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Best universities in India 2024

Explore India and some of its most influential universities, using Times Higher Education’s World University Rankings 2024

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October 16 2023
IIT Guwahati, Assam, India

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Top five universities in India 2024

Scroll down for the full list of best universities in India 

India Rank 2024  World University Rank 2024   World University Rank 2023  University City  State
1  201–250   251–300  Indian Institute of Science Bangalore Karnataka
=2  501–600   801–1000  Anna University Chennai Tamil Nadu
=2  501–600   501–600  Jamia Millia Islamia Jamia Nagar Delhi
=2  501–600   401–500  Mahatma Gandhi University Kottayam Kerala
=2  501–600   351–400  Shoolini University of Biotechnology and Management Sciences Solan Himachal Pradesh

India’s higher education system is one of the largest in the world, along with China and the United States, and is especially known for its engineering schools. The country’s parliament declared institutes of technology as “institutes of national importance” in 1961, which helped the then newly established universities to grow and develop their reputations.

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National competition for a place at one of India’s best universities is fierce, and an increasing number of international students go to study there, too. An advantage for international students is that all courses are taught in English.

The country’s rich traditions, landscape and food are further reasons why you may want to experience India as a student. India is one of the most diverse countries in the world, so you may want to choose your university based on the state and its local culture.

Many Indian universities are in beautiful natural parks. Whether located in rural or city settings, a number of the best institutions host festivals and events that make campus life more exciting. 

Read about some of India’s best universities based on the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2024 below. 


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Top 5 universities in India

=2. Shoolini University of Biotechnology and Management Science

Shoolini University of Biotechnology and Management Sciences is a private university, established in 2009.

The university is made up of 15 schools including agriculture, bioengineering and food technology, biotechnology, mechanical, civil and electrical engineering, business management, liberal arts, journalism, pharmaceutical sciences, physics and materials science, advanced chemical sciences and law among others. 

All students who attend Shoolini University join a programme called SPRINT (skill programming through rapid and intensive training) which helps to prepare them for interviews and job placements once they graduate.

=2. Mahatma Gandhi University

Mahatma Gandhi University is an Indian public university named after leading civil rights figure Mahatma Gandhi.

The university was established in 1983 and offers a wide range of academic degrees in bachelors, masters and doctoral programmes. There are schools in a wide range of subject areas including chemical science, international relations and politics, social science, tourism studies, letters and physics among many others. 

Scholars and students are able to apply for a series of fellowships and grants offered by the university.

=2. Jamia Millia Islamia

Jamia Millia Islamia, which translates as Community Islamic University, is a public university in New Delhi, established by Muslim leaders in 1920.

Jama Millia Islamia has nine faculties: law; engineering and technology; architecture and ekistics; humanities and languages; fine arts; social sciences; natural sciences; education; and dentistry.

The university places an emphasis on sports for both students and staff. The university cricket ground often hosts games within range of tournaments including the Cricket World Cup and the Commonwealth Games. 

=2. Anna University

Anna University was formed in 1978 by the merger of four existing Chennai technical institutions with some elements of the University of Madras. It was named after C.N. Annadurai, a chief minister of the state of Tamil Nadu. 

It is is a public state university located in Tamil Nadu, India. The main campus is in Chennai.

The university is made up of four colleges - The College of Engineering, The Alagappa College of Technology, The Madras Institute of Technology and The School of Architecture and Planning.

1. Indian Institute of Science

Founded in Bangalore in the south-western state of Karnataka in 1909, the Indian Institute of Science is one of the highest regarded Indian institutions.

The university is heavily focused on research, with about 70 per cent of its student body undertaking PhD and MA research projects.

The university offers only one undergraduate programme: a four-year BA in science. The programme’s core modules are physics, mathematics, chemistry, biology and humanities. In their final year, students do an individual research project. In order to apply to this course students have to provide their scores from one of the national examinations of India. 

The institute claims more than 75 winners of the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize for Science and Technology.


