Two IITs — Bombay and Delhi — and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bengaluru have maintained their positions in the top 200 in the QS World University Rankings despite losing some points.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has again been named the world’s top university. This is the ninth year in a row MIT has received this distinction. It is followed by Stanford University and Harvard University.

In the 2021 QS rankings announced in London, IIT Bombay continues to be the best-ranked Indian institute at 172, notwithstanding a 20-slot dip from the 2020 ranking when it was at 152. IISc fell in the rankings by one spot from 184 to 185. IIT Delhi, at 182 last year, is now ranked 193.

In total, 21 Indian higher education institutions have found place among the world’s top 1,000. Of the 21 universities, 14 have fallen in the rank over the past 12 months, while four have improved their positions.

IIT Guwahati, has been ranked 470 globally, an improvement of 21 places from last year when it was at 491.

O.P. Jindal Global University is ranked as India’s top private university 

What is the significance of this ranking? 

The Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings is an annual publication of university rankings which comprises the global overall and subject rankings. It ranks the world’s top universities for the study of 48 different subjects and five composite faculty areas as well as for graduate employability and various other aspects.

Ways to improve rankings of Indian institutes

The QS Rankings is the second consecutive international list where Indian universities have fared poorly compared to 2020. Last week, the Times Higher Education (THE) Asia University rankings also showed that Indian institutes have slipped in their standings.

“Though India’s universities have dropped as a group this year, this is because of other universities across the world making increasingly-intense efforts to enhance their educational offerings,” said Ben Sowter, the director of research at QS.

“To regain the lost ground, Indian higher education must find ways of increasing teaching capacity, and of attracting more talented students and faculty from across the world to study in India. There is plenty of potential, and there are pockets of excellence, within the Indian system,” Sowter added.

IIT Delhi director V. Ramgopal Rao, however, said the rankings should be viewed in a different context. “The character of our institutions is different. Also, it is a marathon we are running, not a 100m race. This is a very dicey and a non-transparent metric. Also, we are known in India. But international reputation needs an altogether different strategy. We need a global campaign for education like what the country has done with ‘Incredible India’ for tourism,” Rao said.

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