Top Universities in India 2024: Zone-Wise, Along with China and the US, India has one of the largest higher education systems in the world, and it is particularly well-known for its engineering schools. In 1961, the nation’s parliament designated technical institutions as “institutes of national importance,” which aided the then-recently founded universities in expanding and establishing their reputations.
With a population of more than 1.3 billion people, India is the youngest country (more than 65% of people in the country are youth). So, providing better education is the most important task that this country needs to finish to grow as a country, put itself out of the list of developing countries, and finally achieve the tag of a developed country. The top universities in India have the responsibility to do so.
The latest changes in the educational framework and curriculum imposed by the National Education Policy (NEP-2020) were made while considering the modern world’s growth and needs. Not only with its population, India is the 7th largest country in the world by geographical area. The huge geographical location has people residing in every part of it, and to provide them with the best quality of higher education, the government is trying to make top universities in every corner of India.
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India is widely divided into Six zones, North Zone, South Zone, East Zone, West Zone, North East Zone and Central Zone. So in this article, we will go through each zone and try to find the top universities in India in every zone, along with their specialties, facilities, and more.
Top Universities in North India
Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, & Madhya Pradesh-Central Zone are northern Indian states that have consistently outperformed other states in terms of the quality of their entire higher education system. Top private universities in South India have developed a standard in this area that is now followed by universities across the country. In the areas of engineering, IT, the arts, medicine, law, management, and commerce, India is home to a large number of reputable universities, institutions, and elite colleges. Best-in-class research, education, and higher education systems are hallmarks of top private universities in north India.
The list of the top universities in North India is mentioned in the table below.
| North Zone Universities | State | Zone | Zone Rank |
| Ashoka University | Haryana | North | 1 |
| Shiv Nadar University | Uttar Pradesh | North | 2 |
| AMITY University | Uttar Pradesh | North | 3 |
| Chitkara University | Punjab | North | 4 |
| O.P. Jindal Global University | Haryana | North | 5 |
| Shoolini University | Himachal Pradesh | North | 6 |
| Chandigarh University | Punjab | North | 7 |
| BML Munjal University | Haryana | North | 8 |
| ICFAI University | Rajasthan | North | 9 |
| Sikkim Manipal University | Sikkim | North East | 1 |
| ICFAI University | Uttarakhand | North | 10 |
| University of Petroleum and Energy Studies – UPES | Uttarakhand | North | 11 |
| Lovely Professional University | Punjab | North | 12 |
| AMITY University | Haryana | North | 13 |
| Bennett University | Uttar Pradesh | North | 13 |
| Galgotias University | Uttar Pradesh | North | 14 |
| SRM University | Haryana | North | 15 |
| AMITY University | Rajasthan | North | 16 |
| NIIT University – NU | Rajasthan | North | 16 |
| Jaypee University of Information Technology | Himachal Pradesh | North | 17 |
| Sharda University | Uttar Pradesh | North | 18 |
| Sangam University | Rajasthan | North | 19 |
| Integral University | Uttar Pradesh | North | 20 |
| G.D. Goenka University | Haryana | North | 20 |
| Martin Luther Christian University | Meghalaya | North East | 2 |
| Uttaranchal University | Uttarakhand | North | 21 |
| Chitkara University | Himachal Pradesh | North | 22 |
| William Carey University | Meghalaya | North East | 3 |
| Jayoti Vidyapeeth Women’s University | Rajasthan | North | 23 |
| GLA University | Uttar Pradesh | North | 24 |
| St. Joseph University | Nagaland | North East | 4 |
| Teerthanker Mahaveer University | Uttar Pradesh | North | 25 |
| The Institute of Chartered Financial Analysts of India University | Sikkim | North East | 5 |
| Sir Padampat Singhania University | Rajasthan | North | 26 |
| J. K. Lakshmipat University | Rajasthan | North | 27 |
| Mody University of Science and Technology, Lakshmangarh | Rajasthan | North | 28 |
| Manav Rachna University | Haryana | North | 29 |
| Poornima University | Rajasthan | North | 30 |
| IIHMR University | Rajasthan | North | 31 |
| ICFAI University | Himachal Pradesh | North | 32 |
| Assam Don Bosco University | Assam | North East | 6 |
| Babu Banarasi Das University | Uttar Pradesh | North | 33 |
| Techno Global University | Meghalaya | North East | 7 |
| The NorthCap University | Haryana | North | 34 |
| Mewar University | Rajasthan | North | 35 |
| Dev Sanskriti Vishwavidyalaya | Uttarakhand | North | 36 |
| Manipal University | Rajasthan | North | 36 |
| Manav Bharti University | Himachal Pradesh | North | 37 |
| Jigyasa University (Formerly Himgiri Zee University) | Uttarakhand | North | 38 |
| Arni University | Himachal Pradesh | North | 39 |
Top Universities in South India
The knowledge center of India is thought to be in southern India. It has been producing the most qualified management graduates for many years. The southern region maintains its standing as the nation’s high-tech hub, which helps to make management studies knowledge a complete and useful experience. In comparison to Northern India, South India has a higher rate of literacy, giving it a stronger argument for pursuing higher education. South India has various universities listed among the top ranked universities in India. A climate that promotes better education is now possible thanks to Karnataka. Additionally, it ensures harmony among people, society, institutions, and nature. The colleges collaborate with the business world to give their students a realistic understanding of the sector. Due to the high concentration of commercial sectors there, people are encouraged to focus more on their careers than their industries.