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Top universities in India 2024

Click each institution to view its full World University Rankings 2024 results

India Rank 2024  World University Rank 2024   World University Rank 2023  University City  State
1  201–250   251–300  Indian Institute of Science Bangalore Karnataka
=2  501–600   801–1000  Anna University Chennai Tamil Nadu
=2  501–600   501–600  Jamia Millia Islamia Jamia Nagar Delhi
=2  501–600   401–500  Mahatma Gandhi University Kottayam Kerala
=2  501–600   351–400  Shoolini University of Biotechnology and Management Sciences Solan Himachal Pradesh
=6  601–800   401–500  Alagappa University Karaikudi Tamil Nadu
=6  601–800   801–1000  Aligarh Muslim University Aligarh Uttar Pradesh
=6  601–800   601–800  Banaras Hindu University Varanasi Uttar Pradesh
=6  601–800   801–1000  Bharathiar University Coimbatore Tamil Nadu
=6  601–800   1001–1200  Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati Guwahati Assam
=6  601–800   1001–1200  Indian Institute of Technology (Indian School of Mines) Dhanbad Dhanbad Jharkhand
=6  601–800   801–1000  Indian Institute of Technology Patna Patna Bihar
=6  601–800   501–600  International Institute of Information Technology, Hyderabad Hyderabad Telangana
=6  601–800   601–800  Jamia Hamdard University New Delhi Delhi
=6  601–800   601–800  Jawaharlal Nehru University New Delhi Delhi
=6  601–800   601–800  KIIT University Bhubaneswar Odisha
=6  601–800   NR  Malaviya National Institute of Technology Jaipur Rajasthan
=6  601–800   801–1000  Manipal Academy of Higher Education Manipal Karnataka
=6  601–800   1001–1200  National Institute of Technology Rourkela Rourkela Odisha
=6  601–800   601–800  National Institute of Technology Silchar Silchar Assam
=6  601–800   801–1000  Panjab University Chandigarh Punjab
=6  601–800   501–600  Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences Chennai Tamil Nadu
=6  601–800   601–800  Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology Patiala Punjab
=6  601–800   801–1000  VIT University Vellore Tamil Nadu
=25  801–1000   1001–1200  Amity University Noida National Capital Region
=25  801–1000   NR  Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham Coimbatore Tamil Nadu
=25  801–1000   801–1000  Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani Pilani Rajasthan
=25  801–1000   801–1000  Institute of Chemical Technology Mumbai Maharashtra
=25  801–1000   1001–1200  University of Delhi New Delhi Delhi
=25  801–1000   601–800  Delhi Technological University New Delhi Delhi
=25  801–1000   1001–1200  Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Pune Pune Maharashtra
=25  801–1000   801–1000  Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar Gandhinagar Gujarat
=25  801–1000   601–800  Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology Delhi New Delhi Delhi
=25  801–1000   1201–1500  Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University Anantapur (JNTUA) Anathapuramu Andhra Pradesh 
=25  801–1000   NR  Jaypee University of Information Technology Solan Himachal Pradesh
=25  801–1000   351–400  JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research Mysore Karnataka
=25  801–1000   601–800  Kalasalingam Academy of Research and Education Krishankoli Tamil Nadu
=25  801–1000   801–1000  Lovely Professional University Phagwara Punjab
=25  801–1000   801–1000  National Institute of Technology, Tiruchirappalli Tiruchirappalli Tamil Nadu
=25  801–1000   NR  UPES Dehradun Uttarakhand
=25  801–1000   601–800  Savitribai Phule Pune University Pune Maharashtra
=25  801–1000   NR  Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University Katra Jammu and Kashmir
=25  801–1000   1001–1200  Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan Bhubaneswar Odisha
