Last year, Outlook-ICARE did something refreshingly unconventional. We acknowledged that rankings—though rigorous, transparent, and necessary—are not the sole lens through which educational excellence should be viewed. That piece, Beyond Rankings: Choosing the Right University, catalyzed a national conversation and unearthed something we had long suspected: institutions, both ranked and unranked, are doing extraordinary work that deserves recognition, even if it doesn’t fit neatly into a scoring matrix.
The response was overwhelming. From deans in Delhi to faculty in far-flung rural campuses, we heard a common refrain: “Thank you for seeing us—for celebrating our uniqueness.”
And so, what began as a one-time editorial has now evolved into an annual initiative.
A Parallel Track to Rankings
Rankings are essential; they foster competition, encourage transparency, and offer measurable benchmarks. But they are only part of the story. Many institutions that do not appear in the top 100—or even those that do—excel in areas that matter deeply to society but often go unnoticed.
This is where our new “Exclusive Academies of Exceptional Abilities” comes in. It’s our way of spotlighting institutions that embody excellence not necessarily captured by traditional metrics.
What Does ‘Gold Standard’ Mean?
These are institutions that may or may not rank highly but are nonetheless exemplary in one or more of the following domains:
Rural Transformation: Institutions using education to uplift underserved geographies.
Inclusive Education: Campuses that actively support first-generation learners, students with disabilities, or those from marginalized communities.
Innovation & Experimentation: Labs, classrooms, or entire institutions rethinking pedagogy, tech-integration, or industry collaboration.
Cultural Preservation: Centres preserving local languages, crafts, performing arts, and indigenous knowledge systems.
Community Engagement: From sanitation drives to local entrepreneurship—where education meets civic duty.
These contributions are not incidental—they are intentional, mission-driven and transformative.
Not Just Data, But Stories
What differentiates the Gold Standard initiative is its narrative form. We are curating stories—not just scores—about institutions that are defining their own success metrics. This year, we received over 150 nominations from across the country, each a testament to how Indian higher education is far richer and more diverse than any global league table would suggest.
From a women’s college in Tamil Nadu teaching cybersecurity in vernacular languages, to a tribal university in central India setting up a sustainable agriculture lab with local farmers, these are stories that deserve the national spotlight and will be soon featured in our forthcoming editions and on our online pages.
The Future is Plural
If last year’s article was a nudge, this year’s initiative is a movement. We are moving away from the monoculture of “top colleges” and towards a plurality of excellence. Because the future of Indian higher education is not one-size-fits-all—it is adaptive, inclusive, and deeply local.
We believe that every student deserves not just a “ranked” education, but the right education.
An Invitation to Celebrate Excellence — Differently
As this initiative gains traction, we invite institutions, faculty, students, and education leaders to nominate and showcase stories that go beyond conventional rankings. Let this become a collective, annual celebration of all that is inspiring, impactful, and imaginative in Indian higher education. After all, the true hallmark of a great institution isn’t where it ranks, but whom it uplifts and how deeply it transforms.
MORE FROM THIS ISSUE
MORE FROM THIS ISSUE
| S.No. | Name of the Institutes in alphabetical order | Gold Standard For |
| 1 | Adichunchanagiri Institute of Medical Sciences B.G. Nagara | Offers integrated rural healthcare exposure through its well-established rural outreach programs and hospitals |
| 2 | Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham Coimbatore | Pioneer of the Live‑in‑Labs® initiative: students collaborate in rural settings on real-world sustainable development projects - impacting over 60000 people |
| 3 | Auroville Earth Institute Puducherry | AVEI is one of the world’s leading centres specializing in earth-based building technologies operating in 38+ countries and training over 14000 participants from nearly 95 nations. It serves as the Asia representative of the UNESCO Chair on Earthen Architecture enabling regional leadership in research and knowledge dissemination |
| 4 | Azim Premji University Bengaluru | Strong emphasis on field immersion rural internships and real-world engagement through partnerships with NGOs government bodies and grassroots movements |
| 5 | Birla Institute of Technology And Science (BITS) Pilani | Unique Practice School (PS) program: full‑semester internships (2 months in 2nd year 5.5 months in 4th year) in top companies leading to PPOs and hands‑on experience |
| 6 | Birla Institute of Technology (BIT) Mesra Jharkhand | First in India to establish a Department of Space Engineering & Rocketry back in 1964 complete with its own rocket test facility |
| 7 | Central University of Jharkhand (CUJ) | Emerging as a national leader in Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Tribal Studies |
| 8 | Centurion University Odisha | India’s only University recognized as a Centre of Excellence by the Ministry of Skill Development for its transformative focus on skill-integrated learning |
