Shanghai Rankings of Global Universities (2020) and Status of Indian Universities

Abstract

Academic ranking of world universities (ARWU) 2020 is released as usual on 15 August by Shanghai Ranking Consultancy of China. ARWU has been presenting the ranking of world's Top 500 universities annually since 2004 but in 2020, ranking of 1000 global universities has been projected. It is unfortunate that none of the Indian universities and IITs find a slot among the Top 500. Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore was placed among the Top 500 in 1919 ranking but it has slided down to lower rank in the 501-600 series. USA has maintained its position with 45 universities among Top 100, Europe has improved from 35 to 36, Asia-Oceania improved from 17 to 19, and Africa remains out of any reckoning as in the past. Individual ranking of European countries has improved, for example, UK (8), France (5), Switzerland (5), Sweden (3) have improved their ranking position, while Canada( 4), Germany (4), China (6), Japan (3) and Russia( 1) maintain the status quo. In subject-wise ranking, Punjab University, Chandigarh maintains its slot among top 201-300 in the subject of Physics. In Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institutions have the better ranking among Top 400 as compared with other subjects but in other branches they hardly find a slot among Top 500. The ranking of Indian Universities is dismal in Agriculture, Biological Sciences, Social Sciences and Education.