Indian Universities in QS Subject Rankings 2025
Nine Indian institutions have secured positions in the world’s top 50 universities, according to the latest QS World University Rankings by Subject. This ranking covers 55 subjects across five broad areas: Arts and Humanities, Engineering and Technology, Life Sciences and Medicine, Natural Sciences, and Social Sciences and Management.
In total, 79 Indian universities appeared in the rankings, a significant increase from last year’s 69. These universities were ranked 533 times across different subjects, reflecting a 25.7% rise from the previous year.
Top Performers from India
- IIT Bombay (IIT-B) earned the highest ranking for India, securing 20th place in the Engineering – Mineral and Mining category, with an impressive score of 74.7 out of 100. This marks a strong improvement from its previous 41st rank.
- In the same category, IIT Kharagpur was ranked 45th, improving from 52nd.
- IIT-Delhi and IIT-Bombay performed well in Engineering and Technology, holding joint 48th place.
- Five Indian universities made it to the top 100 in Engineering, including IIT Madras (53rd), IIT Kharagpur (60th), IIT Kanpur (72nd), and IISc Bengaluru (84th).
Business and Management
In Business and Management, IIM Ahmedabad and IIM Bangalore were the top-ranked Indian institutions. However, both saw their rankings slip, with IIM Ahmedabad dropping from 22nd to 27th and IIM Bangalore from 32nd to 40th.
Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences
- University of Delhi (DU) and Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) were the best in Arts and Humanities, ranking 160th and 177th, respectively.
- In Social Sciences and Management, IIT Delhi was India’s top performer, ranking 108th worldwide.
Medicine and Natural Sciences
- All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi ranked 226th in Life Sciences and Medicine, improving from last year’s 249th position.
- IISc Bengaluru performed well in Natural Sciences, rising from 137th to 124th.
Subject-wise QS rankings
ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY
| 2025 Rank | Institution | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 26 | Indian Institute of Technology Delhi | 82.5 |
| 28 | Indian Institute of Technology Bombay | 82.3 |
| 29 | Indian Institute of Technology Madras | 81.5 |
| 60 | Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur | 78.5 |
| 62 | Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur | 75.9 |
| 63 | Indian Institute of Science | 75.9 |
| 104 | Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee | 72.4 |
| 140 | Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati | 73.3 |
| 172 | Vellore Institute of Technology | 70.8 |
| 172 | Anna University | 70.8 |
ARTS AND HUMANITIES
| 2025 Rank | Institution | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 160 | University of Delhi | 70.0 |
| 177 | Jawaharlal Nehru University | 68.9 |
| 192 | Indian Institute of Technology Bombay | 68.3 |
SOCIAL SCIENCES AND MANAGEMENT
| 2025 Rank | Institution | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 75 | Indian Institute of Technology Delhi | 75.6 |
| 79 | Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad | 75.2 |
| 87 | Indian Institute of Technology Bombay | 74.1 |
| 89 | University of Delhi | 72.2 |
| 189 | Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur | 69.6 |
India’s Growing Presence in Global Rankings
The QS rankings evaluate universities based on five key factors:
- Academic Reputation (40%)
- Employer Reputation (30%)
- Citations per Paper (15%)
- H-Index (10%) (measuring research impact)
- International Research Network (5%)
Indian Universities in QS Subject Rankings 2025 has improved over the years. India had the fifth-highest number of new entries, following China, the US, the UK, and South Korea. This year, India added 454 new subject rankings, up from 369 last year.