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Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Science
- Hindustan Times
NIRF ranking 2025: Higher education institutes to be penalised for retracted papers
The National Board of Accreditation (NBA), which oversees the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) rankings, will penalise higher education institutions (HEIs) if a significant number of research papers published by their faculty are retracted, in a move aimed at curbing the rising instances of academic misconduct in the country, officials said on Thursday. Currently, National Board of Accreditation conducts the NIRF rankings for Indian higher education institutions in 16 categories. (Representative file photo) NBA chairperson Anil Sahasrabudhe said negative marking for retracted papers in NIRF ranking 2025 is aimed at tackling the rise in retractions of papers. He said it was noted that several institutions pressure students and faculty to publish low-quality research (which later gets retracted) to boost their rankings. India ranks only next to China in the number of retractions, as per Retraction Watch Database, a global repository that tracks retracted research papers across disciplines, highlighting reasons such as plagiarism, data falsification, or peer review manipulation. In China, more than three out of 1,000 publications are retracted, while it is two per 1,000 in India. In the US, less than one paper is retracted for every 1,000 papers published. In an analysis by India Research Watch (IRW) based on data by Retraction Watch Database, the total number of retractions from India between 1996 and 2024 stood at 5,412 with an average retraction rate of 1.80 per 1000 publications. Of these, the maximum or 2650 (48%) were classified as 'serious' such as plagiarism and data manipulation, 32% (1757) with issues around integrity like fake peer review or misconduct by the author and 12% (652) involved flawed research, unreliable data or errors that could also be honest. Since 2019, the number of retractions from India have increased significantly with a spike recorded in the last four years. In 2022, the number of retractions were the maximum at 1212 followed by 2023 (866) and 2024 (860). In the last seven months of this year, there have been 571 retractions. Also Read: CM Yogi stresses on inclusion of private institutes under SIRF to ensure quality The decision to penalise universities with too many restrictions is a much needed move, said Achal Agrawal, founder, IRW, adding that the IRW has been calling for this action for more than a year. 'Retractions are a symptom of a bigger malaise in the whole research ecosystem. If you want to look at the root cause, we should be looking at the metrics that we use to reward universities and to scientists as well,' said Agrawal. 'University rankings are based on various parameters. Publishing research is one of them. But what's incentivised is quantity rather than quality. Retractions are a consequence of that.' Stating that IRW has been calling for some penalty since there has been a spike in retractions in India, Agrawal added, 'When retractions are taken into account in the ranking process, it will definitely make universities act since it will directly hit them. But how it is implemented will matter a lot.' For effective execution of the decision, Agrawal said it's also essential to use a comprehensive database such as Retraction Watch or Scopus. 'Not all retractions are due to misconduct. There could also be some honest errors. Universities that are penalised should know what has got them into trouble,' said Agrawal, adding that Retraction Watch is a good database to refer to since it also mentions reasons for the same. Currently, NBA conducts the NIRF rankings for Indian higher education institutions in 16 categories. A new category – sustainability will be added wherein institutions will be assessed on Sustainable Development Goals 2030. NIRF evaluates institutions based on six key parameters with different weightages: Teaching, Learning & Resources (TLR) carries a weightage of 30%, as does Research and Professional Practice (RP); Graduation Outcomes (GO) account for 20% of the total score; Outreach and Inclusivity (OI) is assigned 10%, while Perception (PR) also contributes 10%. These weightages may vary slightly depending on the category of the institution. The Research and Professional Practice (RP) parameter in NIRF includes publications, citation quality, patents and IPR, as well as sponsored research and consultancy projects. NBA chief Sahasrabudhe said, 'Journals withdrawing the papers after complaints of unethical practices and cheating are called as retraction of the paper. Even if a research paper was published and counted towards an institute's ranking in previous years, a retraction discovered later will still attract a penalty in the current year. This is to send a strong message against unethical practices. Institutions must correct their approach. While penalties may continue for a year or two, consistent ethical conduct will eventually result in barring them from NIRF rankings,' he said. Explaining the process of negative marking for retracted papers, he said that institutions having retracted papers will lose marks for citations under RP parameter and their NIRF rank will fall. 'We will use the data for retracted papers from journals itself instead of third party sources [The Retraction Watch]. In the coming years, we will name those institutions and bar from NIRF rankings for three to five years. We want to send a message to institutions that this is not only the name of your institute getting spoiled but the name of the country is also getting spoiled due to retracted papers,' he added. The ninth edition of NIRF rankings will be released 'very soon', he said. NIRF 2024 rankings were released on August 12, 2024.
