT nor IISc. Globally, the Center for World University Rankings (CWUR) 2025 placed HBNI at #820 in the world and #10 in India. HBNI is a deemed-to-be university and the academic umbrella of the Department of Atomic Energy, so its rankings are powered overwhelmingly by research output from constituent institutions such as TIFR, BARC, IGCAR, SINP and IMSc.

Year-Wise Rankings

The table below collects every verified ranking for Homi Bhabha National Institute across the latest cycles, covering both the national NIRF framework and the global CWUR system. It answers the question "what rank did HBNI get, in which category, and in which year?" Read each row as one ranking: the body that issued it, the category it covers, the position HBNI secured, and the published score where available. NIRF scores are out of 100; the 2026 NIRF cycle had not been published at the time of writing, so the 2025 figures are HBNI's prevailing ranks.

The standout takeaway is the sharp jump in the NIRF Overall category, where HBNI climbed from #27 in 2024 to #20 in 2025, a seven-place gain in a single year. Its University rank improved even more steeply, from #16 to #12, while the Research rank held at the very top of the table, easing only one spot from #6 (2024) to #7 (2025) but staying firmly inside the national top ten. The CWUR trend tells the same story internationally, with HBNI moving up from world #903 (India #15) in 2024 to world #820 (India #10) in 2025.

Ranking Trajectory of Homi Bhabha National Institute

Homi Bhabha National Institute's ranking trajectory is firmly upward across 2024 and 2025. In the NIRF Overall category the institute gained seven places, rising from #27 in 2024 to #20 in 2025, and its University standing improved from #16 to #12 over the same window. This is a meaningful move in a list where the top 20 is crowded with IITs, IISc and the strongest central universities.

The Research category is where HBNI's identity is clearest. It ranked #6 in NIRF 2024 and #7 in NIRF 2025 with a score of 69.39, meaning the institute has sat continuously among India's top seven research bodies. Because HBNI aggregates the research strength of Department of Atomic Energy institutions like TIFR and BARC, its research-heavy profile keeps it ahead of most conventional universities even when its broader Overall rank is lower. Internationally, the CWUR climb from #903 (2025 list, India #15) to #820 in the world (India #10) reinforces that the momentum is genuine and research-driven rather than a one-year statistical blip. For an applicant, the signal is consistency at the top of research with visibly improving all-round recognition year on year.

How Homi Bhabha National Institute Compares

The table below positions Homi Bhabha National Institute against the NIRF 2025 Research category, the list that best reflects its strengths. It answers "who ranks around HBNI nationally?" by showing the top research institutions and their scores. Read it as a leaderboard: HBNI at #7 is the only institute inside the top seven that is not an IIT or IISc, which is the cleanest way to understand its peer group.

The comparison shows HBNI trailing only IISc and a cluster of the most established IITs on research, while outranking the vast majority of India's universities in the same metric. In its home city, HBNI also features among Mumbai's top-ranked institutions alongside IIT Bombay, IIM Mumbai and ICT Mumbai. The clear takeaway for an aspirant is that HBNI competes on research at IIT-and-IISc level, even though its NIRF Overall rank of #20 (2025) places it a tier below those names on the all-rounder list.