Nine Indian universities have secured positions in the world’s top 50 according to the latest QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025. Indian institutions collectively earned 12 top-50 positions across various subjects and broad faculty areas.
The Indian School of Mines (ISM), Dhanbad, emerged as the highest-ranking Indian institution, securing the 20th position globally in Engineering-Mineral and Mining. IIT Bombay and IIT Kharagpur also ranked within the top 50 in this category, at 28th and 45th respectively, though both witnessed a drop in rankings compared to last year.
IIT Delhi and Bombay show growth in Engineering
IIT Delhi and IIT Bombay demonstrated significant improvement in the Engineering and Technology category, moving from a shared 45th rank to 26th and 28th positions respectively. Both institutions also featured in the top 50 for Engineering-Electrical and Electronic, reinforcing India’s growing strength in technical education.
IIMs witness slight decline
IIM Ahmedabad and IIM Bangalore continued their presence in the top 50 for Business and Management Studies but slipped from their previous positions. IIM Ahmedabad fell from 22nd to 27th, while IIM Bangalore dropped from 32nd to 40th. Similarly, IIT Madras (Petroleum Engineering) and Jawaharlal Nehru University (Development Studies) remained in the top 50 but saw marginal declines.
India secured the fourth position globally for the number of entries in Computer Science & Information Systems, with 42 entries, up from 28 last year. Experts highlighted India’s progress in AI and digital skills while emphasizing the need to bolster sustainability and entrepreneurial education.
Top Indian Institutes in QS Subject-wise Rankings 2025
ISM Dhanbad – 20th in Engineering-Mineral and Mining
IIT Bombay – 28th in Engineering-Mineral and Mining; also ranked in Engineering and Technology, and Electrical and Electronic Engineering
IIT Kharagpur – 45th in Engineering-Mineral and Mining
IIT Delhi – 26th in Engineering and Technology; also ranked in Electrical and Electronic Engineering
IIM Ahmedabad – 27th in Business and Management Studies
IIM Bangalore – 40th in Business and Management Studies
IIT Madras – Top 50 in Petroleum Engineering
Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) – Top 50 in Development Studies
This year’s rankings saw the inclusion of 79 Indian universities, 10 more than the previous year. Indian institutions made 533 appearances in the rankings, marking a 25.7% increase. Among these, 156 improved their positions while 101 witnessed declines. India also recorded the fifth-highest number of new entries globally, trailing China, the US, the UK, and Korea.
Notable new entrants in the top 100 include IIT Madras and Vellore Institute of Technology in Data Science and AI, and IISc Bangalore and IIT Kanpur in Engineering-Mineral and Mining.
The 2025 QS World University Rankings by Subject covered 55 subjects across five broad areas, marking the largest edition yet with 171 new institutions participating. Fields like medicine, computer science, and materials science have seen increased representation, reflecting the evolving landscape of global education.