The Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, has slipped out of the top 250 in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2027, despite improving its scores in most of the ranking parameters, while India has increased its representation to a record 143 institutions.
It was in the 201-250 band in the previous two editions, released in 2025 and 2024. THE said the change in IISc’s position reflected increased competition as more universities entered the rankings and the number of institutions covered reached a record 2,297. Shoolini University of Biotechnology and Management Sciences, Himachal Pradesh, retained its position in the 401-500 band and remained India’s third-highest ranked institution. Jamia Millia Islamia slipped from the 401-500 band in 2026 to 501-550 this year. KIIT University and Lovely Professional University are also in the 501-550 band. Amity University, Banaras Hindu University, Graphic Era University and Manipal Academy of Higher Education are in the 551-600 band. Central University of Himachal Pradesh and Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Rohilkhand University are the highest-ranked new Indian entrants, both placed in the 701-800 band. THE has also changed its ranking methodology this year by assigning individual positions to institutions up to rank 300, compared with 200 last year. Universities below 300 are placed in progressively broader rank bands.
IISc, which has led India in the rankings in recent years, has been placed at 254th this year, sharing the position with Northeastern University in the US.
