By The Sampadak Express
In the latest QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025, nine Indian universities have secured positions in the world’s top 50 across various disciplines, though some of the nation’s leading institutions have seen a slight dip in their rankings. This marks a significant achievement for Indian higher education institutions, as the country continues to strengthen its position on the global academic stage.
The 15th edition of the QS World University Rankings by Subject covers 55 disciplines across five major broad areas:1. Arts & Humanities, 2.Engineering and Technology, 3. Life Sciences & Medicine, 4. Natural Sciences, and 5.Social Sciences & Management. The rankings reflect the growing prominence of Indian institutions, with a total of 79 universities from India appearing this year, an increase of 10 institutions compared to the previous year. Indian universities were ranked 533 times, representing a 25.7% rise from last year.
Leading Indian Universities in the Rankings
The Indian School of Mines (ISM), Dhanbad, stands as the highest-ranking institution among Indian universities in the latest subject rankings, securing the 20th position globally for Engineering – Mineral and Mining. This notable achievement highlights the country’s growing expertise in specialized fields such as mining engineering.
Other prestigious institutions such as IIT Bombay and IIT Kharagpur also made significant appearances in the top 50 for Engineering – Mineral and Mining, earning the 28th and 45th positions, respectively. However, both of these institutions have seen a drop in their rankings compared to last year, reflecting the competitive nature of the global academic landscape.
Strong Performance in Specific Subject Areas
In terms of specific subject categories, several Indian institutions have made strong appearances. IIT Madras and Vellore Institute of Technology were notable new entrants in the top 100 for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence. Meanwhile, IISc Bangalore and IIT Kanpur made impressive entries in the Engineering – Mineral and Mining category.
IIT Delhi and IIT Bombay showed remarkable improvement in the broader Engineering and Technology category, improving their global standings from a shared 45th position to 26th and 28th place, respectively. Both IITs also earned spots in the top 50 for the specific subject of Electrical and Electronic Engineering.
Indian Institutes Continue Strong Performance in Business and Management Studies
IIM Ahmedabad and IIM Bangalore, two of India’s premier management schools, continued to maintain their positions among the top 50 globally for Business and Management Studies. However, both institutions witnessed a decline in their rankings. IIM Ahmedabad dropped from 22nd to 27th, while IIM Bangalore fell from 32nd to 40th. Despite these declines, both institutes retain a significant global presence, underscoring India’s leadership in management education.
Steady Performance in Other Disciplines
IIT Madras continues to rank among the top 50 for Petroleum Engineering, while Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) maintained its place in the top 50 for Development Studies, though both experienced a slight decline in their rankings compared to the previous year.
India has seen significant strides in the field of Computer Science & Information Systems, where it now ranks fourth globally, with 42 entries this year, up from 28 last year. This reflects the country’s growing prominence in the fields of Artificial Intelligence (AI), digital technology, and innovation.
Overall Growth and Challenges Ahead
This year’s QS rankings also highlight India’s growing presence in global higher education, with Indian universities securing a significant number of new entries into the rankings. In total, 171 new institutions were added this year, with India securing the fifth-highest number of new entries globally, following China, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Korea.
However, experts have pointed out that while India excels in AI and digital skills, there remains a need to strengthen areas such as sustainability and entrepreneurship within academic institutions. These sectors are becoming increasingly important as the global academic and professional landscapes evolve.
The 2025 QS World University Rankings by Subject reaffirm the growing global recognition of Indian higher education institutions, particularly in specialized subjects such as Engineering, Business, and Computer Science. While there are areas where Indian institutions could further improve, the country’s higher education system continues to evolve and strengthen, positioning itself as a key player in global academia.
