Cracking the JEE and getting into an IIT is a dream for many students across India. But with so many IITs now spread across the country, choosing the right one can be confusing. Should you go for an older IIT with a strong legacy or a newer one with modern infrastructure? Which IIT offers the best placements? Which one ranks highest in India and globally?
If you’re aiming to join an IIT, it’s important to know how they compare regarding rankings, placements, research output, and global recognition. This article is designed to help you understand the top IITs in India using the latest NIRF 2024 and QS World Rankings 2025. It also covers placement statistics and key features of each IIT so you can make the right decision for your future. Whether you’re planning for JEE Main or Advanced, this guide will give you clear answers.
Which Is The Best IIT In India?
There is no single best IIT for everyone. IIT Madras ranks highest in NIRF, IIT Delhi offers the best placements, and IIT Bombay has strong global recognition. The best IIT depends on your goals—whether you want top research, high salaries, or international opportunities. Choose based on your priorities.
Top IITs in India: NIRF Rankings 2024
Choosing the right IIT is a major decision for every engineering aspirant. The Indian government releases the NIRF (National Institutional Ranking Framework) rankings every year to help students and parents make informed choices. These rankings reflect the overall performance of institutions across different fields, including engineering, management, pharmacy, and more.
What is NIRF Ranking?
The Ministry of Education launched the NIRF in 2015. It ranks colleges and universities in India based on several key parameters. These include:
- Teaching, Learning, and Resources (TLR): This covers the quality of faculty, teaching methods, and infrastructure.
- Research and Professional Practice (RP): This includes research output, quality of publications, and patents.
- Graduation Outcomes (GO): This shows how many students graduate on time and how successful they are in jobs or higher studies.
- Outreach and Inclusivity (OI): This considers how inclusive the college is, including regional and gender diversity.
- Perception (PR): This is based on public and academic reputation.
These parameters help provide a complete picture of an institute’s performance.
Top 10 IITs as per NIRF 2024
The 2024 NIRF rankings for engineering colleges once again highlight the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) as the top performers. Here is the list of top IITs in India based on the NIRF 2024 rankings:
| Rank | IIT Name | Establishment Year |
| 1 | IIT Madras | 1959 |
| 2 | IIT Delhi | 1963 |
| 3 | IIT Bombay | 1958 |
| 4 | IIT Kanpur | 1959 |
| 5 | IIT Kharagpur | 1951 |
| 6 | IIT Roorkee | 1847 |
| 7 | IIT Guwahati | 1994 |
| 8 | IIT Hyderabad | 2008 |
| 10 | IIT BHU Varanasi | 1919 |
| 16 | IIT Indore | 2009 |
Why These Rankings Matter
NIRF rankings help students compare institutions on facts and performance. They show how IITs are improving in quality every year. If you are preparing for JEE Advanced, checking NIRF rankings can help you decide which IIT fits your interests best.
Always remember that a higher NIRF rank means better performance across academics, research, student success, and reputation. But your final choice should also depend on your preferred branch, location, and personal goals.
QS World University Rankings 2025: Global Standing of IITs
While NIRF rankings give you a national view, the QS World University Rankings offer a global perspective. These rankings are helpful if you plan to go abroad for higher studies or want to work with international companies. They show how Indian institutes perform compared to top universities around the world.
What is QS Ranking?
QS stands for Quacquarelli Symonds, a global higher education analytics company based in the UK. Every year, QS publishes a list of the top universities worldwide. These rankings help students, researchers, and companies identify high-performing institutions.
The QS rankings focus on different parameters than NIRF. Their goal is to evaluate global reputation, teaching quality, and research impact.
Parameters Used in QS Rankings
QS uses the following five major factors:
- Academic Reputation (40%): Based on surveys of professors and researchers worldwide.
- Employer Reputation (10%): Based on feedback from companies and recruiters.
- Faculty-Student Ratio (20%): Measures how many teachers are available per student.
- Citations per Faculty (20%): Indicates research quality and how often a college’s research is cited.
- International Faculty and Students (10%): Shows how global the campus is in terms of staff and student body.
These parameters help measure how respected and recognized a university is globally.
Top Indian Institutes in QS 2025 Rankings
In the QS World University Rankings 2025, several Indian institutes have made it to the top 500. Among them, the IITs stand out.
| Institute | QS Rank 2025 | Score |
| IIT Bombay | 118 | 56.3 |
| IIT Delhi | 150 | 52.1 |
| IISc Bangalore | 211 | 45 |
| IIT Kharagpur | 222 | 43.7 |
| IIT Madras | 227 | 43.5 |
| IIT Kanpur | 263 | 39.3 |
| IIT Roorkee | 335 | 33.4 |
| IIT Guwahati | 344 | 32.9 |
Difference Between NIRF and QS Rankings
There is often a mismatch between NIRF and QS rankings. For example, IIT Madras is ranked No. 1 in India according to NIRF 2024. However, it is ranked 227 globally in QS 2025. On the other hand, IIT Bombay is ranked third in NIRF but is the highest-ranked Indian institute globally.
