MOHAMMAD ZIYAUDDIN
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The QS World University Rankings 2025 have once again highlighted India's growing presence in global higher education. This year, nine Indian universities and institutions have secured a place in the world’s top 50 in subject-wise rankings, showcasing their excellence in engineering, business, development studies, and other disciplines.
However, while some institutions have improved their rankings, others, including IITs, IIMs, and JNU, have witnessed a decline in their standings compared to last year.
Top-Ranked Indian Institutions in QS Rankings 2025
Indian School of Mines (ISM) Dhanbad – 20th globally for Engineering-Minerals and Mining
IIT Bombay – 28th in Engineering-Minerals and Mining
IIT Kharagpur – 45th in Engineering-Minerals and Mining
IIT Delhi – 26th in Engineering & Technology (up from 45th last year)
IIT Bombay – 28th in Engineering & Technology (up from 45th last year)
IIM Ahmedabad – 27th in Business & Management Studies (dropped from 22nd)
IIM Bangalore – 40th in Business & Management Studies (dropped from 32nd)
IIT Madras – Petroleum Engineering (Top 50, slipped in rankings)
Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) – Development Studies (Top 50, slipped in rankings)
India’s Overall Performance in QS Rankings 2025
India secured 12 positions in the world’s top 50 rankings across various subjects.
India ranks 5th globally in terms of the number of new entries in the rankings, after China, the US, the UK, and Korea.
79 Indian universities are included in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025.
QS World University Rankings by Subject: Indian Institutions’ Performance
Arts and Humanities
- 10 Indian universities made it to the rankings.
- Delhi University (DU), JNU, and IIT Bombay secured a place in the top 200.
Engineering and Technology
- IIT Delhi (Rank 26)
- IIT Bombay (Rank 28)
- IIT Madras (Rank 53)
- IIT Kharagpur (Rank 60)
- IIT Kanpur (Rank 72)
- IISc Bangalore (Rank 84)
Life Sciences and Medicine
- AIIMS Delhi leads the Indian institutions at Rank 226.
- Six Indian universities featured in this category.
Natural Sciences
- 19 Indian universities made it to the list.
- IISc Bangalore ranked 109 globally in this category.
Social Sciences and Management
- 20 Indian universities secured rankings.
- IIT Delhi placed 75th in this category.
How QS World University Rankings Are Determined?
The QS Subject Rankings are based on five key criteria:
Academic reputation
Employer reputation
Research citations per paper
H-index (impact of published research)
International research network
With several Indian institutions securing top spots, the rankings indicate India’s growing influence in global education and research. However, the drop in rankings for some IITs and IIMs also signals the need for further improvements in research output, faculty quality, and global outreach.
As India continues to invest in education and research, experts anticipate that more Indian universities will break into the top global rankings in the coming years.
