Frequently asked questions:

1. What is the difference between accreditation and ranking ?

• Accreditation is a 5-year comprehensive assessment of the institution as a whole.
• Ranking is a yearly concern.
• Accreditation provides absolute grade whenever ranking is relative to the other institutions similarly placed.

2. Is ranking important, since any institution already accredited by NAAC or other agency ?

• Accreditation is a one-time (5 year) event. Accredited Institutions can slip in their yearly performance.
• Stakeholders are interested in knowing whether the institution is doing better or worse at the end of each year
• Ranking is an Annual Report Card to the Nation and to the stakeholders on what has been done by the institution in the last one year, on the given performance.
• Very few institutions have got the accreditation, whereas ranking is open to all!
• It is due to this reason that across the Countries, there is both accreditation and ranking.

3. Is any institute has bad accreditation grade, get good ranking place ?

• Yes, ranking is a reflection of the yearly performance and enhance performance.

4. Is the ranking score exhibited against each institution manifestation of their performance ?

• This ranking score is a relative score, not absolute. Therefore a statement that ‘The institution with fail marks is ranked in the top 100’, is incorrect. This is NOT an absolute score.
• In each parameter, percentile score using the log-function has been derived, which gives - where the Very few institutions have got the accreditation, whereas ranking is open to all.
• It is due to this reason that across the Countries, there is both accreditation and ranking.

5. How good is the data on which ranking has been done ?

• The institutions have given this data certifying that it is correct. Even then, the data has been checked with reference to the data validations that have been built in. For example, if the annual fee is Rs. 10 lakh, and the institution is claiming that 80% of the students are from economically backward sections, there is an apparent inconsistency. The NIRF checks such data with the institution and other regulator data
• Most of the data pertaining to the research, which has a large weightage, is taken from third party and authentic sources like Scopus or Web of Science. This data is certainly valid and correct.
• We must understand the NIRF score as a reflection of where the institution is standing vis-a-vis other institutions in the similar category.