QS World University Rankings highlight India's strides in sustainability, with DU securing the top spot nationally, while challenges persist in environmental research and governance practises across institutions
QS World University Rankings: Sustainability 2024, released on December 5, ranks the University of Delhi (DU) as the most sustainable Indian institute. Globally, the university has ranked at 220.
Overall, the University of Toronto has ranked at the top, followed by the University of California, Berkeley (UCB) and the University of Manchester at the second and third spots. There is no Indian university in the top 200 ranks. After DU, IIT Bombay is at 303 globally, followed by IIT Madras at 344, IIT Kharagpur at 349, IIT Roorkee at 387, and IIT Delhi at 426.
Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani (BITS) ranks 7th in India (444 globally), followed by Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT) at 8th spot (449 globally), Anna University at the ninth spot (496 globally), and the Indian Institute of Science at the 10th spot (505 globally).
India has performed well in indicators related to environmental impact, which quantifies an institution's commitment to and implementation of its sustainability and climate strategies.
Four Indian universities have found a place among the world's top 100 in the Environmental Sustainability indicator, with Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT) emerging as the national leader (49 globally). The University of Delhi was recognised for offering "world-class education in environmental and climate-related subjects," placing 16th in QS' Environmental Education indicator.
However, Indian institutes are lacking in environmental research. The Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT) dominate this indicator domestically, with IIT Delhi taking the highest rank in 236th. This metric assesses scholarly output classified by Elsevier as relating to SDGs 7, 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15. Specifically, IITD excels in research related to Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG 11).
QS suggests that India could improve factors related to QS's good governance indicator, such as ethics, hiring practises, transparency, and decision-making. In this metric, two Indian universities are among the world's top 200, with the Manipal Academy of Higher Education and the University of Delhi placing 111th and 167th, respectively.
In the QS' Equality indicator, Manipal Academy of Higher Education is the national leader, placing 463rd. It is the only Indian institution in the world's top 500. Additionally, IIT boasts the country's best graduate opportunities and career prospects, with all five of the country's top performers in employability and outcomes being IIT. IIT-B is the top performer, placing 199th.
QS Senior Vice President Ben Sowter said, "India, as one of the world's largest emitters of carbon dioxide, faces a formidable challenge and shoulders immense responsibility for meeting its commitment to achieve net zero by 2070. In this context, the role of Indian universities is pivotal as they continue to expand in number and improve in quality."