The QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023 report states that many Indian universities have secured top positions for popular subjects, mainly in the STEM fields. In this essay, we will explain what the QS University Rankings are and discuss the ranking positions of Indian institutions in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023. We will also discuss the steps taken by the Indian government to improve the global ranking of higher educational institutions.

What are the QS University Rankings?

The QS World University Rankings is an annual publication of university rankings by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS). QS is a British company specializing in education and study abroad. The rankings evaluate universities on various factors such as academic reputation, employer reputation, faculty-student ratio, citations per faculty, international-faculty ratio, and international-student ratio.

The QS World University Rankings are considered to be one of the most widely recognized university rankings in the world. The rankings cover a range of subjects, including arts and humanities, engineering and technology, life sciences and medicine, natural sciences, and social sciences and management.

QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023

According to the 13th edition of the QS World University Rankings by Subject, several Indian universities have shown significant improvements in their rankings in various subjects. Out of the 158 entries from India in the QS World University Rankings, the 11 Institutes of Eminence account for 44% of them. The universities with the highest number of entries in the rankings are the University of Delhi with 27 entries, IIT-Bombay with 25 entries, and IIT-Kharagpur with 23 entries.

Indian universities’ positions in the rankings
  • IIT-Delhi ranks 49th in electrical and electronic engineering, up seven spots from last year.
  • IIT-Bombay ranks 92nd in mathematics, up 25 spots from last year.
  • IIT-Madras ranks 98th in mathematics, up 50 spots from last year.
  • IIT-Kanpur ranks 87th in electrical and electronic engineering and 96th in computer science and information systems.
  • IIT-Kharagpur ranks 94th in computer science and information systems, up 15 spots from last year.
  • Jawaharlal Nehru University ranks 68th and the University of Delhi ranks 91st in sociology.
  • Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences‘ dentistry program ranks 13th globally, maintaining its rank from last year.
Steps taken by the Indian government to improve the global ranking of higher educational Institutions:

The Indian government has taken several steps to improve the global ranking of higher education institutions in the country. These steps include:

  1. Institutes of Eminence (IoE) scheme: The government launched the Institutes of Eminence (IoE) scheme to identify and support 20 universities in the country to achieve global ranking. The aim of this scheme is to improve the quality of higher education in the country and make Indian universities world-class.
  2. National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF): The NIRF is a ranking framework launched by the Indian government in 2015 to rank higher education institutions in the country. The ranking is based on various parameters such as teaching, research, outreach, perception, and others. This framework aims to promote excellence in higher education and to encourage competition among institutions.
  3. Attracting Foreign Faculty: To enhance the quality of education and research, the government has introduced several initiatives to attract foreign faculty to Indian universities. The Visiting Advanced Joint Research (VAJRA) Faculty Scheme, the Global Initiative for Academic Networks (GIAN), and the Scheme for Promotion of Academic and Research Collaboration (SPARC) are some of the initiatives introduced to attract foreign faculty.
  4. Research Funding: The government has increased funding for research and development in higher education institutions to encourage innovation and research. The Prime Minister’s Research Fellowship (PMRF) and the Uchhatar Avishkar Yojana (UAY) are some of the schemes launched to promote research.
  5. Industry-Academia Collaboration: The government has encouraged collaboration between industry and academia to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical applications. Several initiatives have been launched to promote collaboration between higher education institutions and the industry.
  6. Autonomy: The government has granted autonomy to higher education institutions to encourage them to take independent decisions and to promote excellence in teaching, research, and innovation. This move aims to empower institutions to take responsibility for their own growth and development.
    Why In News

    This achievement highlights the growing emphasis on research and innovation in Indian universities, as well as the country’s potential to become a leading hub for scientific and technological advancements in the coming years.

    MCQs about QS World University Rankings 2023

    1. What is the QS World University Rankings?
      A. An annual publication of university rankings by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS)
      B. A ranking of the top universities in India
      C. A ranking of the top universities in the United States
      D. A ranking of the top universities in Europe
      Correct Answer: A. An annual publication of university rankings by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS)
      Explanation: The QS World University Rankings is an annual publication of university rankings by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS).
    2. Which fields do the QS World University Rankings cover?
      A. Arts and humanities, engineering and technology, life sciences and medicine, natural sciences, and social sciences and management.
      B. Only STEM fields.
      C. Only natural sciences.
      D. Only social sciences.
      Correct Answer: A. Arts and humanities, engineering and technology, life sciences and medicine, natural sciences, and social sciences and management.
      Explanation: The QS World University Rankings cover a range of subjects, including arts and humanities, engineering and technology, life sciences and medicine, natural sciences, and social sciences and management.
    3. Which Indian universities secured top positions in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023?
      A. Several Indian universities in STEM fields.
      B. Several Indian universities in arts and humanities fields.
      C. Several Indian universities in social sciences fields.
      D. Several Indian universities in natural sciences fields.
      Correct Answer: A. Several Indian universities in STEM fields.
      Explanation: The QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023 report states that many Indian universities have secured top positions for popular subjects, mainly in the STEM fields.
    4. Which Indian government scheme aims to identify and support 20 universities in the country to achieve global ranking?
      A. Institutes of Eminence (IoE) scheme.
      B. National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF).
      C. Visiting Advanced Joint Research (VAJRA) Faculty Scheme.
      D. Prime Minister’s Research Fellowship (PMRF).
      Correct Answer: A. Institutes of Eminence (IoE) scheme.
      Explanation: The government launched the Institutes of Eminence (IoE) scheme to identify and support 20 universities in the country to achieve global ranking.

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