Page 69 - EW may 2026

has ended the decades-long run at
the top of St. Stephen’s College,
Delhi. With top scores under the
parameters of faculty competence,
curriculum & pedagogy and in-
frastructure, SRCC has bested St.
Stephen’s by a single point. SRCC
and St. Stephen’s are seated at top
table with six Delhi colleges – Lady
Shri Ram at #3, Hindu College
#4, Miranda House #5, Sri Ven-
kateswara College promoted to
#6 (from #8 in 2025-26), Maitreyi
College awarded a big promotion
to #7 (11) and Hansraj #8 (7) — all
affiliated with Delhi University which
presides over 90 affiliated colleges.
Evidently, there is a national percep-
tion that undergrad colleges affiliated
with Delhi University sited in the
national capital right under the nose BRSC, Kolkata’s Dr. Monojit Ray (centre): renewed confidence
of national leaders, receive preferen-
tial treatment and provide superior iting Professor at Ho Chi Minh City, we are doing our best to ensure they
higher education at rock-bottom Vietnam and Kingston University, learn through internships, field trips,
price. Hence the high cut-offs de- London. Nevertheless, she preferred extension activities and co-curricular
manded by Delhi’s prized undergrad to pass up the chance of advertising avocations,” says Ray, an alum of the
institutions. — free-of-charge — her college and Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda
The Top 10 table is completed her own leadership mantra in the Central College and Western Calcutta
by the Barrackpore Rastraguru country’s premier education maga- University who served a long stint as
Surendranth College, Kolkata zine. Hmm… faculty with the Navdeep Vidya Sagar
#8 (9); S.K. Somaiya College of However, Dr. Monojit Ray, College, Kolkata (1999-2016) prior to
Arts & Science, Mumbai #9 (13); principal of the Barrackpore Ras- being appointed principal of BRSC.
Jesus & Mary College, Delhi (9) traguru Surendranath College, Currently, this West Bengal’s #1 non-
and Kirori Mal, Delhi (6) jointly Kolkata — India’s top-ranked non- autonomous ASC college has 4,281
ranked #10 — further testimony of Delhi non-autonomous ASC college students mentored by 143 faculty.
the dominance of Delhi University — had no hesitation about sharing Likewise, Dr. Purushottam
colleges in the EW 2026-27 league the secrets of this vintage (estb.1953) Wadje, an English and economics
table of ASC colleges. institution’s success in a difficult alum of Pune and Kolhapur universi-
Evidently, Prof. Simrit Kaur, environment. ties who was appointed Principal of
principal of this year’s top-ranked “We are exhilarated by our promo- the S.K. Somaiya College of Arts,
Shri Ram College of Commerce is tion to India #8 and consolidation of Science & Commerce, Mumbai
so immersed in deep scholarship or our West Bengal #1 ranking. This has (SKSCASC) in 2023, is delighted with
invested with poor life skills — take instilled a sentiment of confidence in the college’s promotion from #13 in
your pick — that despite a rain of our faculty to take on new challenges 2025-26 to Top 10 (#9) this year.
email and telephone messages to and opportunities. In particular, we “We are deeply honoured by this
celebrate SRCC’s historic promo- are delighted with our high scores recognition, especially being Maha-
tion to India’s #1 ASC college, she under the parameters of faculty com- rashtra #1 among non-autonomous
failed to respond to a brief emailed petence and career readiness. This is ASC colleges. It is public recognition
questionnaire or requests for a tel- proof that our always-learning faculty of our continuous effort to provide
ephonic interview to share the secret is succeeding in making our students quality education, develop critical
of SRCC’s success. This despite her future-ready by equipping them with thinking, and nurture socially respon-
impressive profile on the college’s the ability to think critically, com- sible graduates. It’s great motivation
website proclaiming that she has a municate efficiently, and making to take the lead to strengthen Maha-
Masters in economics and Ph D from them aware of the value of teamwork rashtra’s higher education ecosystem.
unspecified universities and is a Vis- and professionalism. In this regard, As per the mandate of NEP 2020,

MAY 2026 EDUCATIONWORLD 69