| 9 | Chennai Mathematical Institute (CMI) | Home to renowned mathematicians - like founder C. S. Seshadri (Padma Bhushan FRS) - and faculty with Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar honors CMI fosters a legacy of prolific scholarship in algebraic geometry theoretical CS and physics |
| 10 | College of Engineering Bharati Vidyapeeth Pune | Collaborates with global institutions (North Carolina A&T Drexel Tokushima) and industry giants like TCS ABB and Parker Hannifin for joint degrees faculty development and virtual labs |
| 11 | Era’s Lucknow Medical College & Hospital Lucknow | Houses the country's first medical college department dedicated to Personalized and Molecular Medicine positioning it at the forefront of precision healthcare |
| 12 | Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) Pune | Admitting only a couple of hundred students per year FTII maintains an intimate cohort. Students undergo a unified foundation year rigorous specialization and enriched workshops led by veterans - prioritizing creative excellence over volume |
| 13 | FOSTIIMA Business School Delhi NCR | Founded and taught entirely by IIM Ahmedabad alumni offering an IIM-quality curriculum and pedagogy with strong industry links |
| 14 | Ganpat University Mehsana | Unique social upliftment mission with deep industry collaboration (IBM Maruti) strong value-based education and grassroots outreach |
| 15 | GLA University Mathura | Houses 14 research centers has filed 500+ patents and published 6500+ papers reflecting a strong emphasis on innovation |
| 16 | Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics Pune | Founded in 1930 by the Servants of India Society GIPE is India’s first dedicated center for economic research policy study and social science analysis |
| 17 | Gujarat National Law University (GNLU) Gandhinagar | Offers integrated law degrees that combine law with Commerce Science Arts and Social Work catering to diverse career trajectories. Encourages convergence between law economics public policy management diplomacy and technology. |
| 18 | ICFAI Business School Hyderabad | Among the few Indian B-schools with AACSB accreditation across BBA MBA and PhD - reflecting global benchmarks in management education |
| 19 | IISER Kolkata | The institute hosts premier facilities including the ISRO-partnered Centre of Excellence in Space Sciences (CESSI) cutting-edge research centres in AI climate science advanced materials and high-pressure studies and the Dirac supercomputer for high-performance computing |
| 20 | Indian Institute of Public Health (PHFI) Gandhinagar & Hyderabad | With global collaborations including WHO UNICEF ICMR and top universities over 300 impactful research projects like Ahmedabad’s heatwave mapping and a PHFI ranking just behind the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and ahead of Harvard IIPHG stands as a world-leading force in public health education and innovation. |
| 21 | Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bengaluru | Home to several national research centers including India’s top-ranked supercomputing facility (PARAM Pravega) Plays a pivotal role in shaping the country’s R&D ecosystem powering institutions like ISRO DRDO HAL and CSIR |
| 22 | Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST) Thiruvananthapuram | Asia’s first space-focused university; direct ISRO integration |
| 23 | Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras | India’s first and only university-led Research Park integrating industry and academia. Home to 200+ deep-tech companies it serves as a live testbed for lab-to-market innovation in AI energy robotics mobility and smart manufacturing. |
| 24 | Indian School of Business & Finance (ISBF) Delhi | A hub for cutting-edge research and AI-driven learning with strong industry links and global academic partnerships preparing students for a data-driven future. |
| 25 | Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) Delhi | Advanced research in statistical quality control for manufacturing |
| 26 | Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) | Global leader in distance education and democratizing higher education |
| 27 | Institute of Chemical Technology (ICT) Mumbai | Niche domain-focused institution entirely dedicated to chemical engineering dyes polymers food engineering pharmaceuticals textiles biotechnology and green energy. |
| 28 | Institute of Rural Management Anand (IRMA) | IRMA’s hallmark is its Village Fieldwork Segment - a unique multi-week immersive experience that places students in real rural communities to solve genuine problems and test management theory in action |
| 29 | M. S. Ramaiah Institute of Technology Bangalore | MSRIT hosts specialized Centres of Excellence - including tie-ups with IBM Intel Adobe Schneider Electric Boeing and JSW Energy - to provide students with cutting-edge labs workshops and technology access |
| 30 | Manipal University Jaipur | India’s first fully digital campus MUJ features a robust Academic Management System pan-campus Wi‑Fi digital security (430+ CCTVs) and remote e-learning - ensuring uninterrupted learning continuity even during disruptions |
| 31 | McGans Ooty School of Architecture | Through landmark tie-ups with CEPT University and IIT Madras’s CUBE Centre MOSA infuses cutting-edge research and future-ready courses like parametric architecture into its sustainability-driven curriculum |
