IIRF 2026 Ranking: Lucknow University IMS leads UP state universities in management rankings; 42nd nationally

Institute of Management Sciences (IMS), University of Lucknow, has secured the 42nd position nationally in the Indian Institutional Ranking Framework (IIRF) 2026 rankings for management institutes.

As per press release issued, the institute has also emerged as the highest-ranked management school among state universities in Uttar Pradesh.

The achievement has been welcomed by Uttar Pradesh higher education minister Yogendra Upadhyay, who said the recognition reflects the state's growing focus on strengthening higher education through academic reforms, research promotion and industry-linked learning initiatives.

The release noted that the minister attributed the progress to measures being undertaken under the state's higher education framework and the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP).

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The ranking places Lucknow University's management department among the leading business education institutions in the country. The university's performance is expected to further strengthen its academic standing and attract students seeking management education within the state university system.

IIRF 2026: National recognition for Lucknow University

University of Lucknow said that the IIRF evaluates management institutions across multiple parameters, including academic reputation, research productivity, student profile, employer perception, international outlook, institutional development and public image.

The higher education department said the latest ranking highlights the growing competitiveness of state universities in national-level assessments. The release noted that Lucknow University's management department performed strongly across several evaluation indicators used by IIRF.

Higher education minister Yogendra Upadhyay described the achievement as a matter of pride for Uttar Pradesh and expressed confidence that it would encourage other institutions in the state to pursue academic excellence and innovation.

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IMS Lucknow University: Key performance indicators

As per the IIRF assessment cited in the press release, the management department recorded particularly strong scores in areas related to public perception and student demand.

The release stated that these scores reflect the institute's academic reputation and the growing preference among students for management programmes offered by the university.

IIRF 2026: Higher education department's response

The state government said the recognition demonstrates the impact of efforts aimed at improving teaching quality, strengthening research culture and expanding opportunities for students. The minister also congratulated the university administration, faculty members, researchers and students for contributing to the achievement.