India Makes Significant Gains in QS World University Rankings: Asia 2025

In the latest QS World University Rankings: Asia 2025, India has solidified its position as a key player in higher education in Asia, with seven Indian institutions making it to the top 100. This is a testament to the country’s growing academic prowess and its commitment to advancing global educational standards. As Asian universities become increasingly competitive, the rankings offer a closer look at the institutions that are driving this transformation.

India’s progress is particularly evident in this year’s rankings, which reflect a surge in academic and research excellence across the nation. Notably, the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IITD) has emerged as India’s top institution in the region, climbing to the 44th position, marking a significant improvement. Moreover, the University of Petroleum and Energy Studies (UPES) has made a remarkable jump, climbing 70 places to land at 148th position, showcasing India’s commitment to fostering academic growth across diverse sectors.

About QS World University Rankings: Asia 2025

The QS World University Rankings: Asia has been published annually since 2009 by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), spotlighting the top universities in Asia each year. The rankings are compiled using a methodology similar to that of the QS World University Rankings but with some additional indicators and adapted weightings specific to the Asian context.

The 11 indicators used to create the QS Asia University Rankings are:

• Academic Reputation (30%)
• Employer Reputation (20%)
• Faculty/Student Ratio (10%)
• International Research Network (10%)
• Citations per Paper (10%)
• Papers per Faculty (5%)
• Staff with a PhD (5%)
• Proportion of Inbound Exchange Students (2.5%)
• Proportion of Outbound Exchange Students (2.5%)

These indicators are designed to provide a comprehensive view of an institution’s academic quality, research impact, and international outlook. The rankings reflect the increasing importance of global research collaboration, faculty expertise, and employer relationships in higher education.

Key Highlights of the QS World University Rankings: Asia 2025:

The QS World University Rankings: Asia 2025 assesses 984 universities across 25 countries in Eastern, Southern, South-Eastern, and Central Asia. This year’s edition reflects a significant uptrend in Asia’s higher education sector, and India has emerged as a dominant force in this landscape.

India has seen an impressive rise in its representation, with seven institutions now among the top 100 universities in Asia. The rankings highlight not only the quality of education but also the growing research output and international recognition of Indian institutions.

Top 10 Leading Institutions in the QS World University Rankings: Asia 2025:

1. Peking University, China
2. The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR
3. National University of Singapore (NUS), Singapore
4. Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore
5. Fudan University, China
6. The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), Hong Kong SAR
7. Tsinghua University, China
8. Zhejiang University, China
9. Yonsei University, South Korea
10. City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR

How other countries performed?

China

China has four institutions in the top 10, 10 in the top 50, and 22 in the top 100. Beijing Institute of Technology moved up 29 places to 64th, making it China’s most improved institution. China’s average indicator score is strongest in research-related indicators, Citations per Paper, Papers per Faculty, and International Research Network.

Japan

Japan has nine institutions in the top 50 and 13 in the top 100, while 21 Japanese universities debuted in the QS World University Rankings: Asia 2025. The University of Tokyo is Japan’s highest-ranked institution at 21st. The biggest climber is Sophia University, moving up 22 places to =212th, due to notable increases in Faculty/Student Ratio and Exchange Student indicators. Japan’s average indicator score is strongest in Staff with PhD.

India’s Performance in QS World University Rankings: Asia 2025

Top 50:

India is home to two prestigious institutions in the top 50 of the QS Asia Rankings for 2025:

1. Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IITD) – 44th
2. Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IITB) – 48th

These two institutions have not only maintained their position but also strengthened their global presence with excellent scores in employer reputation and academic reputation. IITD, for instance, has recorded an outstanding 99% score in employer reputation, while IITB follows closely with a 99.5% employer reputation score and an academic reputation score of 96.6%.

Top 100:

In addition to IITD and IITB, five other Indian institutions have secured places in the top 100, reinforcing India’s academic dominance in the region:

1. IIT Madras – 56th
2. IIT Kharagpur – 60th
3. Indian Institute of Science (IISc) – 62nd
4. IIT Kanpur – 67th
5. University of Delhi – 81st

The University of Delhi, in particular, has shown remarkable improvement, rising from 94th to 81st. This leap can be attributed to its strong performance in the International Research Network, where it scored 96.4%.

Top 150:

Several other institutions have also made their mark in the rankings, including:

1. IIT Guwahati
2. IIT Roorkee
3. Jawaharlal Nehru University
4. Chandigarh University (120th)
5. UPES (148th)
6. Vellore Institute of Technology (150th)

These institutions have demonstrated remarkable growth, showcasing their increasing research output, high academic standards, and contributions to the global educational community. UPES, in particular, showed the most significant improvement among Indian institutions, jumping 70 spots, with notable gains in areas such as International Research Network, Citations per Paper, and Papers per Faculty.

Notable Achievements:

1. Employer Reputation: The Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), especially IIT Delhi and IIT Bombay, have scored impressively in employer reputation, with IITB achieving the highest score among Indian universities at 99.5%. This highlights the growing recognition of IIT graduates in the global job market.
2. Research Excellence: Several Indian institutions have excelled in research-related metrics. Anna University, for instance, scored a perfect 100 in the “Papers per Faculty” indicator, which underscores the institution’s high research output. Additionally, 15 universities, including IIT Delhi and IIT Bombay, scored above 99% in the “Staff with PhD” indicator, reflecting the high standard of education and teaching at these institutions.
3. Faculty-Student Ratio: North Eastern Hill University and University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore achieved perfect scores in the faculty-student ratio, demonstrating their strong commitment to providing high-quality education with an optimal teacher-student ratio.
4. International Research Network: India’s universities are also gaining recognition for their international research collaborations. The University of Delhi, for example, scored 96.4% in this area, reinforcing India’s growing influence in global research and innovation.

A Growing Education Hub:

The rise of Indian institutions in the QS World University Rankings: Asia 2025 reflects the country’s strategic focus on improving the quality of higher education. India now boasts 46 institutions in the rankings, up from just 11 in 2015, marking an incredible 318% increase over the past decade. This surge in global representation highlights India’s determination to foster academic excellence and enhance its competitiveness in the global education arena.

Conclusion:

India’s strong showing in the QS World University Rankings: Asia 2025 signals a bright future for higher education in the country. The achievements of institutions like IIT Delhi, IIT Bombay, and the University of Delhi underline India’s ability to compete on a global scale. These rankings reflect the nation’s ongoing efforts to build world-class universities that are capable of delivering cutting-edge research, high-quality teaching, and fostering innovation.

With two institutions in the top 50 and seven in the top 100, India’s higher education landscape is growing rapidly, establishing the country as a hub for academic and research excellence in Asia. As India continues to rise, its universities are setting new standards for the future of education and positioning the country as a global powerhouse in higher learning.