NEW DELHI, Nov. 4: India’s growing presence in the Asian higher education landscape has received a mixed assessment in the latest QS World University Rankings for Asia 2027, with 71 per cent of the country’s ranked universities recording a decline in their positions despite an increase in the overall number of Indian institutions featured in the list.
According to the rankings released this week, India has secured representation for 325 universities, including 34 new entrants, making it the second most represented higher education system in Asia after mainland China. However, the latest figures indicate that expanding the number of institutions participating in international rankings has not necessarily translated into stronger comparative performance.
Of the 325 Indian universities included in the assessment, 71 per cent moved down in the rankings, while 18 per cent improved their positions and 11 per cent maintained their previous standing. The findings highlight the growing competition among Asian universities and point towards several areas where Indian institutions need to strengthen their performance.
The decline has also affected some of the country’s most prominent institutions. The Indian Institute of Technology Delhi continued to lead the Indian universities in the regional rankings, although it slipped from 59th position in the previous edition to 66th this year.
The Indian Institute of Science Bengaluru recorded a fall from 64th to 79th place, while IIT Bombay moved from 71st to 83rd position. IIT Madras dropped from 70th to 85th, and IIT Kharagpur slipped from 77th to 90th.
The University of Delhi also moved down from 95th to 106th position, taking it outside the regional top 100. IIT Kanpur, which was placed 77th in the previous edition, fell to 97th.
Despite these setbacks, several Indian institutions managed to improve their standing. Chandigarh University moved up from 109th to 104th position, achieving its best placement in the rankings so far. Lovely Professional University registered a significant improvement, climbing from 187th to 154th, while Symbiosis International University advanced from 200th to 175th.
Among government-funded institutions, IIT Hyderabad improved from 270th to 251st position, while IIT (BHU) Varanasi moved from 237th to 219th. IIT (ISM) Dhanbad also registered progress, climbing 51 places to reach 373rd position.
Dr B R Ambedkar National Institute of Technology Jalandhar recorded one of the notable improvements among Indian institutions, rising 180 places to 486th. Delhi Technological University also made substantial progress, moving up 116 positions to 584th.
Central universities reported mixed performances. Jamia Millia Islamia improved from 197th to 183rd place, Aligarh Muslim University moved from 278th to 268th, and Jawaharlal Nehru University advanced slightly from 130th to 128th.
Among private institutions, GLA University, Jain University and Woxsen University recorded major improvements. GLA University climbed nearly 300 positions to reach 491st, while Jain University moved up 221 places to 374th. Woxsen University also improved by 195 positions, securing the 499th rank.
Reputation and internationalisation remain key challenges
The latest assessment suggests that academic reputation and international engagement are among the most important areas requiring attention from Indian universities.
Academic Reputation, which accounts for 30 per cent of the ranking methodology, declined for 76 per cent of Indian institutions. Employer Reputation, carrying a 20 per cent weightage, weakened for 83 per cent of the universities.
Internationalisation indicators also presented a difficult picture. The international student indicator declined for 85 per cent of Indian universities, while inbound and outbound student exchange indicators fell for 91 per cent and 89 per cent of institutions, respectively.
These figures underline the need for universities to expand international academic partnerships, attract students and researchers from overseas and create more opportunities for exchange programmes. Stronger engagement with international institutions can help improve academic visibility and provide students with broader educational exposure.
Research productivity, however, emerged as a relatively positive area. Indian universities performed better than the regional average in indicators such as papers per faculty and the proportion of academic staff holding doctoral qualifications. Papers per Faculty was also the only indicator in which more Indian institutions improved than declined.
QS officials have cautioned against interpreting the fall in rankings as evidence of a direct deterioration in educational quality. A university’s position is determined by its performance relative to other institutions, meaning that an improvement in its overall score may still be accompanied by a lower ranking if competing universities improve at a faster rate.
The latest edition also witnessed 195 new university entries from across Asia, adding to the competitive pressure on established institutions. Small differences in scores can result in considerable changes in positions, particularly among universities placed close together.
The University of Hong Kong retained the top position for the second consecutive year, while Peking University continued at second place. China’s Tsinghua University climbed from ninth to third, giving the country two institutions among the top three for the first time since 2023.
The performance of Indian institutions in the rankings comes at a time when the country is seeking to strengthen its higher education system through research expansion, international collaboration, improved teaching standards and greater industry participation.
The growing number of Indian universities in the regional rankings demonstrates wider institutional participation and increased visibility. However, the latest results indicate that representation alone cannot guarantee international competitiveness.
Universities will need to focus on improving the quality and impact of research, building stronger academic reputations, attracting qualified faculty and developing meaningful international partnerships.
The rankings also provide an opportunity for policymakers and university administrators to identify institutional weaknesses and develop long-term strategies. Greater investment in research infrastructure, improved faculty development programmes and stronger cooperation between universities and industries could help institutions improve their global standing.
For students, the findings offer another perspective when selecting higher education institutions. Rankings can provide useful comparative information, but factors such as course quality, faculty expertise, research opportunities, affordability, campus facilities and employment outcomes should also be considered.
India’s performance in the QS Asia 2027 rankings therefore presents both a challenge and an opportunity. While the country has expanded its presence in the regional higher education system, improving institutional quality and international recognition will remain essential to achieving stronger positions in future editions.