The latest QS World University Rankings for 2025, unveiled in the early hours of Wednesday, spotlight a remarkable surge in the standings of Indian universities.
Leading the charge is the prestigious IIT Bombay, claiming the top position among Indian institutions, closely followed by IIT Delhi and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc).
IIT Bombay has undergone a remarkable ascent, catapulting from its 2024 position of 149th to an impressive 118th in 2025, marking a notable leap of 31 places. Trailing IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi, and IISc Bengaluru secured the second and third positions in India, respectively. IIT Delhi has made a significant leap of 47 ranks, advancing from 197 to 150, while IISc has seen an improvement from 225 to 211, elevating its standing by 14 positions.
Further contributing to India's rising academic profile, IIT Kharagpur has climbed to the fourth spot from 271 to 222, closely followed by IIT Madras, which has surged by 58 ranks from 285 to 227. However, IIT Kanpur, despite ascending from 278 to 263 this year, has slipped to the sixth spot.
The University of Delhi has emerged as a beacon of progress, surging by a notable 79 ranks, propelling itself from 407 to 328 and advancing from ninth to seventh among Indian institutions. Other notable players in the top ranks include IIT Roorkee, IIT Guwahati, and Anna University, securing the eighth, ninth, and tenth positions, respectively.
While some institutions, like IIT Indore, have witnessed a decline, slipping from 454 to 477, others like IIT (BHU) Varanasi, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), Shoolini University of Biotechnology and Management Sciences, and Savitribai Phule Pune University maintain their prominence in the top 15.
Breaking into the top 20 this year is Symbiosis International (Deemed University), claiming the 16th spot within the 641-650 rank range. Additionally, IIT Hyderabad, Chandigarh University, National Institute of Technology Tiruchirappalli, and University of Mumbai solidified their positions within the top 20.
Overall, the QS World University Rankings for 2025 reflect a notable improvement in India's academic landscape, with 61% of Indian universities showcasing advancement, while 24% maintain their positions.