Global varsity rankings: TG and AP need to catch up fast

Global university rankings are more than just lists of names and numbers. They serve as clear signals of quality that students, parents, companies, and governments notice around the world. In today’s fast-moving world, where talent and ideas cross borders easily, these rankings help decide where young people study, where companies hire and even how countries build their future. For India, with its huge young population, strong performance in rankings is very important. It shows that some of our best colleges are now matching the world’s top ones. The latest QS World University Rankings by Subject, released on March 25, bring exciting news for the country but also highlight big gaps, especially in states like Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.

The QS rankings look at more than 21,000 academic programmes from over 1,900 universities in more than 100 countries. They check academic reputation, employer views, research work and global connections. This year, India has done well, with 27 places in the global top 50 across different subjects. Four Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), JNU and BITS Pilani have entered the world’s top 50 in their areas. Also achieving impressive positions, including on the subject-wise parameter are IIT Delhi, IIT (ISM) Dhanbad, which IIM Ahmedabad has earned the distinction of being the first Indian institute to make it to the top 50 in Marketing. These results prove that Indian institutions are improving not just in size but in real quality and global edge.

This progress comes from years of smart government steps. The National Education Policy 2020 pushed for better research, modern teaching and links with the world. More money for schemes like the Prime Minister’s Research Fellowship, better labs in top institutes and closer ties between colleges and industries have helped. International exchange programmes have also brought fresh ideas to Indian classrooms. As a result, top Indian colleges are climbing higher in world lists.

But when we look closer at Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, the picture is mixed. In Telangana, there are some bright spots. IIT Hyderabad has made a big jump, reaching 395th globally in Engineering and Technology (16th in India). It has moved up more than 100 places from last year. Six of its engineering subjects now sit in the global top 300, with Mechanical, Electrical and Electronic and Chemical Engineering each in the 251-300 band. The University of Hyderabad (UoH) has also shown strong results, appearing in seven subjects. It improved in Linguistics to 151-200, Sociology to 251-300 and Chemistry to 401-450. English Language and Literature stayed steady at 251-300, while new entries include Political Science at 301-400. These gains show that a few elite places in Telangana are catching up with the national elite.

In Andhra Pradesh, however, things look different. No major institution from the state has stood out in this year’s top 50. Newer institutes like IIT Tirupati and state universities such as Andhra University or Sri Venkateswara University have not made big waves in the QS subject rankings. In earlier Asia-level lists, Andhra Pradesh colleges often stayed outside the top 500. This shows that while the country is moving forward, these two southern states are not keeping equal pace.

The reasons for this gap lie in everyday problems on the ground. In Telangana, public colleges and universities suffer from serious faculty shortages. Over 60 per cent of teaching posts in government degree colleges are vacant, with no regular hiring for years. This forces reliance on temporary teachers and weakens teaching quality. Infrastructure is another big issue as many colleges lack proper labs, libraries, digital tools and even basic classrooms. Funding has not grown enough to match the rise in student numbers. A recent state education policy report points out poor governance, low accreditation rates (less than 15 per cent of colleges have NAAC grades) and too much shift to private colleges that vary widely in standards. Rote learning still dominates and research output beyond a few top places remains low.

Andhra Pradesh faces similar but often deeper troubles. Faculty vacancies and slow teacher recruitment have hurt colleges for years. After state division, some institutions struggled with divided resources and attention. Infrastructure in many state universities is outdated, with weak labs and limited research grants. The government has talked about a single law for all universities to fix inconsistencies in rules, funding and quality checks but progress is slow. There are also worries about weakening the state Higher Education Council, which could let low-standard private colleges grow unchecked. Students in both states often face overcrowded classes, exam-focused teaching instead of practical skills and poor industry links. Brain drain is common as bright minds leave for better opportunities in other states or abroad. Rural and small-town students especially miss out due to weak internet, fewer scholarships and limited exposure to global standards.

These challenges mean that while a few stars like IIT Hyderabad and UoH shine, the large number of students in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh study in places that do not fully prepare them for today’s jobs. The national rankings celebrate the peaks, but they also show the wide valleys that exist in these states.

To fix this and build on India’s success, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh must act quickly. Both states should fill faculty vacancies on priority with competitive salaries and training programmes. More public funding must go to research, modern labs and digital libraries, especially in state universities. Industries should be brought in not just for placements but to co-design courses and set up research centres on campus. Simplifying rules, giving colleges more freedom to innovate and focusing on new fields like artificial intelligence and green technology will help. Special bridge programmes and scholarships can bring rural talent into the mainstream. A joint push by both states for more international ties and student exchanges can speed up progress.

India’s latest QS rankings are a proud moment. They show what good policies and hard work can achieve. But for Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, they are also a clear call to action. These states have talented youth and growing economies. If they tackle faculty shortages, upgrade infrastructure, boost research and link education tightly with industry needs, they can turn today’s mixed results into tomorrow’s success stories. The coming years will test whether these two states can match the national surge. With focused steps, they can ensure that higher quality reaches every student, not just a lucky few. India’s dream of becoming a true global knowledge power depends on every region rising together.

(The writer is a former college principal and founder of Supporting Shoulders)