Jawaharlal Nehru University
(JNU)Last Updated: Jun 08, 2026
Established
1969
Campus Size
1019.00 Acres
Total Students
9,000
Faculty
550
Student-Faculty
16:1
JNU Rankings: Recognition as India's Premier Central University
Rankings Overview - Jawaharlal Nehru University
JNU is India's top-ranked university for social sciences and humanities, with particularly strong performance in international studies, political science, and linguistics. Its research output per faculty is among the highest for any Indian university, reflecting its PhD-oriented academic culture.
NIRF Rankings (2024)
| Category | Rank | Score | Key Strength |
|---|---|---|---|
| University | #2 | 71.05 | Research (78.3), Graduation Outcomes (68.9), Perception (82.4) |
| Overall | #8 | 66.42 | Highest research score among non-IIT/IISc institutions |
Subject-Specific Rankings
| Subject | Ranking | Framework |
|---|---|---|
| Politics & International Studies | #1 in India, Top 100 globally | QS Subject (2024) |
| Social Sciences & Management | #151-200 globally | QS Subject |
| Arts & Humanities | #201-250 globally | QS Subject |
| Linguistics | Top 150 globally | QS Subject |
| Development Studies | Top 100 globally | QS Subject |
International Rankings
| Framework | Rank | Context |
|---|---|---|
| QS World | #315 (2025) | Best among Indian social science universities |
| QS Asia | #48 | #2 Indian university after IISc |
| THE World | #501-600 | Strong citation impact score |
| NAAC | A++ (3.91/4.0) | Highest NAAC score among central universities |
JNU's NAAC A++ grade (3.91) is one of the highest in India, reflecting excellent academic governance, faculty quality, and research infrastructure. The university's QS subject ranking in Politics (#1 in India, top 100 globally) confirms its niche dominance in social sciences.
JNU Rankings 2025
JNU is ranked by 2 major ranking bodies as of 2025. The institution is ranked #3 in University by NIRF; #9 in Overall by QS India. Compared to 2024, the institution has improved its position in 2 ranking categories.
NIRF
#3
University · 2025
Score: 74.50
QS India
#9
Overall · 2025
Score: 75.00
NIRF Rankings
National Institutional Ranking Framework by the Ministry of Education, Government of India
| Category | Year | Rank | Score | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University | 2025 | #3 |
74.50
|
1 |
| University | 2024 | #4 |
73.50
|
— |
2025 vs 2024: 1 category improved
QS India Rankings
Quacquarelli Symonds Indian University Rankings
| Category | Year | Rank | Score | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 2025 | #9 |
75.00
|
1 |
| Overall | 2024 | #10 |
74.00
|
— |
2025 vs 2024: 1 category improved
How JNU Compares
NIRF University Rankings - Top 10 Institutions
| Institution | 2025 Rank | 2024 Rank | Score | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
JNU
|
#3 | #4 | 74.50 | 1 |
| #4 | #4 | 72.80 | - | |
| #5 | #4 | 70.20 | 1 | |
| #10 | #12 | 66.40 | 2 | |
| #12 | #11 | 65.00 | 1 | |
| #15 | #16 | 64.20 | 1 | |
| #18 | #18 | 62.30 | - | |
| #28 | #30 | 58.20 | 2 | |
| #32 | #31 | 55.60 | 1 | |
| #79 | #69 | 49.31 | 10 |
Latest News about JNU
JNU Launches New M.Sc. Programme in Climate Science and Policy for 2026-27
Apr 22, 2026
JNU Retains NAAC A++ Accreditation, Scores 3.71 on 4-Point Scale
Apr 22, 2026
JNU Students Win Top Honours at Inter-University Research Convention in Pune
Apr 22, 2026