India has emerged as the leading nation in Asia in terms of higher education representation, surpassing China for the second consecutive year in the QS Asia University Rankings 2025. A total of 162 Indian universities have been ranked, representing the highest growth in university representation among Asian countries. India’s remarkable performance highlights the significant progress made in research, innovation, and the quality of higher education over the past decade.
India’s Growth in University Representation
The QS Asia University Rankings 2025 evaluated a total of 6,278 universities across the continent, measuring performance on factors such as academic reputation, employer reputation, international faculty ratio, international student ratio, research network, and others. India’s representation surged with 162 universities listed, compared to 135 from China and 115 from Japan.
India’s strongest performers in the rankings were the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs). IIT Delhi emerged as the top-ranked Indian institution in Asia, securing the 44th position, while IIT Bombay, which held the top spot in previous years, dropped to second. Other prominent institutions from India, including IISc Bangalore, IIT Madras, IIT Kharagpur, and IIT Kanpur, were also featured among the top 100 universities in Asia.
Chandigarh University: A Rising Star
In the private university category, Chandigarh University (CU) made an impressive leap in the rankings, securing 120th position in the QS Asia University Rankings 2025, a significant rise from 149th in the previous year. This marks CU as the top-ranked private university in India. The university’s consistent focus on research, innovation, and internationalization contributed to its rapid improvement, with a 62% increase in its overall score, from 32.3 in 2024 to 52.5 in 2025.
Chandigarh University also improved its employer reputation ranking, moving up by three places to 56th and strengthening its academic reputation. This performance puts CU ahead of many renowned international universities, including institutions from China, Japan, and South Korea.
Improvement in Key Areas
Several other universities across India also showed strong improvement in the rankings, thanks to their focus on academic and research excellence. Some of these include:
- Amity University, which improved to 183rd place from 186th in the previous year.
- BITS Pilani, which rose to 171st from 215th in 2024.
- SRM Institute of Science and Technology in Chennai, which climbed from the 271-280 range to 221st.
- VIT Vellore, which advanced to 150th from 163rd last year.
- Manipal Academy of Higher Education, which improved to 180th from 210th in the previous rankings.
The Role of Policy in India’s Rise
India’s remarkable performance in the QS Asia Rankings can be attributed to ongoing efforts to improve its higher education system, particularly under the New Education Policy (NEP). The policy emphasizes quality education, research, and innovation, aligning with India’s growing global presence in academic and research circles.
The Global Innovation Index reflects India’s progress, with the country advancing from 81st position in 2014 to 39th position in 2025. This improvement is bolstered by a 31% increase in patents, with 83,000 patents filed in 2023 compared to 42,700 patents in 2014. India’s academic research output also soared, with 1.3 million publications in 2023, solidifying the country’s position as a global leader in research.
India’s Higher Education Landscape: Future Prospects
India’s rapid ascent in global higher education rankings signals a bright future for the country’s academic institutions. The push for research-driven innovation, quality education, and greater international collaboration has started to bear fruit. As more universities make their mark on global rankings, India is poised to become a hub for academic excellence, attracting students, researchers, and academics from around the world.
Conclusion
India’s significant improvement in the QS Asia University Rankings 2025 is a testament to the country’s focused efforts in improving education standards, research output, and global visibility. With increasing representation across multiple universities, India has become a leader in Asia’s higher education sector, outpacing even its neighbors like China and Japan. As India continues to prioritize research and innovation, its higher education system is expected to remain competitive on the global stage.
