IIT-Delhi has surpassed IIT-Bombay to become India’s top university in the 2025 QS Asia University Rankings, securing the 44th position. This marks a two-spot climb for IIT-Delhi within the continent’s rankings, while IIT-Bombay fell to 48th place, down by eight ranks from last year. Six Indian universities made it to Asia’s top 100.
IIT-Delhi’s rise is attributed to high-impact research, an enhanced academic reputation, and a greater percentage of PhD-qualified faculty. Prof. Vivek Buwa, head of IIT-Delhi’s ranking cell and dean of planning, highlighted the institute’s focus on technological progress, startup support, and solving societal issues as key factors in this achievement.
The university’s improvements in QS-assessed metrics were significant, especially in ‘citations per paper,’ which measures research impact, and ‘papers per faculty,’ where the institute scored 95 out of 100, averaging seven publications per faculty per year. The institute also collaborates extensively with domestic and international companies, government labs, and universities. With support from the Institutions of Eminence initiative, IIT-Delhi invested over Rs 200 crore in advanced research infrastructure, further enhancing the quality and volume of research output.
In ‘academic reputation,’ IIT-Delhi scored 75.4 out of 100, while it achieved a nearly perfect score of 99 in ‘employment reputation,’ underscoring its appeal to global employers. A dedicated office facilitates partnerships with leading companies, and the alumni network strengthens its global reputation. Additionally, its Abu Dhabi campus, which recently introduced undergraduate programs, is part of its strategic global expansion.
In ‘international research,’ IIT-Delhi scored 89, reflecting its numerous global collaborations, currently encompassing 116 research projects with universities worldwide.