Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI), New Delhi, has secured top national rankings in two professional disciplines in a media group's university rankings for 2026, with its Department of Tourism and Hospitality Management claiming the 1st rank in the Best Value-for-Money Hotel Management Colleges category, according to an official statement issued on Tuesday, 7 July 2025. The university also ranked 3rd nationally in the Best Emerging Hotel Management Colleges category, reinforcing its growing stature in hospitality education.

Key Rankings Secured

JMI's Department of Tourism and Hospitality Management led the university's performance with its national No. 1 finish in the value-for-money hotel management segment. Simultaneously, the university's Faculty of Architecture and Ekistics retained its place among India's premier architecture institutions, securing the 5th rank under the Architecture category in the same rankings cycle.

The architecture ranking evaluates institutions on parameters including intake quality and governance, academic excellence, infrastructure and campus life, personality and leadership development, career progression and placements, and perception among academic and industry experts.

What the University Leadership Said

Vice Chancellor Mazhar Asif described the rankings as a testament to JMI's sustained pursuit of excellence in niche areas of higher education. He expressed confidence that both the Department of Tourism and Hospitality Management and the Faculty of Architecture and Ekistics would continue to scale new heights, adding that the recognition reaffirms the university's emphasis on quality education and industry-oriented learning.

Registrar Md. Mahtab Alam Rizvi termed the achievement a matter of immense pride, crediting the collective efforts of faculty, students, researchers, alumni, and staff. He said every national and international ranking reinforces the university's belief that sustained academic excellence translates into greater success.

Individuals and Cells Recognised

Both the Vice Chancellor and Registrar specifically congratulated JMI's Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC) for its role in the achievement. They also acknowledged Pankaj Kumar Gupta, Dean, Faculty of Management Studies, and Sarah Hussain, Head, Department of Tourism and Hospitality Management, for the department's performance across academics, research, industry collaborations, internships, placements, and skill development.

Recognition was also extended to Qamar Irshad, Dean, Faculty of Architecture and Ekistics, and Taiyaba Munawer, Head, Department of Architecture, for the faculty's showing in the Best Colleges Ranking 2026.

Broader Context and What This Signals

JMI's dual-discipline performance comes at a time when Indian universities are under increasing pressure to demonstrate professional relevance alongside academic rigour. Notably, a value-for-money ranking signals not just quality but accessibility — a factor that holds particular significance for a central university with a diverse student base. The architecture faculty's consistent top-5 finish suggests institutional stability rather than a one-off result.

As competition among Indian institutions for rankings visibility intensifies, JMI's performance across two distinct professional streams positions it as a multi-disciplinary achiever in the 2026 cycle. The university's next challenge will be converting rankings momentum into stronger research output and placement metrics that can sustain these positions in future cycles.