IIM Lucknow rankings: NIRF, FT and QS results by scope
IIM Lucknow’s published rankings use different units: NIRF places the institute in India’s Management category, while the Financial Times (FT) and QS results in the institute’s 2024–25 annual report refer to named management programmes. The distinctions matter when comparing results or deciding what a rank says about a particular course. The latest results documented in the sources below are from 2025 or the 2024–25 reporting year; they are historical results, not a claim about a later edition. (IIM Lucknow NIRF 2025 announcement; IIM Lucknow Annual Report 2024–25)
NIRF: fifth in the 2025 Management category
IIM Lucknow reported rank 5 in NIRF 2025’s Management category, up from rank 7 in NIRF 2024. Its announcement gives an overall score of 77.97 and component scores of 86.37 for Teaching, Learning and Resources (TLR), 59.80 for Research and Professional Practice (RPC), 96.96 for Graduation Outcomes (GO), 71.82 for Outreach and Inclusivity (OI), and 75.51 for Perception. These are the institute’s published category results; they are not programme-specific PGP or IPMX ranks. The same announcement describes the 2025 results as released on 4 September 2025 and says IIM Lucknow stood fourth among IIMs. (IIM Lucknow NIRF 2025 announcement)
The institute’s annual report separately says it retained rank 7 in NIRF 2024. That supports the two-place year-on-year movement, but the comparison here is limited to the Management category and editions named by IIM Lucknow. The announcement lists NIRF’s broad parameters, including teaching and learning resources, research and professional practice, graduation outcomes, outreach and inclusivity, and peer perception. The component scores above should be read with those labels rather than treated as five interchangeable measures. (IIM Lucknow NIRF 2025 announcement; IIM Lucknow Annual Report 2024–25)
FT results: PGP and IPMX are separate rankings
For the FT Masters in Management ranking, the annual report says the flagship Post Graduate Programme (PGP) moved from rank 72 in 2023–24 to rank 55 in 2024–25. For the FT Global MBA ranking, it says the International Programme in Management for Executives (IPMX) moved from rank 85 in 2023–24 to rank 71 in 2024–25. The programmes and FT ranking categories differ, so the two series should not be compared as if they were the same course or table. The annual report gives ranks and years but does not provide the underlying score breakdowns in this passage. (IIM Lucknow Annual Report 2024–25, printed page 15)
There is a second FT MiM figure in the same report: the Chairman’s message describes IIM Lucknow as ranked #57 in the Financial Times Masters in Management Ranking 2025, while the rankings section gives the PGP rank as 55th in 2024–25. The report does not explain whether the figures reflect different scopes, table presentations or dates. They should therefore remain separately attributed and treated as an unresolved reporting difference; this page does not select one as the definitive PGP result. (IIM Lucknow Annual Report 2024–25, printed page 9; printed page 15)
QS results: global band and Asia placement
The annual report says IIM Lucknow’s PGP, designated as a Masters in Management programme, featured in the QS 111–120 band in 2024–25. It also says the PGP in Management ranked among the top 10 management programmes at the Asia level in the QS Business Master’s Rankings 2025. These are two QS statements with different descriptions and geographic framing; the report does not give an exact position within either band. The 111–120 range must not be presented as rank 111 or as a precise rank, and “top 10” does not establish an exact Asia position. (IIM Lucknow Annual Report 2024–25, printed page 15)
How to use these results
For an institute-level comparison within India, use the NIRF Management result and its year. For a programme-specific international comparison, check the named programme, publisher, category and edition: the PGP FT MiM result is distinct from IPMX in FT Global MBA, and the QS statements concern the PGP. Before relying on any of them, open the publisher’s current edition and verify whether its methodology, participating institutions and programme scope still match the comparison you need.
Rankings summarize publisher-defined criteria for a particular edition. They do not establish an individual student’s likely admission result, learning experience, placement outcome or return on fees. IIM Lucknow’s own report also leaves the FT MiM #57/#55 difference unexplained. Applicants should use these results as one dated comparison point alongside programme curriculum, admissions rules, costs and cohort-specific outcome data, and should avoid carrying a 2024–25 or 2025 rank into a newer cycle without a current source.