IIRF Ranking 2026: NDRI Haryana retains top spot among India's government veterinary and fisheries universities

The National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI), Karnal, Haryana, has secured Rank 1 in the IIRF Ranking 2026 under the Government Veterinary and Fisheries University category.

The institute has retained its top position from IIRF Ranking 2025, continuing its leadership among India's leading veterinary, dairy science, and fisheries education institutions.

Established in 1923 and operating under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), NDRI is a deemed university specializing in dairy production, processing, management, animal biotechnology, dairy technology, and animal nutrition.

The institute's headquarters were shifted from Bangalore to Karnal in 1955, and it was granted Deemed University status in 1989.

Top 3 government veterinary and fisheries universities in IIRF Ranking 2026

The Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI), Izatnagar, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, retained Rank 2 in the IIRF Government Veterinary and Fisheries University Ranking 2026, while the Central Institute of Fisheries Education (CIFE), Mumbai, Maharashtra, continued at Rank 3.

The top three positions remain unchanged from the 2025 rankings. There has been no change in the top five institutions this year.

National Dairy Research Institute programs and research

NDRI offers undergraduate, postgraduate, diploma, and doctoral programs across disciplines, including Dairy Technology, Dairy Microbiology, Animal Biotechnology, Agriculture and Farm Engineering, Biochemistry, Dairy Science, and Food & Nutrition.

The institute offers around 70 courses and maintains a highly subsidized fee structure, with tuition fees generally ranging from ₹14,700 to ₹20,800. NDRI's Karnal campus spans 1,384 acres and includes a modern dairy processing plant with a daily processing capacity exceeding 60,000 liters.

The institute is actively involved in research related to dairy production, milk quality, biotechnology, animal nutrition, and sustainable agricultural practices.

According to recent placement records, the average median salary stands at approximately ₹7.97 lakh per annum.

Indian Veterinary Research Institute retains second position

The Indian Veterinary Research Institute, established in 1889, secured Rank 2 in the IIRF Ranking 2026.

Located in Izatnagar, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, IVRI operates under the administrative control of ICAR and is recognized as one of India's premier institutions for veterinary medicine, livestock research, and animal health.

The institute offers undergraduate programs such as BVSc & AH and BTech, along with postgraduate MVSc and Ph.D. programs. Admissions to undergraduate veterinary courses are based on NEET-UG performance.

IVRI is known for its research in veterinary vaccines, diagnostics, animal disease management, advanced surgical techniques, orthopedics, and stem cell therapy. Its main campus covers approximately 440.5 acres.

Central Institute of Fisheries Education holds third rank

The Central Institute of Fisheries Education (CIFE), Mumbai, secured Rank 3 in the IIRF Government Veterinary and Fisheries University Ranking 2026, retaining the same position it held in 2025.

Established in 1961, CIFE is a public institution specializing in fisheries science education and research.

The institute offers postgraduate programs, including M.Sc. and M.F.Sc. across fisheries science disciplines. According to available placement data, the average median salary is around ₹4.8 lakh per annum.

Top 10 government veterinary and fisheries universities in IIRF Ranking 2026

About IIRF Ranking

The Indian Institutional Ranking Framework (IIRF) is a ranking system that evaluates more than 5,000 academic institutions across India.

It ranks universities, colleges, and business schools based on research performance, placements, faculty quality, industry collaboration, and other institutional indicators. IIRF is registered under India's Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) through the Companies Act, 2013.

The IIRF India Ranking conducts a comprehensive assessment of more than 2,500 institutions, including over 500 universities, 300 engineering colleges, 300 business schools, 300 undergraduate colleges, and more than 100 institutions each in law, design, architecture, medicine, dental sciences, nursing, pharmacy, physiotherapy, and public health.

IIRF Ranking Parameters

The rankings are based on nine key parameters:

• Academic Reputation: The Pedagogy of Practice (25%)
• Graduate Outcome & Employability: The Return on Investment (23%)
• Research Outcome: Volume, Income & Reputation (22%)
• Demand Ratio & Student Profile (6%)
• Employer Reputation & International Outlook (6%)
• Wellbeing & Institutional Development (5%)
• Peer Perception and Alumni Feedback (4%)
• Public Perception & Data Verification (4%)
• Impact and Value Addition (5%)

The ranking framework provides insights to students, parents, educators, and policymakers seeking information on higher education institutions in India. More details are available at www.iirfranking.com.