6 IITs, JNU and Punjab University in the Top Asian Institutes: Some Happy News for the Education Sector Finally!

It’s time for some good new regarding our education sector. Where on on e hand we are unitedly worried about the state of primary education in the country and the plight of existing IITs, this news has come as a welcome break. Around 10 institutes of India are among the Top 100 in the Times Higher Education Asia University Ranking this year, which makes the country really proud. In the list, Punjab University has been ranked at the 32nd place, which is followed by IIT Kharagpur securing the 45th position, and IIT Kanpur features at the 55^th position.

As compared to the 10 institutes which featured in the top 100 this year, only 3 universities of India were among the top last year. The growth engagement of the Indian academy appears to be tremendous this year that has led to the rankings rise in the process and the  number has shot up considerably. This much talked about change made our country the “most improved” nation in Asia, reported via a statement issued by The Times.

The rankings were released last Thursday.

Among the universities rated as the best stand the six IITs. But Jadavpur University along with Jawaharlal Nehru University and the Aligarh Muslim University are also been included in the list, which is a very pleasant news.

The Punjab University has also been placed at the 226- 250 position in the Times World University Ranking 2013- 2014. There are certain factors that have gone in favour of this institute. Such factors include its research, citations and international outlook. Punjab University got an overall score of 40.2.

The best part is that the increased presence of Indian institutes in the ranking has come up at a time when President Pranab Mukherjee has been highlighting that Indian institutes are not able to make it to the top in the global lists at various forums. Now it appears to be a good news for the new government also, especially at a time when the government’s appointment of the HRD Minister, Ms.Smriti Irani is facing heavy criticism. But does it negate the rage of students regarding the proposed setting up of eight ne IITs? Of course both the matters have to be taken independently.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had on Tuesday also favoured evolving an independent India- specific ranking of institutes, thus stating that the existing ranking systems are skewed towards the western nations.

According to the latest ranking for Asian institutes, University of Tokyo has taken the pole position that is followed by University of Singapore at the second place, and University of Hong Kong at the third place.