Top Research Institute in India: NIRF Ranking & Admission Process

Are you planning to do a PhD or want to work as a research associate at the top research institutes across the nation? Candidates intrigued by the research field in various domains of science stream can read out this Shiksha article to get updated on the nirf ranking of top research institutes and the various courses offered by them.

Top Research Institute in India

Research institutes play a pivotal role in India's economic (resources increase India’s GDP), scientific, and technological development. They are responsible for conducting cutting-edge research in various fields, right from agriculture (ICAR, IARI), healthcare (AIMS, ICMR, Tata Memorial Hospital), Defence Forces (DRDO) to space (ISRO, IIRS). Their contributions have led to numerous breakthroughs and innovations that have improved the lives of millions of people.

Also Read: List of ICARs in India- Courses, Admission Process 

For a candidate who wants to pursue for higher degree like PhD, some ameliorating qualities like advancing knowledge, innovating skills, nurturing scientific talent must be profound. These many skills will only be enhanced by them by opting the right research institutes that are available in the country. Research institutes require a strong pool of talented scientists, researchers, and engineers to conduct their work effectively. Locating institutes within the country provides access to this local talent and expertise, reducing the need for international recruitment and enhancing the institute's ability to attract and retain top talent.

Here is the list of top most research institutes in the country in which a candidate can pursue their PhD degree.

Top Research Institute in India: Based on NIRF 2023 Ranking

Here is the list of the top research institutes in India based on NIRF 2023 Ranking: 

Also Read: Top Psychology Colleges in DU 2024 Admissions: Courses, Seat Matrix, Exam Pattern & Syllabus Details 

Domain-Wise Top Research Institutes in India

India is famously known as home to a wide range of world-class research institutes, spanning a diverse array of scientific and technological domains. These institutes play a pivotal role in advancing India's scientific prowess and contributing to global knowledge. Here's a compilation of the top research institutes in India:

Natural Sciences

Natural science is one of the domains of science that is concerned with the understanding, prediction, and description of natural phenomena. This is based on empirical evidence from observation and then experimentation. Natural science can be divided into two main branches: life science and physical science. Life science is alternatively known as biology, and physical science is subdivided into branches. Here is a list of some popular research institutes in India for natural science courses:

IISc Bangalore, Karnataka

IISc Bangalore is a public university that offers UG, PG, and doctoral-level programmes in the fields of engineering, sciences, management, and design. The university is located in Bangalore and was established in 1909. Jamsetji Tata was one of the founding fathers of IISc Bangalore and hence it is also known as “Tata Institute”. IISc Banglore campus is spread over 400 acres. The second campus of IISc is located in Challakere, Karnataka which is 203 km away from Bangalore and is spread over 1500 acres of land. IISc Bangalore research programmes are among the most opted programmes. The university course admission is entirely entrance exam-based. For admission to the courses offered at IISc Bangalore, candidates are required to appear for the entrance exams specified by the institute. IISc Bangalore has been ranked 2^nd (in the overall category) and 225^th by the NIRF and QS World rankings, respectively. Moreover, the university is an affiliate of All Indian Universities (AIU) and the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU). It has also been accredited NAAC ‘A’ grade by UGC.

Also Read: Career opportunities after studying at ICAR 

Departments at IISc Bangalore

• Division of Biological Sciences
• Division of Chemical Sciences
• Division of Electrical, Electronics, and Computer Science (EECS)
• Division of Interdisciplinary Sciences
• Division of Mechanical Sciences
• Division of Physical and Mathematical Sciences

Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), Mumbai

The Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) is a research institute located in Mumbai, India. It is a deemed university, which means that it is not under the control of the University Grants Commission of India. Instead, it is directly overseen by the Department of Atomic Energy of the Government of India. TIFR has over 1,000 faculty members and students, and it is located on a sprawling campus in the Colaba district of Mumbai. The institute has a state-of-the-art research infrastructure, including telescopes, particle accelerators, and laboratories.

Departments/ Research Labs at IISc Bangalore

• School of Mathematics
• School of Natural Sciences
• School of Technology and Computer Sciences
• Department of Biological Sciences

Affiliated Institutes 

TIFR also includes institutes outside its main campus in Colaba and Mumbai:

• Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education at Deonar, Mumbai
• International Centre for Theoretical Sciences at Bangalore
• National Centre for Biological Sciences at Bangalore
• National Centre for Radio Astrophysics at Pune
• National Balloon Facility at Hyderabad
• TIFR Centre for Applicable Mathematics, Bangalore for Mathematics
• TIFR Hyderabad

National Institute of Science Education and Research Bhubaneswar (NISER)

 National Institute of Science Education and Research is a premier Institute . It is located in Orissa. A leading institute in the city offers a UG Degree course in Science. The course is available in Full Time mode. NISER - National Institute of Science Education and Research is a well-known institution for B.Sc. course. These programs are delivered by highly experienced faculty. Institute has good facilities all around the campus like Auditorium, Hospital / Medical Facilities, Labs, Library, Shuttle Service. The principal goal of NISER is to provide excellent environment for the students to foster creativity, imagination and innovation, paving way for a career in scientific research in academic institutes, national & international research & development labs, industries etc.

Departments/ Research Labs at IISc NISER

NISER encourages both theoretical and experimental research in frontier areas in all branches of science. NISER currently has seven separate schools specializing in different areas of science. They are as follows:
(i) School of Biological Sciences
(ii) School of Chemical Sciences
(iii) School of Computer Sciences
(iv) School of Earth and Planetary Sciences
(v) School of Humanities and Social Sciences
(vi) School of Mathematical Sciences
(vii) School of Physical Sciences.

In addition there is also a Centre for Interdisciplinary Sciences.