IISc Retains India’s Top Position in Asia Rankings
IISc Leads India in THE Asia University Rankings 2025: The Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in Bengaluru has once again emerged as India’s top-ranked university in the Times Higher Education (THE) Asia University Rankings 2025, securing the 38th position overall. Despite a drop from its 2024 rank of 32nd, IISc continues to be India’s best representative on the prestigious list that evaluates universities based on research, teaching, industry income, and international outlook.
India’s Mixed Performance on the Global Stage
India’s overall presence in the 2025 rankings has seen both highs and setbacks. With 853 universities from 35 countries featured, India had a significant number of entries, but several of its institutions experienced a dip in performance. Anna University ranked 111th, and IIT Indore followed at 131st, both slipping from their previous positions. Mahatma Gandhi University, placed at 140th, also saw a slight fall from its 2024 spot at 134th. Other ranked Indian institutions include Shoolini University (146th), Saveetha Institute (149th), and Jamia Millia Islamia (161st), among others, showcasing India’s growing but challenged academic landscape.
Regional Trends in Higher Education
While India holds a prominent place, China continues to dominate the top ranks in Asia. Tsinghua University and Peking University retain their 1st and 2nd positions, respectively. Singapore’s National University and Nanyang Technological University secured 3rd and 4th spots, reaffirming Southeast Asia’s rise as a major education hub. Countries like Japan and Hong Kong also maintained strong showings with institutions such as The University of Tokyo and The University of Hong Kong in the top ten.
The 2025 edition saw participation from new countries like Uzbekistan, Bahrain, Mongolia, and Syria, marking a broadening of the Asian academic landscape and increasing competition for Indian universities.
Implications for Indian Higher Education
The decline in rank for many Indian universities underlines the need for greater investment in research infrastructure, international collaboration, and faculty development. While IISc’s performance remains commendable, experts argue that India must push for policy-driven academic reforms to improve global competitiveness. Emphasis on global citations, research output, and international student engagement could further elevate Indian institutions in future editions.
Despite the challenges, the growing number of Indian universities in the rankings reflects positive momentum. With increased focus on National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 implementation, India has an opportunity to enhance its standing in global academia.
STATIC GK SNAPSHOT
IISc Leads India in THE Asia University Rankings 2025:
| Category | Details |
| Event | Times Higher Education Asia University Rankings 2025 |
| India’s Top University | Indian Institute of Science (IISc) – 38th |
| Other Top Indian Ranks | Anna University – 111th, IIT Indore – 131st, Mahatma Gandhi University – 140th |
| Total Indian Universities Featured | 13+ prominently listed |
| Top 3 Asia Universities | 1st – Tsinghua (China), 2nd – Peking (China), 3rd – National University of Singapore |
| Notable Entrants | Uzbekistan, Mongolia, Bahrain, Syria featured for first time |
