An Insight into QS World University Rankings: India's Rising Universities

What is the QS World University Rankings?

The QS World University Rankings is an annual list curated by Quacquarelli Symonds, a UK-based higher education company. This ranking system evaluates universities globally based on various measurable indicators. It is highly regarded by students, policymakers, and educational institutions alike.

What criteria are used to rank universities in the QS system?

The QS rankings are determined by six primary indicators:

• Academic Reputation (40%) – This is derived from surveys conducted among academics worldwide.
• Employer Reputation (10%) – This is based on surveys of recruiters and companies.
• Faculty-Student Ratio (20%) – This reflects the teaching capacity of the institution.
• Citations per Faculty (20%) – This measures the research impact of the faculty.
• International Faculty Ratio (5%)
• International Student Ratio (5%)

How many Indian universities were listed recently?

In the 2025 edition, 54 Indian universities were included in the QS World University Rankings, marking the highest representation for India to date. This list features eight new entrants from India, surpassing all other countries this year.

Which Indian institutions performed well?

• IIT Bombay ranked 118th, making it the highest-ranked institution in India.
• IIT Delhi, IISc Bengaluru, and IIT Madras also secured spots in the top 200.
• Private institutions like OP Jindal Global University, Shiv Nadar University, and Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham showed remarkable improvements.

Why is India’s performance improving?

• A significant rise in private university enrolment (497% increase from 2011–12 to 2021–22).
• Enhanced international partnerships and increased research output.
• Higher female participation in higher education, with the Gender Enrollment Ratio exceeding 1.
• Growing awareness among Indian universities regarding the importance of global visibility.

What are the major concerns in India’s higher education system?

• Many institutions face challenges such as faculty shortages and insufficient infrastructure.
• Some private universities operate with low transparency and lack of academic standards.
• Public spending on higher education remains low, at approximately 3% of GDP.
• Research collaboration with the industry is still weak in numerous institutions.

What is being done to address these challenges?

• The government has proposed an increase in higher education funding: from ₹46,482 crore (2024–25) to ₹50,077 crore (2025–26).
• The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 advocates for regulatory reforms, multidisciplinary learning, and flexibility in degree programs.
• Efforts are being made to enhance public universities, funding for research, and establishing global academic partnerships.

What should India prioritize to improve further?

• Strengthening public institutions through adequate funding and skilled faculty.
• Enforcing quality standards across private institutions.
• Promoting international collaborations and improving research output.
• Establishing robust connections between education and industry requirements.