IIT-Madras has bagged the top rank, which is followed by IIT-Bombay and IIT-Delhi in second and third positions. Also in the latest Atal Ranking of Institutions on Innovation Achievements (ARIIA) in the category of centrally-funded technical institutions, while Panjab University, Delhi Technological University and Netaji Subhas University of Technology emerged as well as the top three in the state and deemed university (government and government-aided) categories. The 2021 rankings were released by the ministry of education on Wednesday.

ARIIA is a policy initiative of the MoE to systematically rank all major higher educational institutions and universities in India on indicators related to promotion and support of “innovation and entrepreneurship development” amongst students and faculties. The very first edition of ARIIA started in 2019 and a total 496 institutes competed to get a position in the rankings. The current edition of ARIIA saw registration of 3,551 higher education HEIs and 1,438 technical institutions (including all IITs, NITs, IISc, etc.)

This third edition has introduced a special framework for non-technical institutions that further strengthens the innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystem in Indian higher education institutions. Indira Gandhi National Open University and Indian Institute of Management, Kozhikode were ranked top two in Institute of National Importance, Central University and CFIs (Non-Technical) category, while Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India and Sree Narayana College, Kerala were top two institutions in the General (Non-Technical) category.

ARIIA critically evaluates institutions on parameters like patent filing and grants, number of registered students and faculty startups, fund generation by incubated start-ups, specialized infrastructure created by institutions to promote innovation and entrepreneurship, etc.

Junion education minister Subhas Sarkar virtually announced the ARIIA 2021 tankings. He said the rankings will certainly inspire Indian institutions to reorient their mind-set and build ecosystems to encourage high quality research, innovation and entrepreneurship in their campuses.