Higher Education Landscape in India
India is a prominent global hub for higher education, ranking third in the world, following the USA and China. This robust higher education system comprises universities and colleges approved and recognized by various statutory bodies under the Ministry of Higher Education. The University Grants Commission (UGC) serves as the regulatory authority responsible for accrediting universities in India.
Key Accrediting Bodies
Several autonomous statutory institutions oversee the accreditation of colleges and universities in India. Some of these institutions include:
- All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE): Focuses on technical education.
- National Medical Commission (NMC): Regulates medical education.
- Bar Council of India (BCI): Manages legal education.
- Indian Nursing Council (INC): Oversees nursing education.
- Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR): Specializes in agricultural research and education.
- Dental Council of India (DCI): Regulates dental education.
- Council of Architecture (COA): Manages architecture education.
- National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE): Focuses on teacher education.
- Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI): Oversees rehabilitation education.
- Pharmacy Council of India (PCI): Regulates pharmacy education.
- National Commission for Homoeopathy (NCH): Manages education in homoeopathy.
Diverse Educational Institutions
India boasts a diverse array of educational institutions, including:
- 54 central universities
- 416 state universities
- 125 deemed universities
- 361 private universities
- 159 Institutes of National Importance (INIs), encompassing prestigious institutions like IITs, AIIMS, IITs, IIMs, IISERs, and NITs.
National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF)
To rank educational institutions in the country, the Ministry of Education established the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) in December 2015. NIRF, functioning under the UGC, evaluates institutions based on various parameters, including:
- Teaching Learning & Resources
- Graduation Outcome
- Outreach & Inclusivity
- Perception
- Research and Professional Practice
Top Ranked Universities in India 2023-2024
| University Name | State | Rank |
| Indian Institute of Science | Karnataka | 1 |
| Jawaharlal Nehru University | Delhi | 2 |
| Jamia Millia Islamia | Delhi | 3 |
| Jadavpur University | West Bengal | 4 |
| Banaras Hindu University | Uttar Pradesh | 5 |
| Manipal Academy of Higher Education | Karnataka | 6 |
| Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham | Tamil Nadu | 7 |
| Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT) | Tamil Nadu | 8 |
| Aligarh Muslim University | Uttar Pradesh | 9 |
| University of Hyderabad | Telangana | 10 |
| University of Delhi | Delhi | 11 |
| Calcutta University | West Bengal | 12 |
| Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences | Tamil Nadu | 13 |
| Anna University | Tamil Nadu | 14 |
| Siksha O Anusandhan Bharathiar University | Odisha Tamil Nadu | 15 |
| Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology | Odisha | 16 |
| Homi Bhabha National Institute | Maharashtra | 17 |
| S.R.M. Institute of Science and Technology | Tamil Nadu | 18 |
| Savitribai Phule Pune University | Maharashtra | 19 |
| Birla Institute of Technology & Science -Pilani | Rajasthan | 20 |
| Bharathiar University | Tamil Nadu | 21 |
| Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology | Punjab | 22 |
| Institute of Chemical Technology | Maharashtra | 23 |
| Kerala University | Kerala | 24 |
| Panjab University | Chandigarh | 25 |
| Shanmugha Arts Science Technology & Research Academy | Tamil Nadu | 26 |
| Chandigarh University | Punjab | 27 |
| Koneru Lakshmaiah Education Foundation University (K L College of Engineering) | Andhra Pradesh | 28 |
| Kalasalingam Academy of Research and Education | Tamil Nadu | 29 |
| Alagappa University | Tamil Nadu | 30 |
Top Private Universities in India 2023-2024
| University Name | State | Rank |
| Manipal Academy of Higher Education | Karnataka | 1 |
| Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham | Tamil Nadu | 2 |
| Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT) | Tamil Nadu | 3 |
| Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences | Tamil Nadu | 4 |
| Siksha o Anusandhan | Odisha | 5 |
| Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology | Odisha | 6 |
| S.R.M. Institute of Science and Technology | Tamil Nadu | 7 |
| Birla Institute of Technology & Science | Rajasthan | 8 |
| Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology | Punjab | 9 |
| Shanmugha Arts Science Technology & Research Academy | Tamil Nadu | 10 |
Admission Eligibility
Admission eligibility criteria vary among universities and programs. For B.Tech and M.Tech programs, admission is primarily based on JEE Mains and GATE scores. Some universities may conduct state-level or university-specific entrance exams like VITEEE and SRMJEEE.
For applied sciences, humanities, law, and commerce programs, admission is based on scores from the Central University Entrance Test (CUET) for both undergraduate (UG) and postgraduate (PG) courses.
CUET Eligibility Criteria
For candidates aiming to secure admission based on CUET 2023 scores:
- Must be Indian citizens.
- For UG courses, candidates must have passed the 12th or equivalent examination from a recognized board of school education.
- Candidates failing in one or two subjects of Class 12th will not be eligible for CUET 2023.
Candidates must also meet specific course requirements and individual eligibility criteria set by the respective university.
Top Entrance Exams
Popular entrance exams for admission to UG and PG courses in top universities include:
- CUET UG and CUET PG
- JEE Mains and JEE Advanced (for technical programs)
- NEET (for medical programs)
- GATE (for postgraduate technical programs)
- VITEEE (for engineering programs)
- CAT (for management programs)
Admission Process
The admission process in top-ranked universities varies by program. For UG B.Tech programs, candidates need to appear in exams like JEE Main or state-level/ university-specific exams such as VITEEE.
The admission process generally involves registration, entrance tests, and counseling. Seats are allocated to candidates based on their scores or rank in the respective entrance tests like CUET, JEE Main, etc. This process ensures transparency and fairness in the selection of students.
Also Read: Top Career Choices After 12th Science [2024]
