NIRF flags retracted research papers; HEIs face government scrutiny

Several research papers have been flagged as retracted during this year’s National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) rankings assessment. As a result, the government is now looking closely at higher education institutions (HEIs) for the NIRF rankings 2026. Also, due to the assessment process, this year’s rankings have been delayed, which are usually announced between August and September.

According to the Print report, the National Board of Accreditation (NBA), an autonomous body under the education ministry that conducts the rankings every year, is now considering debarring repeat offenders from future NIRF rankings.

NIRF rankings are based on multiple parameters including teaching, learning and resources (TLR), research and professional practise (RP), graduation outcomes (GO), outreach and inclusivity (OI), and peer perception.

According to global research watchdog Retraction Watch , India recorded 887 research paper retractions in 2025, making it the country with the second-highest retractions in the world, behind only China at 1,701. The paper can be withdrawn for multiple reasons, including plagiarism, manipulated data, duplicate publication, or fake peer review.

Also read West Bengal shortlists 100 colleges for NIRF ranking focus, 46 HEIs to get ‘first-priority’

NIRF rankings

Last year, NIRF took action against institutions that had retracted research papers. However, NIRF did not publicly disclose how many institutions were marked negatively for retracted papers in the 2025 rankings , and it also did not say how many retractions were found when applying these penalties.

NIRF had introduced negative marking for the retraction of research papers.

A senior government official told Print that institutions are being warned, and negative marking will be applied in the assessment process and the rankings. NIRF is planning to debar the repeated offenders from next year onwards.

NBA will rank colleges and universities in 16 categories, including overall university, college, engineering, management, pharmacy, law, medical, architecture, dental, innovation, agriculture and allied sectors, research institutions, open universities, skill universities, and state-funded public universities.