This difference happens because each ranking system uses different methods and focuses on different factors. NIRF gives more weight to local achievements and national goals. QS focuses more on global visibility and international impact.
Why QS Rankings Matter
QS rankings help Indian students understand how their college choices are seen abroad. If you want to study overseas or apply to multinational companies, these rankings matter. A higher QS rank often leads to better recognition and more opportunities in research, internships, and job placements abroad.
When choosing an IIT, consider both national and global rankings. This will help you find the institute that fits your academic goals and future plans.
Placement Records (2024): Which IIT Offers the Best Salary?
Placements are one of the most important factors for students while choosing an IIT. Every year, top companies visit IIT campuses to hire talented graduates. These companies offer roles in software, core engineering, consulting, research, finance, and more. The placement season usually starts in December and continues till March or April.
IITs have strong placement cells that connect students with recruiters. Some IITs even offer training sessions before placements begin. These include mock interviews, resume building, and aptitude test practice. The goal is to prepare students for real job interviews.
Why Placements Matter
For most students, getting a good job after graduation is a top priority. High average salary packages show the strength of an IIT’s curriculum, industry connections, and student performance. While choosing an IIT, students often compare placement statistics from the previous year to get a clear idea of what to expect.
In 2024, many IITs reported impressive placement records. Let’s take a look at the average salary packages offered at different IITs.
IITs Average Package Comparison (2024)
| IIT Name | Average Package (2024) |
| IIT Delhi | ₹36.9 LPA |
| IIT Hyderabad | ₹26.51 LPA |
| IIT Kanpur | ₹26.27 LPA |
| IIT Guwahati | ₹25.75 LPA |
| IIT Bombay | ₹23.5 LPA |
| IIT Madras | ₹22 LPA |
| IIT Kharagpur | ₹22.13 LPA |
| IIT Roorkee | ₹18.3 LPA |
Key Observations
- IIT Delhi had the highest average package in 2024 at ₹36.9 LPA. It remains the top choice for students focused on high-paying jobs. Many students at IIT Delhi got offers from companies like Google, Microsoft, and McKinsey.
- IIT Hyderabad and IIT Kanpur followed with strong average salaries. This shows that newer IITs like Hyderabad are quickly rising in placement performance.
- IIT Guwahati also performed well, with an average package of ₹25.75 LPA. Its placement numbers have improved over the years.
- IIT Bombay had an average package of ₹23.5 LPA. While it ranks highest globally among Indian institutes, its average salary is lower than IIT Delhi.
- IIT Madras and IIT Kharagpur both had average packages around ₹22 LPA, which is still impressive.
- IIT Roorkee had a slightly lower average at ₹18.3 LPA, but it still offers strong core engineering roles and research jobs.
Factors That Affect Salary Packages
Many factors impact the average salary:
- Branch of Study: Computer Science and Data Science usually get higher packages.
- Internship Experience: Students with internships at big firms often get pre-placement offers.
- Coding Skills and Projects: Good coding skills can lead to offers from top tech firms.
- Location and Recruiters: IITs in metro cities like Delhi and Mumbai attract more global companies.
Historical Legacy vs. Emerging IITs
The Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) have always been known for academic excellence. However, not all IITs are the same. Some have existed for over 60 years, while others were set up only in the last 15 years. Students often face confusion about whether they should choose an older IIT or a newer one. To decide wisely, it’s important to understand the difference between historical IITs and emerging ones.
Old IITs (Established Before 1960)
The old IITs include:
- IIT Kharagpur (1951)
- IIT Bombay (1958)
- IIT Madras (1959)
- IIT Kanpur (1959)
- IIT Delhi (1963)
These institutes have a rich academic history. They were the first to introduce engineering education in India at a global standard. Over the years, these IITs have produced thousands of successful engineers, researchers, and entrepreneurs.
Advantages of Old IITs:
- Strong Alumni Network: These IITs have large alumni groups spread across the globe. Alumni often help students with jobs, internships, and mentorship.
- Established Infrastructure: The older IITs have fully developed labs, research centers, libraries, and hostels.
- Higher Research Funding: Many government and private research grants go to these IITs due to their strong track records.
- International Tie-ups: These institutes have collaborations with global universities and companies.
- Better Recognition: Recruiters and employers across the country trust the name of older IITs.
Challenges:
- Some old campuses have outdated facilities that need renovation.
- Due to high demand, the competition to get in is extremely tough.
New IITs (Established After 2008)
The government started several new IITs to expand technical education in India. Some of the well-known ones are:
- IIT Hyderabad (2008)
- IIT Indore (2009)
- IIT Gandhinagar (2008)
- IIT Ropar (2008)
- IIT Jodhpur (2008)
- IIT Bhubaneswar (2008)
- IIT Mandi (2009)
- IIT Patna (2008)
These IITs are quickly growing in reputation and facilities.
