FMS Delhi tops IIRF 2026 ranking of MBA schools under central universities; JMI, JNU and AMU feature in top five

The Indian Institutional Ranking Framework (IIRF) has released its MBA Rankings 2026, with the Faculty of Management Studies (FMS), University of Delhi, emerging as the top management school among central universities in the country.

According to the rankings, FMS Delhi secured the first position in the category of Best MBA Schools Under Central University. The institute was followed by the Institute of Management Studies, Banaras Hindu University (BHU), while Jamia Millia Islamia secured the third position.

Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) was ranked fourth, followed by Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) in fifth place, highlighting the growing prominence of management programmes offered by India's central universities.

The rankings come at a time when MBA aspirants are increasingly weighing factors such as return on investment, placement outcomes and academic reputation while choosing business schools.

Central university management departments have traditionally attracted students looking for quality management education at comparatively lower costs than many private institutions and premier standalone business schools.

FMS Delhi, in particular, continues to enjoy a strong reputation among MBA aspirants due to its placement record and relatively affordable fee structure.

The institution has consistently featured among the country's leading management schools and remains one of the most sought-after destinations for candidates appearing in the Common Admission Test (CAT).

The IIRF rankings assess institutions on multiple parameters, including placement performance, teaching-learning resources and pedagogy, research, industry integration, placement support, future orientation and external perception.

Beyond the central university category, the IIRF MBA Rankings 2026 cover a wide range of institutions across government, private, deemed and emerging business schools, offering aspirants a comprehensive view of India's management education landscape.

The rankings are expected to influence admission decisions for students preparing for the 2026–27 MBA admission cycle, particularly those exploring management programmes offered by public universities.