9 Indian Universities Among World's Top 50 in QS Subject-Wise Rankings

Nine Indian universities have earned coveted spots in the world's top 50 in the latest QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025, showcasing India’s growing academic prowess. However, some prominent institutions witnessed a dip in their rankings.

Indian Universities in QS Top 50 Rankings

According to the 15th edition of the QS World University Rankings by Subject, nine Indian institutions secured top-50 positions across various subject areas. Notably:

• Indian School of Mines (ISM), Dhanbad emerged as the highest-ranking Indian institution, claiming the 20th spot globally for Engineering - Mineral and Mining.

• IIT Delhi and IIT Bombay featured among the top 50 in the broad subject category of Engineering & Technology, ranking 26th and 28th, respectively.

Expanding Global Presence: Key Highlights

• The 2025 rankings cover 55 subjects across five broad areas:

  • Arts & Humanities

  • Engineering and Technology

  • Life Sciences & Medicine

  • Natural Sciences

  • Social Sciences & Management

• This year witnessed the inclusion of 171 new institutions, with fields like medicine, computer science, and materials science seeing record participation.

More Indian Universities Featured This Year

India's representation has significantly improved:

• A total of 79 Indian universities were included this year, up by 10 from last year.

• Indian institutions appeared 533 times across the rankings, marking a 25.7% increase.

• 156 institutions improved their ranking, while 101 experienced a drop.

• India achieved the fifth-highest number of new entries globally, following China, the US, the UK, and Korea.

• Notable newcomers to the top 100 include:

  • IIT Madras and Vellore Institute of Technology for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence.

  • IISc Bangalore and IIT Kanpur for Engineering - Mineral and Mining.

Indian Institutes in the Top 50: Subject-Wise Breakdown

Here are the nine Indian institutions securing top-50 QS ranks across various subject areas:

Notable Trends and Shifts

IIT Delhi and IIT Bombay Climb in Engineering

• Both IIT Delhi and IIT Bombay improved their global standing in the broader category of Engineering and Technology, advancing to 26th and 28th place, respectively, from a shared 45th rank.

• Additionally, they entered the top 50 for the specific subject category of Engineering - Electrical and Electronic.

IIT Bombay and IIT Kharagpur Drop in Mining Engineering

• IIT Bombay and IIT Kharagpur continued to rank in the top 50 for Engineering - Mineral and Mining, securing the 40th and 45th spots, respectively.

• However, both institutions dropped in ranking compared to the previous year.

IIM Ahmedabad and IIM Bangalore Slip in Business Studies

• IIM Ahmedabad and IIM Bangalore retained their top 50 status in Business and Management Studies, but experienced drops in ranking:

  • IIM Ahmedabad fell from 22nd to 27th.

  • IIM Bangalore slid from 32nd to 40th.

Other Noteworthy Changes

• IIT Madras (Petroleum Engineering) and JNU (Development Studies) also maintained their top 50 rankings but saw minor declines.

India’s Growing Strength in Tech and AI

• India now holds the fourth spot globally in Computer Science & Information Systems, with 42 entries, up from 28 last year.

• While India excels in AI and digital skills, experts highlight the need for enhancing sustainability and entrepreneurial capabilities to further boost its global standing.

India's steady rise in these prestigious global rankings reflects the nation’s growing emphasis on education and technological advancement. As Indian institutions continue to expand their global footprint, they pave the way for greater academic collaboration and innovation.

With inputs from agencies

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