Advantages of New IITs:
- Modern Infrastructure: New IITs have updated buildings, smart classrooms, and the latest lab equipment.
- Flexible Curriculum: Many of these IITs offer new-age courses like AI, Data Science, and Robotics.
- Smaller Batch Size: With fewer students, personal attention from faculty is easier.
- Less Peer Pressure: Competition is still present, but the atmosphere is slightly more relaxed compared to older IITs.
- Focus on Innovation: New IITs promote entrepreneurship and startups through incubation centers.
Challenges:
- Their alumni networks are still growing.
- Recruiters may prefer older IITs for top positions.
- Some campuses are still under development or located far from major cities.
Which IIT is Best for You? Factors to Consider
Choosing the best IIT is not just about rankings. Every student has different goals. Some want the highest salary. Others aim for research or global exposure. That is why it is important to choose an IIT based on your interests and future plans. Below are some key factors students should consider while selecting the right IIT.
1) For Research and Academia
If you want to become a scientist or professor, research quality should be your top priority. You should look for IITs with strong research output and active Ph.D. programs.
- IISc Bangalore (not an IIT) is the best choice for pure sciences and advanced research.
- IIT Madras and IIT Bombay are also excellent for research. They have many research labs, government projects, and global collaborations.
- These institutes receive high research funding and publish a large number of papers.
They also offer Dual Degree programs and strong M.Tech and Ph.D. options.
2) For Placements and Corporate Jobs
If your goal is to get a high-paying job after B.Tech, focus on placement records and industry tie-ups.
- IIT Delhi currently offers the highest average package (₹36.9 LPA in 2024).
- IIT Kanpur and IIT Bombay also attract top companies like Google, Microsoft, and Goldman Sachs.
- These IITs have a good track record of international placements too.
- Their placement cells are strong, and students receive proper training for interviews and tests.
You should also check the average package and number of offers in your preferred branch.
3) For Global Opportunities
If you plan to study or work abroad later, global recognition matters.
- IIT Bombay and IIT Delhi are the best in terms of international rankings.
- They have high QS World Rankings and regular student exchange programs.
- Many students from these IITs go abroad for higher studies in top universities like MIT, Stanford, and ETH Zurich.
- These IITs also host global tech conferences and have MoUs with foreign universities.
Such global exposure can help you build an international career.
4) For a Balanced Experience
If you want good placements, solid academics, and vibrant campus life, choose an IIT that offers a mix of everything.
- IIT Madras and IIT Kharagpur provide a well-rounded experience.
- They have a strong focus on academics, a good placement record, and active student clubs.
- These campuses also offer a vibrant hostel life, sports facilities, and tech festivals.
Such an environment helps in overall growth and personal development.
5) Other Factors to Consider
- Location: IITs near metro cities may offer more internship and networking opportunities.
- Branch: Some IITs are better for specific branches. For example, IIT Roorkee is strong in civil engineering.
- Campus Life: Cultural and tech fests, student clubs, and hostel facilities also matter.
- Peer Group: Older IITs may have a more competitive environment. Choose one that suits your personality.
Conclusion
There is no single IIT that is best for everyone. Each IIT has its own strengths. If you want the best overall academic and research performance in India, IIT Madras stands out in the NIRF 2024 rankings. If your goal is to get the highest salary package, IIT Delhi offers the top average package in 2024. For global recognition and opportunities abroad, IIT Bombay ranks the highest among Indian institutes in QS World Rankings 2025.
You should choose your IIT based on your goals. If you are interested in research, prefer a high salary job, or want more global exposure, each IIT offers different benefits. Also, think about your preferred branch, campus life, location, and placement records. In the end, the best IIT for you is the one that matches your career plans, interests, and strengths. Choose wisely, and focus on your preparation to achieve your goal.
FAQs
1) Is IIT Madras better than IIT Bombay?
It depends on what you are looking for. IIT Madras ranks higher in NIRF 2024, which reflects performance in India. On the other hand, IIT Bombay performs better in QS rankings and has more global recognition. Choose based on your career goals, like research, jobs, or global exposure.
2) Which IIT has the highest salary package?
In 2024, IIT Delhi recorded the highest average salary package at ₹36.9 LPA. This was due to top recruiters and international offers. Students from computer science and related branches got the best offers. However, salaries vary by branch, so check placement data for your course before deciding.
3) Are newer IITs worth joining?
Yes, newer IITs like IIT Hyderabad and IIT Indore are good options. They have modern infrastructure, strong faculty, and growing placement records. Competition for admission is slightly lower than older IITs. While alumni networks are smaller, these IITs offer excellent learning environments and updated course structures.
4) Does QS ranking matter for Indian jobs?
QS rankings mainly matter for international recognition and higher studies abroad. In India, companies care more about NIRF rankings, institute reputation, and student performance. So, while QS rankings are useful, Indian employers usually focus on the IIT brand and the skills students bring to the job.
