Read the global university rankings in toto: India is walking forward while others are sprinting

Sometimes, we celebrate too quickly. When an IIT was ranked 118th in the QS World University Rankings 2027, many people cheered. It’s good that Indian universities are improving. But being 118th in the world is not the same as being among the very best. It’s a bit like being happy you passed a tough exam, even though your score was only average.

For a child, encouragement is important. But when we look at a country’s universities, we need to ask tougher questions. Universities in places like Hong Kong and China are ranked much higher. For example, the University of Hong Kong is ranked 11th, while Peking University is 13th.

India is moving forward, but other countries are racing ahead. China has built several world-class universities. Even tiny Singapore has two universities in the world’s top 10 for engineering and technology.

University rankings are not perfect, but they give us an idea of how well a country creates new knowledge and research. In areas like artificial intelligence (AI), India is doing more research than before. But China’s growth has been much faster, and it now produces a huge share of the world’s AI research.

One reason is that Chinese universities can hire talented people from around the world, start new research projects quickly, and work closely with companies that need advanced technology. This creates a cycle where research, innovation, and investment keep helping each other grow.

India has definitely made progress, and that deserves recognition. But catching up with the best doesn’t happen by celebrating small wins. It happens by aiming higher, learning from those who are ahead, and working smarter and harder to get there.

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