Indian Universities Shine Globally Amidst Mixed Progress in Rankings

Indian universities are increasingly being recognized in global academic rankings. The latest QS World University and Times Higher Education (THE) rankings reveal a mixed yet promising picture for Indian institutions, showcasing both growth and areas requiring further improvement.

Over the last few years, the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) have made substantial gains. IIT Bombay, a standout performer, climbed from 172nd in 2023 to 118th in 2025 in the QS rankings, reflecting its rising academic profile. Similarly, IIT Delhi saw significant improvement, moving from 197th to 150th. These advancements are attributed to their strong focus on research, innovation, and excellence in education.

The Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in Bangalore has been another key player, performing consistently well in both QS and THE rankings. By 2025, IISc improved its standing to the 251-300 range in THE rankings, marking a notable jump. The improvements of institutions like IIT Kharagpur, IIT Madras, and IIT Kanpur highlight the overall upward trajectory of India’s top technical universities.

Not only the IITs, but other universities such as Delhi University (DU) and Anna University have made significant strides. DU, for instance, jumped from the 521-530 range in 2023 to 328th in 2025, while Anna University rose from the 801-1000 range to 383rd. These improvements reflect the increasing global visibility of Indian universities in a competitive academic environment.

However, the progress hasn’t been uniform across all institutions. While some universities continue to rise, others have faced setbacks. IIT Ropar, for example, dropped significantly from the 351-400 range to 801-1000 in 2025, demonstrating the challenges some institutions still face. Similarly, IIT Gandhinagar and IIT Guwahati showed fluctuations, with Guwahati slipping in the rankings after an initial rise.

Despite these mixed results, the overall trend points toward India’s growing influence on the global academic stage. Institutions are focusing more on research quality, global collaborations, and infrastructure improvements. The positive movement of the IITs and other universities reflects a larger push towards global competitiveness.

In conclusion, the performance of Indian universities in the 2025 global rankings demonstrates a bright future, even as some institutions face challenges. The focus on innovation, research, and global visibility has positioned India’s top universities as rising stars in the academic world, and continued progress will likely solidify their places in future rankings.