IISc Leads India’s Rise: 5 Universities Enter Top 500 in THE World University Rankings 2025

With older IITs continuing their boycott of THE WUR, several Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) which participated, like IIT Indore, IIT Gandhinagar, IIT Guwahati have either maintained their position or slipped in ranking, despite their international reputation. This could point to challenges in international outlook or competition from newer universities rising fast.

The Indian Institute of Science (IISc) continues to lead India's academic charge, securing a place in the 251–300 band in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2025. India's presence has grown overall, with 133 institutions making the cut this year, up from 122 in 2024. The six older Indian Institutes of Technology (Bombay, Madras, Delhi, Roorkee, Kanpur, and Kharagpur), which typically lead in national rankings, have continued their boycott of the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings for the fifth consecutive year, citing concerns over the "transparency" of the evaluation process.

Notably, five Indian universities now feature in the top 500, underscoring advancements in research, industry collaboration, and international outlook. Globally, Oxford University retains the top spot for the ninth year in a row, while MIT climbs to second, overtaking Stanford.

Here's an analysis of the performance of Indian institutions in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2025, compared to the 2024 rankings, focusing on those within the top 500 and highlighting significant trends.

Summary:

• 133 Indian institutions have been ranked this year, up from 122 in 2024, showing an increased representation in global rankings.
• Top 500 Institutions: India has seen notable performances with 5 institutions now within the top 500, compared to 4 in 2024.

Performance of Indian Institutions in Top 500 (2025 vs. 2024):

2025 Rank	Institution	2024 Rank	Key Trends/Changes
251–300	Indian Institute of Science (IISc)	201–250	Dropped slightly but still top-ranked Indian institution
401–500	Anna University	501–600	Significant improvement into the top 500
401–500	Mahatma Gandhi University	501–600	New entry into the top 500
401–500	Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences	601–800	Major leap into top 500, highlights improvements
401–500	Shoolini University of Biotechnology and Management Sciences	501–600	Also entered top 500, significant rise

Key Trends:

• Indian Institute of Science (IISc): Despite slipping slightly from the 201–250 bracket to 251–300, IISc remains India's highest-ranked institution. This drop could be attributed to shifts in specific indicators like teaching or research environment, but it still maintains a robust presence globally.
• New Top 500 Entrants:
• Anna University improved significantly from the 501–600 band to the 401–500 range, which highlights better performance in key metrics like teaching and research.
• Mahatma Gandhi University also advanced from the 501–600 range to join the top 500, indicating stronger research output and international collaborations.
• Saveetha Institute and Shoolini University: These two institutions made significant jumps, reflecting their growing academic and research capabilities, as well as their success in internationalization efforts and industry engagement. Their entry into the top 500 is a positive signal for the diversity of top institutions in India.

Notable Insights from the 501-1000 Range:

• IITs in Decline: Several Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) like IIT Indore, IIT Gandhinagar, IIT Guwahati have either maintained their position or slipped in ranking, despite their international reputation. This could point to challenges in international outlook or competition from newer universities rising fast.
• Private and Emerging Universities: Institutions like Jamia Millia Islamia, UPES, KIIT, and VIT continue to perform well, many maintaining their positions or showing slight improvements. The increased representation of private universities signals growing diversity and competition within India's higher education sector.

Indian universities are increasingly making their mark in global rankings, with a 9% increase in the number of ranked institutions in 2025. The focus on improving research quality, industry engagement, and international collaborations is starting to show results. However, traditional powerhouses like IISc and some IITs are seeing tougher competition, both from other global institutions and within India, as newer and private universities rise through the ranks. The top 500 performances of institutions like Anna University, Saveetha Institute, and Shoolini University are promising signs of the growing strength of Indian education beyond just IITs.

This data presents a positive trajectory for Indian higher education on the global stage, yet with challenges that need addressing to maintain and improve rankings, especially among the IITs.

Indian Institutions in THE World University Rankings 2025 (Top 1000)

Rank	Institution Name	No. of FTE Students	Students per Staff	International Students	Female   Ratio
251–300	Indian Institute of Science (IISc)	4,648	9.8	1%	26:74
401–500	Anna University	11,855	12.8	1%	42:58
401–500	Mahatma Gandhi University	2,022	12.4	1%	57:43
401–500	Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences	12,468	10	7%	48:52
401–500	Shoolini University of Biotechnology and Management Sciences	3,552	16.4	1%	56:44
501–600	Indian Institute of Technology Indore	2,091	11.9	0%	97:3
501–600	Jamia Millia Islamia	10,374	11.7	5%	52:48
501–600	UPES	9,443	9.5	0%	31:69
601–800	Aligarh Muslim University	19,237	11.6	1%	42:58
601–800	Amity University, Noida	28,507	15.6	12%	52:48
601–800	Banaras Hindu University	13,954	8.9	3%	43:57
601–800	Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani	15,852	15.9	3%	85:15
601–800	Chitkara University	16,862	14.6	3%	42:58
601–800	Indian Institute of Technology Patna	2,839	19.9	0%	85:15
601–800	International Institute of Information Technology, Hyderabad	1,997	18	7%	97:3
601–800	KIIT University	24,851	12.2	10%	49:51
601–800	Lovely Professional University	32,990	14.8	8%	27:73
601–800	Malaviya National Institute of Technology	5,515	19.7	0%	27:73
601–800	Panjab University	17,591	16.8	1%	63:37
601–800	Symbiosis International University	16,659	13	7%	47:53
601–800	Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology	9,135	15	2%	35:65
601–800	VIT University	38,187	13.4	5%	30:70
801–1000	Alagappa University	5,516	14.9	0%	60:40
801–1000	Bharathiar University	3,953	18.8	0%	54:46
801–1000	Delhi Technological University	15,127	23.8	3%	80:20
801–1000	Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar	2,014	13.4	1%	28:72
801–1000	Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati	8,587	17.9	1%	24:76
801–1000	Indian Institute of Technology Ropar	2,616	15.4	1%	24:76
801–1000	Institute of Chemical Technology	2,919	18.6	0%	37:63
801–1000	Jamia Hamdard University	9,612	15.1	2%	46:54
801–1000	Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University Anantapur (JNTUA)	6,385	19.2	1%	44:56
801–1000	Jawaharlal Nehru University	9,297	13.5	1%	44:56
801–1000	Jaypee University of Information Technology	1,826	19	2%	27:73
801–1000	JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research	8,807	9.9	8%	59:41
801–1000	Kalasalingam Academy of Research and Education	5,332	4.4	10%	55:45
801–1000	KL University	16,650	13.6	3%	42:58
801–1000	Manipal Academy of Higher Education	23,947	8.6	12%	47:53
801–1000	National Institute of Technology Rourkela	7,816	19.1	3%	76:24
801–1000	National Institute of Technology Silchar	4,885	12.9	2%	89:11
801–1000	National Institute of Technology, Tiruchirappalli	7,385	17.8	2%	24:76
801–1000	Savitribai Phule Pune University	6,004	8.7	3%	46:54
801–1000	Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University	2,947	20.5	0%	37:63
801–1000	Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan	11,259	10	3%	57:43
801–1000	University of Delhi	25,926	21	2%	47:53

This table includes all Indian institutions ranked within the top 1000 globally in the THE World University Rankings 2025.