The Indian Institute of Science (IISc) has emerged as the top-ranked Indian institution in the latest Times Higher Education (THE) Asia Rankings 2025, securing the 38th position. The rankings reflect India’s growing presence in Asian higher education, despite a general decline in the ranks of several Indian institutions compared to the previous year.
Key Highlights
| Institution | Rank in 2025 | Previous Rank (2024) |
| Indian Institute of Science (IISc) | 38 | 32 |
| Anna University | 111 | 119 |
| IIT Indore | 131 | New Entry in Top 200 |
| Mahatma Gandhi University | 140 | 134 |
| Shoolini University of Biotechnology and Management Sciences | 146 | New Entry |
| Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences | 149 | New Entry |
| Jamia Millia Islamia | 161 | New Entry |
| IIT Guwahati | 184 | New Entry |
| KIIT University | 184 | New Entry |
| Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) | 188 | New Entry |
| UPES | 188 | New Entry |
| IIT Patna | 191 | New Entry |
| NIT Rourkela | 191 | New Entry |
| IIIT Hyderabad | 200 | New Entry |
Times Higher Education Asia University Rankings 2025 Overview
Total universities ranked: 853
Countries/Territories covered: 35
India’s Performance:
- 20 Indian institutions among Asia’s top 250.
- Shoolini University recognized as India’s highest-ranked private university.
- All Indian institutes listed have dropped in rank compared to 2024 rankings.
Global Highlights:
Top 2 Ranks:
- 1st: Tsinghua University (China)
- 2nd: Peking University (China)
Other Top Institutions:
- 3rd: National University of Singapore (Singapore)
- 4th: Nanyang Technological University (Singapore)
- 5th: University of Tokyo (Japan)
- 6th: University of Hong Kong (Hong Kong)
- 9th: Chinese University of Hong Kong (Hong Kong)
New Entrant Countries:
- Uzbekistan, Bahrain, Mongolia, and Syria appeared for the first time in the rankings.
Hong Kong Achievement:
- All six universities from Hong Kong ranked among the top 50 — first time since 2017.
Ranking Methodology
THE Asia Rankings assess institutions based on five broad pillars:
| Indicator | Description |
| Teaching | Learning environment |
| Research Environment | Volume, income, reputation |
| Research Quality | Citation impact, research strength, excellence, and influence |
| International Outlook | International staff, students, and research collaboration |
| Industry Income | Knowledge transfer through income and patents |
Significance
- IISc Bengaluru continues to lead among Indian institutions, reaffirming its reputation in research and education.
- India shows a strong presence despite stiff competition across Asia.
- Rising prominence of Indian private universities like Shoolini University signals diversification and growth of India’s higher education sector.
- The Times Higher Education Asia Rankings reflect an increasingly competitive educational landscape in Asia, with China, Singapore, Japan, and Hong Kong dominating the top tiers.