The Hindu
16-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
T.N. to establish new ranking list for higher education institutes
The Tamil Nadu government has provided in-principle approval for establishing a State Institutional Ranking Framework (SIRF) — a ranking list for higher education institutions in the State. According to a government order issued on Monday, the Tamil Nadu State Council for Higher Education (TANSCHE), which had in a letter to the government earlier this month proposed to develop indicators for performance assessment of higher education institutions, will be the implementing authority of the ranking. The government has agreed to sanction ₹75 lakh for implementing the SIRF, and ₹10 lakh to meet preliminary expenses such as forming an expert committee, stakeholder consultation, and software development. The ranking will seek to 'encapsulate holistic development of students in terms of skill acquisition, competency development, and professional readiness', besides ranking institutions on other metrics. In the first phase of implementation, an expert committee would be formed for consultation with stakeholders across academia and industry to finalise indicators and evaluation metrics. These will be tested in 20 diverse institutions across disciplines. The indicators will then be refined based on feedback before the project is rolled out in full. Such a move was necessitated as the current ranking frameworks, including the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF), largely focused on indicators such as research output, faculty-student ratios and publication metrics. There was insufficient focus on student learning outcomes, overemphasis on number of publications and citations, heavy reliance on institutional self-reporting without verification, limited stakeholder engagement and absence of a level playing field, the order said. A holistic outcome-based evaluation capturing aspects like problem solving, critical thinking, communication, teamwork and ethical reasoning would be a key feature of the SIRF. Institutional performance would be assessed through indicators such as internships, employability indices and alumni outcomes, besides seeking inputs from students, faculty, employers and alumni. All submitted data will undergo verification and TANSCHE will provide open access to its evaluation criteria. For this, the Council will set up a digital platform for data submission, analysis, visualisation and reporting, the order added.
New Indian Express
07-06-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
TANSCHE to unveil first-ever model policy for academic and administrative audit of HEIs in TN
The policy will require the HEIs to ensure if they have appropriate student support systems on the campus, if adequate actions are being taken to ensure safety of students, measures taken for their mental well-being, and mechanisms in place to address grievances received from students of any kind. 'The policy is designed to enhance transparency, administrative efficiency and academic performance and it applies to all HEIs in TN, however, state-run institutions will be our priority,' said MP Vijayakumar, vice-chairman of TANSCHE. Notably, the TANSCHE had recently released a draft model policy on technology usage in HEIs, which promotes digitisation of all services and facilities available in institutions. According to higher education department officials, TANSCHE is working on 12 such policies like policy on outcome-based education, infrastructure and equipment maintenance, among others, to improve the quality of HEIs and ensure accountability. The remaining 10 policies will be released in the next few months. Sources said TN also plans to link the release of a certain percentage of monetary grants to the HEIs on the basis of their adherence to these policies. The adherence to the policies will also be taken into account during the State Institutional Ranking Framework (SIRF) ranking.
Indian Express
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Yogi: Bring private educational institutions in state under SIRF for uniform quality benchmarks
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday directed that private institutions in the state be brought under the State Institutional Ranking (SIRF) to maintain uniform quality benchmarks across the board. The CM, who chaired a review meeting of the Technical Education and Vocational Education departments, stressed that all technical institutions must actively participate in quality evaluations conducted by bodies such as the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC), National Board of Accreditation (NBA), and National Institutional Ranking (NIRF). He, however, underlined the need for thorough preparation before applying for these accreditations to maintain excellence. Technical Education Minister Ashish Patel and Vocational Education Minister Kapil Dev Aggarwal were also present in the meeting. It was informed during the meeting that 1.64 lakh seats have been offered at Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Technical University, Lucknow, for the academic session 2024-25. The university has aligned its curriculum with the National Education Policy, 2020, introducing MOOC-based learning, a choice-based credit system, multiple entry and exit options and integrated programmes, it was claimed. The CM was apprised that in 2023-24 academic year, 12,739 students from the university secured employment, with the highest annual package reaching Rs 59.91 lakh. He instructed the officials to expedite recruitment for all vacant academic and non-academic positions. While reviewing diploma-level technical education, it was noted that 2,139 polytechnic institutes are currently functioning in the state. These include 147 government, 19 aided, 1,948 private and 18 institutions under the public private partnership (PPP) mode, with a total intake capacity of over 2.68 lakh students, officials said. At present, more than 1.15 lakh students are enrolled in these institutions, they added. Officials of the Department of Vocational Education and Skill Development informed that 324 government and 2,982 private ITIs are operational in the state. With support from Tata Technologies Limited, 212 government ITIs have been upgraded with modern laboratories and trained instructors. These institutions now offer both long-term courses and short-term skill development programmes, it was informed. For the 2024–25 academic year, nearly 1.25 lakh trainees have secured apprenticeship and employment opportunities. More than 30,000 students have also applied under the PM Internship Scheme. It was also noted that modern skill laboratories have been set up in at least 37 districts through corporate social responsibility (CSR) contributions from reputed industrial units. The regular organisation of monthly placement drives has significantly boosted local employment, with more than 2.67 lakh apprentices placed over the past five years under the NPS and CMAPS schemes.
