SRINAGAR: The Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K) has achieved the fourth position nationally in the Agriculture and Horticulture University category of the International Institutional Ranking Framework (IIRF) University Rankings 2026.
Information was available with The Chenab Times that the university secured this position behind the ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, and Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore. This ranking places SKUAST-K among India’s foremost institutions dedicated to agricultural education and research.
The IIRF rankings evaluated over 2,500 institutions across India. The assessment considered multiple parameters, including academic reputation, student diversity, research output, innovation, infrastructure, community engagement, and international outlook. SKUAST-K demonstrated strong performance across several indicators, such as academic excellence, research contributions, innovative practices, inclusivity, infrastructure development, and global outreach.
The university currently offers 14 undergraduate programmes, which is the highest number among state agricultural universities nationwide. Approximately 30 percent of its student population originates from outside Jammu and Kashmir, reflecting a diverse academic environment. SKUAST-K holds 123 intellectual property rights, with 117 of these secured within the last four years. The institution boasts an H-index of 115 and is actively implementing over 200 extramural research projects. Furthermore, its Student Rural Exploration Programme engages around 4,000 students and extends to 400 villages, alongside ongoing collaborations with national and international institutions and industries.
Vice Chancellor Nazir Ahmad Ganai attributed the ranking to the consistent efforts of the university’s faculty, scientists, students, and staff. He stated that the institution remains dedicated to advancing research, fostering innovation, and supporting farming communities through comprehensive education, effective technology transfer, and robust community engagement initiatives.
Ganai further elaborated on the university’s strategic evolution, noting a shift in focus from local to national in 2022, and subsequently from national to global objectives in 2026. The overarching aim is to establish SKUAST-K as a globally recognized institution specializing in transdisciplinary sciences.
This latest ranking serves to reinforce SKUAST-K’s standing as a leading agricultural university in India, underscoring its expanding academic and research profile on the national stage.
The Chenab Times News Desk