Page 70 - EW may 2026

Cover Story EW India Non-Autonomous ASC Colleges Rankings 2026-27

private institutions prejudice in the
NIRF rankings. Nevertheless, readers
enamoured of official rankings are
also provided an option to note NIRF
rankings.
Moreover, it’s also important to
note that non-autonomous, i.e. gov-
ernment controlled colleges, that are
often modestly ranked in the national
table may well be heavyweights in
their host states some of whom are as
large and populous as most European
countries. Therefore as noted above
the S.K. Somaiya Arts & Science
College, Mumbai which is ranked
#9 in India is #1 in Maharashtra
(pop.129 million). Similarly, Bishop
Cotton Women’s College, Ben-
SKSCASC, Mumbai’s Dr. Purushottam Wadje (centre): industry-linked curricula galuru, India #13 is #1 in Karnataka
(pop.68.5 million); Arya Mahila
we are actively preparing for greater Brabourne College, Kolkata pro- PG College, Varanasi ranked
academic autonomy in a phased and moted to #15 (from #32 in 2025-26); India #16 is #1 in Uttar Pradesh
sustainable manner,” says Wadje. PCM SD College for Women, Ja- (pop.241 million) and Sunbeam
In particular, Wadje is pleased landhar #16 (25); Ghanshyamdas Women’s College, Varanasi,
with the high above-rank score Saraf College, Mumbai #17 (29); India #20 is #2 in UP.
awarded to SKSCASC under the Rosary College of Commerce & Readers should also note that
parameter of career readiness. “I Arts, Goa #19 (30); Ayurvedic & we have ranked a mere 121 of the
am well aware of the countrywide Unani Tibbia College, Delhi #19 country’s most well-reputed of the
problem of unemployed graduates. In (23); Seshadripuram College, country’s 51,000 non-autonomous
SKSCASC, we address this problem Bengaluru #20 (26) and Sunbeam colleges. There may well be some
through industry-linked curricula, Women’s College, Varanasi #20 islands of academic excellence that
internships, skill development initia- (34). we have inadvertently omitted. If so
tives, and career readiness programs An additional feature of the an- please draw our attention to them
to prepare our students for a rapidly nual EWIHER is that for purposes and/or request them to complete and
changing jobs market. Our focus is on of comparison, we also provide the submit the nomination form on our
encouraging faculty to engage with NIRF — National Institutional Rank- website (www.educationworld.in).
industry through internships and ings Framework — rankings of the A last word of caution to India’s
live projects, and by systematically Union education ministry. Readers youth. The days when a mere col-
involving trained industry profes- are invited to note the huge differ- lege/university degree was sufficient
sionals within the academic frame- ence in the EWIHER and NIRF rank- qualification for employment are
work. The objective is to ensure that ings bearing in mind that the latter gone. Therefore, school-leavers
students acquire conceptual clarity are based upon self-submitted data should choose undergrad colleges
and hands-on experience.This bal- of HEIs which are seldom audited. after due care and diligence. And
anced approach not only enhances Your editors have often commented even after admission, should apply
leadership capabilities but, more im- on the opacity and self-evident anti- themselves earnestly in the quest for
portantly, enables us to consistently new knowledge creation and ap-
develop graduates who are confident An additional feature of the plication. The daunting statistic that
and competent,” adds Wadje. 40 percent of graduates entering
Beyond the Top 10, several annual EWIHER is that for the country’s increasingly complex
undergrad ASC colleges have made purposes of comparison, we and rapidly changing jobs market
spectacular advances into the EW also provide NIRF rankings are unemployed for over 12 months
Top 20 league table of India’s most is a warning that real, self-driven
admired non-autonomous Arts, Sci- of the Union education academic and life skills learning must
ence and Commerce Colleges 2026- ministry happen in India’s best colleges and
27 league table. Among them: Lady universities.

70 EDUCATIONWORLD MAY 2026