| 32 | National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS) Bengaluru | Recognised globally for its research in neurobiology psychopharmacology brain imaging epidemiology public mental health and AI in psychiatry. Home to India’s Human Brain Tissue Repository and cutting-edge Neurobiology Research Centre (NBRC). |
| 33 | National Institute of Technology (NIT) Silchar | Established in 1967 NIT Silchar evolved from REC to an Institute of National Importance admitting only the top ~0.04% of ~1.3M JEE aspirants reflecting its high academic calibre |
| 34 | North Eastern Hill University (NEHU) Shillong | Home to excellence in biodiversity environmental science nanotechnology rural development tribal studies biotechnology and bioinformatics with funding from DST UGC CSIR DBT and others |
| 35 | O.P. Jindal Global University Sonipat | With over 1100 full-time faculty representing more than 50 countries the university offers a vibrant global academic community. Many faculty members are distinguished alumni of premier institutions such as Harvard Stanford Oxford Cambridge LSE and other globally renowned universities bringing world-class expertise and diverse perspectives to teaching and research |
| 36 | R.V. College of Engineering Bangalore | Industry-led capstone projects where final-year students solve actual problems posed by corporate partners - often leading to patents publications or job offers |
| 37 | Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Petroleum Technology (RGIPT) Amethi | Premier energy-sector institute backed by ONGC IOCL GAIL |
| 38 | Sathyabama Institute of Science & Technology Chennai | Centre for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (CNSNT) – one of the most advanced nanotech facilities in South India with globally recognized outputs in cancer therapy drug delivery and water purification |
| 39 | SDM College of Medical Sciences & Hospital Dharwad Karnataka | Blend of modern medicine value-based learning Ayurveda integration and rural service makes it a rare institution where clinical excellence meets compassionate care |
| 40 | Shri Ram Murti Smarak Institute of Medical Sciences Bareilly | SRMS IMS is among the few private medical colleges in India to adopt a fully digital outcome-driven learning ecosystem offering simulation-based clinical training through advanced labs mannequins and VR-based modules to enhance practical skills |
| 41 | SIES School of Packaging Mumbai | India’s first and only dedicated academic institution focused entirely on packaging technology blending material science design sustainability and industrial application to create next-generation packaging professionals. |
| 42 | SRM INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY (IST) - FACULTY OF ENG & TECH KTR CHENNAI | Nurturing a strong culture of innovation and entrepreneurship through dedicated incubation centres industry linkages and a thriving start-up ecosystem making it a leading hub for enterprise-driven education and research |
| 43 | SRM UNIVERSITY AP- SEAS AMARAVATI AP | A research-driven institution with a strong focus on Artificial Intelligence fostering interdisciplinary innovation through advanced labs global faculty and high-impact publications |
| 44 | Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) Mumbai | Global breakthroughs in areas like algebraic geometry string theory radio astronomy molecular genetics quantum computing and high-energy physics Houses cutting-edge facilities like the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT) and national centres such as NCBS (Bangalore) NCRA (Pune) and TCIS (Hyderabad). |
| 45 | Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) Guwahati Centre | Specialized curricula in areas such as Peace and Conflict Studies Livelihood Studies Social Work in Rural and Tribal Contexts and Ecology Environment and Sustainable Development. Focus on indigenous rights ethnic relations migration gender justice and community resilience in complex borderland and post-conflict settings |
| 46 | The LNM Institute of Information Technology (LNMIIT) Jaipur | LNMIIT established through a public–private partnership between the Government of Rajasthan and the Lakshmi & Usha Mittal Foundation is one of the few philanthropy-backed technical institutes in India originally mentored by IIT Kanpur to offer IIT-level academic structure governance and evaluation standards |
| 47 | Vivekananda Institute of Professional Studies (VIPS) New Delhi | Engagement with the Supreme Court Delhi High Court and prominent legal institutions fostering real-world legal learning |
| 48 | VNR Vignana Jyothi Institute of Engineering & Technology Hyderabad | A hallmark of VNR VJIET is its pioneering “Design Your Own Course” (DYOC) initiative which empowers students to co-create electives aligned with emerging technologies and industry needs—fostering academic ownership innovation and a self-driven learning culture rarely seen in traditional engineering colleges |
| 49 | Welcomgroup Graduate School of Hotel Administration Manipal | Established in 1986 through a pioneering collaboration with ITC WGSHA was India’s first institute to offer a hospitality degree and remains the only one with a full-scale on-campus ITC-managed training hotel and ongoing academic support from ITC |
| 50 | Woxsen University Hyderabad | Woxsen offers 40% hands-on learning through advanced labs Bloomberg terminals design studios and the Trade Tower - ensuring graduates gain real-world skills through live projects and industry-driven curriculum |