Time of India
02-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Pvt polytechnics must take part in state-level rankings: Yogi
Lucknow: In a move aimed at maintaining the quality of private polytechnic institutions , Chief Minister on Friday asked officials to carry out the State Institutional Research Framework (SIRF) of such institutes also on the lines of govt and aided ones. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Chairing a review meeting of the technical and vocational education department, Yogi said that all institutes should, on their own, actively participate in quality evaluations like the National Board of Accreditation (NBA), National Institutional Research Framework (NIRF), and National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC). "Institutes must prepare thoroughly before applying for these accreditations to maintain excellence. These quality evaluations will aid in making UP a hub of technical education ," Yogi told the officers. Underscoring the importance of prioritising innovation and hands-on training in technical and vocational education, Yogi said, "Both the departments should work in sync and should meet the industry requirements. Every student should undergo a mandatory industrial internship alongside academic training. Education must be beyond certificates—it should be practical, skill-based, and purpose-driven." During the meeting, the CM was apprised of the measures taken by technical institutions to align themselves with NEP 2020. Officials informed the CM that APJ Abdul Kalam Technical University introduced MOOC-based learning, a choice-based credit system, multiple entry and exit options, and other integrated programs. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now In the academic session 2023-24, 12,739 students bagged jobs, with the highest annual package reaching Rs 59.91 lakh. Similarly, students from Madan Mohan Malviya University of Technology, Gorakhpur, were placed in reputed firms with packages up to Rs 52 lakh per annum. The CM also directed universities and engineering colleges to strengthen practical training and ensure that laboratories are well-equipped. He also instructed the officials to expedite the recruitment process for all vacant academic and non-academic positions. While reviewing the infrastructural and development-related projects, Yogi asked officials to complete the work of newly built govt engineering colleges in Basti, Gonda, Mirzapur, and Pratapgarh in a time-bound manner, ensuring these institutions become fully operational from the next academic session. He emphasised that the courses offered by these institutes must align with the local industrial landscape and emerging job opportunities. Technical education officials informed the CM that UP has 2,139 polytechnic institutes, which include 147 govt-run, 18 run on PPP-mode, 19 aided, and 1,948 private institutions, with a total intake capacity of over 2.68 lakh students. At present, more than 1.15 lakh students are pursuing their diploma from these polytechnics, most of which have digital classrooms and Aadhaar-based biometric attendance. Polytechnics also have industry-integrated programs and cutting-edge technologies such as drone technology, cybersecurity, data science, and machine learning to modernise the curriculum. Since 2017, the state has established 39 new govt polytechnics and provided training to over 13,000 faculty members and officers. Officials working at the vocational education and skill development department informed the CM that 324 govt and 2,982 private Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) are operational in the state. With support from Tata Technologies Limited, 212 govt ITIs have been upgraded with modern laboratories and trained instructors. These institutions now offer both long-term courses and short-term skill development programs. For the 2024–25 academic year, approximately 1.25 lakh trainees secured apprenticeship and employment opportunities. More than 30,000 students also applied under the PM Internship Scheme. In addition, modern skill labs have been established in over 37 districts through CSR contributions from reputed industrial units. In the past five years, 2.67 lakh apprentices were placed under the NPS and CMAPS schemes, officials said. Expressing satisfaction with the progress in technical education, Yogi said that UP is advancing with a forward-looking and robust policy framework. He urged officials to ensure effective implementation of all initiatives and to provide every youth with opportunities, thereby contributing to the vision of an Atmanirbhar Bharat.
