New Delhi: India's strides in academia have once again garnered international recognition with the release of the 2024 QS World University Rankings by Subject. This year's rankings highlight India's remarkable progress, showcasing its growing presence on the global stage of higher education.
A noteworthy achievement is the significant increase in the number of Indian universities securing a position in the rankings. With 69 Indian universities making the cut, marking a substantial 19.4% increase from the previous year, India solidifies its position as a key player in global academia.
Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) is India's highest-ranked university, in 20th spot globally for development studies. Further, the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Ahmedabad is among the top 25 institutions around the globe for business and management studies with IIM-Bangalore and Calcutta in the top 50.
Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati has excelled particularly in Data Science, securing a global ranking of 51-70, and Petroleum Engineering, where it ranks 51-100 globally.
Meanwhile, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences (SIMATS), Chennai, grabbed the 24th position globally for dentistry studies.
What's particularly impressive is that 72% of Indian entries either improved their rankings or maintained their positions, reflecting a positive trend in the country's academic landscape. This improvement highlights India's commitment to enhancing the quality of tertiary education and creating a conducive environment for research and innovation.
One of the driving forces behind India's success in the QS rankings is the Institutes of Eminence (IoE) program. Representing a fraction of Indian universities, the 12 IoEs have contributed significantly to India's rankings, with 40% of the country's total entries coming from these institutions. Notably, 82% of IoE entries have either maintained or climbed up in the rankings, underscoring the effectiveness of the program in driving academic excellence.
India's performance in specific fields of study is also commendable. Indian universities excel in disciplines such as Computer Science, Chemistry, Biological Sciences, Business Studies, and Physics, further enhancing the country's reputation in these areas.
The rankings reflect India's commitment to achieving the ambitious targets set by the National Education Policy, aiming for a 50% gross enrolment ratio by 2035. With an increase in Indian programs featured in the rankings from 355 to 454, the country's efforts in enhancing higher education are evident.
Furthermore, India's research capabilities have seen significant growth, with a 20% improvement in the Citations per Paper indicator and a 16% growth in the International Research Network indicator. Despite these positive developments, there is room for improvement, as reflected in the 5% decrease in the H Index, highlighting the need to strike a balance between research productivity and impact.
Ben Sowter, QS' senior vice-president, aptly summarizes India's position in the global research landscape, stating, "India is now the world's fourth-largest producer of research." With its current trajectory, India is on the brink of overtaking the United Kingdom in research productivity, signaling a promising future for Indian academia.
As India continues to make strides in higher education, it reaffirms its position as a formidable player in the international academic community, poised to shape the future of global education. /BI/