=44  1001–1200   1001–1200  University of Calcutta Kolkata West Bengal
=44  1001–1200   1001–1200  Dr B.R. Ambedkar National Institute of Technology Jalandhar Jalandhar Punjab
=44  1001–1200   NR  Gauhati University Guwahati Assam
=44  1001–1200   NR  GLA University Mathura Uttar Pradesh
=44  1001–1200   NR  Guru Ghasidas Vishwavidyalaya Bilaspur Chhattisgarh
=44  1001–1200   1001–1200  Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata Kolkata West Bengal
=44  1001–1200   501–600  Indian Institute of Technology Ropar Rupnagar Punjab
=44  1001–1200   1001–1200  Indian Institute of Technology Mandi Mandi Himachal Pradesh
=44  1001–1200   1001–1200  Jadavpur University Kolkata West Bengal
=44  1001–1200   NR  Karnatak University Dharwad Dharwad Karnataka
=44  1001–1200   601–800  Maharishi Markandeshwar University (MMU) Ambala Haryana
=44  1001–1200   NR  National Institute of Technology Warangal Hanamkonda Telangana
=44  1001–1200   1001–1200  Pondicherry University Pondicherry Puducherry
=44  1001–1200   801–1000  Symbiosis International University Pune Maharashtra
=58  1201–1500   1201–1500  Acharya Nagarjuna University Guntur Andhra Pradesh 
=58  1201–1500   1201–1500  Banasthali University Vanasthali Rajasthan
=58  1201–1500   NR  B. S. Abdur Rahman Crescent Institute of Science and Technology Chennai Tamil Nadu
=58  1201–1500   NR  Christ University Bengaluru India Bangalore Karnataka
=58  1201–1500   1201–1500  Cochin University of Science and Technology Cochin Kerala
=58  1201–1500   1001–1200  Guru Jambheshwar University of Science and Technology Hisari Haryana
=58  1201–1500   1201–1500  Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Bhopal Bhopal Madhya Pradesh
=58  1201–1500   NR  Karunya Institute of Technology and Sciences Coimbatore Tamil Nadu
=58  1201–1500   801–1000  KL University Guntur Andhra Pradesh 
=58  1201–1500   NR  Manipal University Jaipur Jaipur Rajasthan
=58  1201–1500   NR  National Institute of Technology Srinagar Srinagar Jammu and Kashmir
=58  1201–1500   1201–1500  Osmania University Hyderabad Telangana
=58  1201–1500   1201–1500  SASTRA University Thanjavur Tamil Nadu
=58  1201–1500   1201–1500  Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology Chennai Tamil Nadu
=58  1201–1500   1201–1500  Sri Venkateswara University Andhra Andhra Pradesh 
=58  1201–1500   1201–1500  SRM Institute of Science and Technology Chengalpattu Tamil Nadu
=58  1201–1500   1201–1500  Tezpur University Sonitpur Assam
=58  1201–1500   NR  Thiagarajar College of Engineering Madurai Tamil Nadu
=58  1201–1500   1201–1500  Veltech University Morai Tamil Nadu
=58  1201–1500   1201–1500  Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology, Nagpur Nagpur Maharashtra
=78  1501+   1201–1500  Andhra University Visakhapatnam Andhra Pradesh 
=78  1501+   1501+  Annamalai University Cuddalore Tamil Nadu
=78  1501+   NR  Bharath Institute of Higher Education and Research Chennai Tamil Nadu
=78  1501+   NR  Bharati Vidyapeeth University Pune Maharashtra
=78  1501+   1501+  GITAM University Visakhapatnam Andhra Pradesh 
=78  1501+   NR  Goa University Panaji Goa
=78  1501+   NR  Hindustan Institute of Technology and Science Chennai Tamil Nadu
=78  1501+   1201–1500  University of Lucknow Lucknow Uttar Pradesh
=78  1501+   1201–1500  University of Mysore Mysuru Karnataka
=78  1501+   1501+  PSG College of Technology Coimbatore Tamil Nadu
=78  1501+   NR  REVA University Bangalore Karnataka
=78  1501+   1501+  R V College of Engineering Bangalore Karnataka
=78  1501+   1501+  Tamil Nadu Agricultural University Coimbatore Tamil Nadu
=78  1501+   1201–1500  Vignan’s Foundation for Science, Technology and Research Vadlamudi Andhra Pradesh 

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