New Delhi, India

A London-based firm has declared India’s Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) as the highest-ranked university in the country for various subjects. Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) ranked JNU at 20th position globally for Development Studies. The second-highest ranked university is IIM Ahmedabad, clinching the 22nd position globally, while Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences came at the third position, with the 24th rank in the world.

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In total, 69 Indian universities were featured in the ranking of the top 500, with a total of 424 entries in the 2024 QS World University Rankings. It’s interesting to note that 72 per cent of the entries this year are either new to the list, have shown improvement, or have maintained their positions.

The most entries have been filed by the University of Delhi (30 entries), IIT Bombay (28 entries) and IIT Kharagpur (27 entries). IIT Madras this year had 22 entries, of which eight improved, six declined and four remained unchanged.

Also read: India`s Jawaharlal Nehru University bans protests on campus, threatens hefty fine and expulsion

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The CEO of QS, Jessica Turner, highlighted challenges before the Indian education system.

“One of the biggest challenges faced by India is educational – providing high-quality tertiary education in the face of exploding demand: this much was recognised by 2020’s NEP (National Education Policy), which set the ambitious target of a 50% gross enrolment ratio by 2035. It should therefore provide some reassurance that the number of Indian programmes featuring across our 55 subject rankings and five broad faculty areas has increased this year – from 355 to 454. QS also notes that several programmes at India’s three privately-run Institutes of Eminence have made progress this year, demonstrating the positive role that well-regulated private provision can have in enhancing India’s higher education sector,” she highlighted.

Turner concluded: “While there is still a lot of work to be done to improve standards, access to higher education, universities’ digital readiness and global competitiveness, it is clear that India is taking significant steps in the right direction.”

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(With inputs from agencies)