Indian Universities’ Progress Towards the SDGs Revealed in Impact Rankings 2023 

The story emphasizes the crucial role universities play in driving sustainability, reflecting their commitment across four key areas: research, stewardship, outreach, and teaching, covering all 17 of the UN’s SDGs

NEW DELHI (India CSR): The omprehensive analysis delve into the significant strides made by Indian universities in aligning with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as indicated by their rankings in THE’s Impact Rankings. India’s leading institution, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, shines in the overall category, securing the joint 52nd position globally. Further, nine Indian universities have made their way into the top 400, a testament to their persistent commitment to sustainability and impactful research.

The ranking, now in its fifth year, is the world’s only one that measures universities’ contributions to the United Nations’ (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and assesses their commitment to sustainability across four broad areas: research, stewardship, outreach and teaching.  

A record 1,705 universities from 115 countries/regions are assessed. Progress is measured for each of the individual 17 SDGs, and across the goals as a whole, which sees 18 universities from 10 countries and regions achieve number one positions. 

Key Highlights

• India’s highest placed university in the overall category for THE’s Impact Rankings is Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham which comes joint 52^nd 
• There are 66 Indian universities in the overall category with nine in the top 400 
• For the individual development goals India does best for SDG 5 – gender equality – with Manipal Academy of Higher Education coming 4^th  
• India has the most universities in the top 100 for SDG 7 – affordable and clean energy, with five, and the Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati is highest in 6^th place 
• World’s only university ranking that measures universities’ contributions to the United Nations’ (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 
• Assesses universities’ commitment to sustainability across four broad areas: research, stewardship, outreach and teaching covering all 17 of the SDGs 
• Indian universities’ progress towards tackling the world’s greatest challenges are laid out in the Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings 2023. 

India’s highest-ranked institution, overall, is Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, which comes joint 52nd. Other Indian universities in the top 300 include Lovely Professional University (Punjab) (101-200) and Shoolini University of Biotechnology and Management Sciences (Himachal Pradesh) (101-200) and KIIT University (Odisha) (201-300). 

Western Sydney University is the overall top university in the world and the UK has the most universities in the overall top 100 with 26.  

Impact Rankings 2023: Top 14 Indian universities in the overall category 

For the individual Sustainable Development Goals, India appears highest for SDG 5 – gender equality – with Manipal Academy of Higher Education coming 4^th.  

India has the most universities in the top 100 in SDG 7 – affordable and clean energy – with five and the Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati is highest, in 6^th place, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences – joint 18^th, Chitkara University – joint 40^th, Shoolini University of Biotechnology and Management Sciences – joint 43^rd and Lovely Professional University in at 77^th. 

India does well for SDG 4 – quality education – with Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham coming 9^th, Manipal Academy of Higher Education in joint 25^th place and B. S. Abdur Rahman Crescent Institute of Science and Technology joint 75^th. 

Three universities from India are in the top 100 for SDG 3 – good health and well being – with JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research coming joint 16^th, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham coming 23^rd and Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research in joint 83^rd position. 

Indian universities highest position in the 17 individual SDGs  

1.       SDG 1 – No poverty: JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research – joint 65^th  

2.       SDG 2 –Zero hunger: Lovely Professional University – 41^st  

3.       SDG 3 – Good health and well being: JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research – joint 16^th  

4.       SDG 4 – Quality education: Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham – 9^th  

5.       SDG 5 – Gender equality: Manipal Academy of Higher Education – 4^th  

6.       SDG 6 – Clean water and sanitation: Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham – joint 24^th  

7.       SDG 7 – Affordable and clean energy: Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati – 6^th  

8.       SDG 8 – Decent work and economic growth: University of Calcutta – joint 52^nd  

9.       SDG 9 – Industry innovation and infrastructure: Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham – 101-200   

10.   SDG 10 – Reduced inequalities: KIIT University – 17^th  

11.   SDG 11 – Sustainable cities and communities: SRM Institute of Science and Technology – 101-200 

12.   SDG 12 – Responsible consumption and production: Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences – joint 44^th  

13.   SDG 13 – Climate action: Shoolini University of Biotechnology and Management Sciences – 101-200  

14.   SDG 14 – Life below water: Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology – 201-300 

15.   SDG 15 – Life on land: Don Bosco University – 101-200 

16.   SDG 16 – Peace, justice and strong institutions: KIIT University – 201-300 

17.   SDG 17 – Partnerships for the goals: Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham – 101-200  

Phil Baty, Chief Knowledge Officer, commented, “The Times Higher Education Impact Rankings, now in its fifth year, is establishing itself as one of the world’s most important university rankings. ”

It moves away from the traditional and more narrow approach to rankings and looks at far broader issues – examining how universities’ are improving our world.   

It’s great to see how well Indian universities are doing – featuring joint 52nd in the overall top 100 and in the top 100 for 10 of the 17 SDGs. It is testament to how seriously those institutions take those critically important goals.  

These rankings are very special – they focus not on traditional and controversial ranking metrics such as research, wealth and prestige, but on more directly real-world challenges around social and economic impact. So many Indian universities have embraced this pioneering new way to understand university excellence and are showing such global leadership on impact. This gives a fresh perspective on the true excellence in the Indian higher education community. 

It is also inspiring to see even more universities participate and see countries that don’t normally rank so highly do so well.  

This is an extremely valuable tool for universities, governments, funders and policymakers to understand how universities are supporting the drive to meet the UN’s SDGs and what must be done to improve their performance even further in this massively important area.  

The rankings are also vital for millions of prospective students who are increasingly demanding to see evidence that the universities they consider for their education are committed to sustainability and to helping them to become sustainably minded citizens.  

Impact Rankings 2023: overall top 10