Page 60 - EW may 2026

Cover Story EW Government Autonomous ASC College Rankings 2026-27

in societal impact and a scientific
temper,” says Dr. Anamika Jain,
principal, Government Holkar
(Model Autonomous) Science
College, which has 13,651 students
and 275 faculty on its muster rolls.
Dr. S. Vanathi, Principal of the
Sri Meenakshi Govt Arts College
for Women (SMGACW, estb.1965),
Madurai, is also satisfied with the
college’s consistent Top 5 ranking
and good scores under the param-
eters of career readiness/placement
and infrastructure.
“We are honoured to be ranked
India #5 for the second consecu-
tive year. SMGACW has earned an
excellent reputation for providing
inclusive, values-based and job- Holkar College, Indore’s Dr. Anamika Jain: model modern autonomous institution
oriented education, particularly to
first-generation women learners. Our job fairs and provide career guidance ladevi Satishchandra Agar-
top priority is to ensure our students support. We have also availed the wal Government First Grade
acquire the academic knowledge and Central government’s RUSA funds to College, Bellary is ranked #6 (7)
skills to be industry-ready and suc- develop laboratories, hostels, class- followed by the Sarojini Naidu
cessful in the workplace. Therefore I rooms, and digital resources, which Government Girls PG College,
am especially pleased with our high explains our high score under the Bhopal at #7 (7), Yuvaraja’s
score under the parameter of career parameter of infrastructure. A major College, Mysuru at #8 (8) and
readiness and placements. This is achievement is our students’ excel- Government College, Ananta-
recognition that we have introduced lent performance in sports and NCC pur (Andhra Pradesh) at #9 (9).
communication skill development events at the university, national, The Top 10 table is completed by
programmes, launched a data sci- and international levels, reflecting Government Thakur Ranmat
ence course in collaboration with our all-round education focus,” says Singh College, Rewa (MP) which
IIT-Madras, established centres in Vanathi. Currently, SMGACW has an has made a great leap forward from
collaboration with industry, such as enrolment of 4,525 students men- #18 in 2025-26 to the Top 10 table
the HP Centre of Excellence and the tored by 203 faculty. this year.
ICT Academy, and regularly organise Beyond top table, Smt. Sar- This year’s 83-strong league table
of government autonomous colleges
SMGACW, Madurai’s Dr. Vanathi (centre left): high career readiness/placements score
is dominated by institutions nur-
tured by the governments of Madhya
Pradesh, Telangana, Odisha, Karna-
taka and Tamil Nadu. The populous
states of West Bengal, Maharashtra,
Gujarat, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh
don’t host sufficiently reputed gov-
ernment autonomous colleges (in-
stitutions evaluated by less than 25
sample respondents are eliminated
from the EW rankings) for inclu-
sion in the league table of India’s
Best Government Autonomous ASC
Colleges 2026-27. That’s not a good
augury for national development.

With Reshma Ravishanker
& Aditi Maheshwari

60 EDUCATIONWORLD MAY 2026