The list of the top universities in South India is mentioned in the table below.
| South Zone Universities | State | Zone | Zone Rank |
| Shri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara University | Karnataka | South | 1 |
| Azim Premji University | Karnataka | South | 2 |
| Dayananda Sagar University | Karnataka | South | 3 |
| JSS Science and Technology University | Karnataka | South | 4 |
| CMR University | Karnataka | South | 5 |
| Alliance University | Karnataka | South | 6 |
| PES University | Karnataka | South | 7 |
| M.S. Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences | Karnataka | South | 8 |
| Woxsen University | Telangana | South | 9 |
| Presidency University | Karnataka | South | 10 |
| Mahindra University | Telangana | South | 11 |
| RV University | Karnataka | South | 12 |
| Aditya University | Andhra Pradesh | South | 13 |
| Garden City University | Karnataka | South | 14 |
Top Universities in East India
India’s eastern region is renowned for its diverse cultures and scenic landscapes. Numerous colleges and universities that provide top-notch education to students from all over India and abroad are located there. These institutions of higher learning provide undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs in a range of subject areas, including engineering, the sciences, the humanities, the arts, and business.
The list of the top universities in East India is mentioned in the table below.
| East Zone Universities | State | Zone | Zone Rank |
| XIM University | Odisha | East | 1 |
| Sri Sri University | Odisha | East | 2 |
| ADAMAS University | West Bengal | East | 3 |
| Sikkim Manipal University | Sikkim | North East | 1 |
| Brainware University | West Bengal | East | 4 |
| Martin Luther Christian University | Meghalaya | North East | 2 |
| William Carey University | Meghalaya | North East | 3 |
| St. Joseph University | Nagaland | North East | 4 |
| The Institute of Chartered Financial Analysts of India University | Sikkim | North East | 5 |
| AMITY University | West Bengal | East | 5 |
| Assam Don Bosco University | Assam | North East | 6 |
| Techno Global University | Meghalaya | North East | 7 |
| University of Science & Technology | Meghalaya | North East | 8 |
| Assam Down Town University | Assam | North East | 9 |
| The Indira Gandhi Technological & Medical Sciences University | Arunachal Pradesh | North East | 10 |
| The Assam Kaziranga University | Assam | North East | 11 |
| Centurion University of Technology and Management | Odisha | East | 6 |
| Techno India University | West Bengal | East | 7 |
| AMITY University | Bihar | East | 8 |
| Usha Martin University | Jharkhand | East | 9 |
| AMITY University | Jharkhand | East | 10 |
| Mahatma Gandhi University | Meghalaya | North East | 12 |
| North East Frontier Technical University | Arunachal Pradesh | North East | 13 |
| Apex Professional University | Arunachal Pradesh | North East | 14 |
| JIS University | West Bengal | East | 11 |
| Himalayan University | Arunachal Pradesh | North East | 15 |
| Arunachal University of Studies | Arunachal Pradesh | North East | 16 |
| Seacom Skills University | West Bengal | East | 12 |
| Arunodaya University | Arunachal Pradesh | North East | 17 |
| University of Engineering and Management | West Bengal | East | 13 |
| The Assam Royal Global University | Assam | North East | 18 |
| The Neotia University | West Bengal | East | 14 |
| Birla Global University | Odisha | East | 15 |
| Shri Ramasamy Memorial University | Sikkim | North East | 19 |
| North Eastern Regional Institute of Science & Technology, Itanagar | Arunachal Pradesh | North East | – |
Top Universities in West India
The western part of India has numerous universities, and they have the capacity and access to a modern education system. The residents of the west part of India do not need to move out of their home location just to receive quality education, as they have their own top notch education system. Some of the top universities in India are located in the west zone. Students can choose the best institutions for their higher education in Gujarat, Mumbai, Pune, and many more places in western India. Many IITs, IIMs, and Central Universities are located in the western states of India. Read: Top Engineering Colleges in India: Rankings
The list of the top universities in West India is mentioned in the table below.
| West Zone Universities | State | Zone | Zone Rank |
| DA-IICT | Gujarat | West | 1 |
| Nirma University | Gujarat | West | 2 |
| Ahmedabad University | Gujarat | West | 3 |
| Centre for Environmental Planning and Technology University | Gujarat | West | 4 |
| Flame University | Maharashtra | West | 5 |
| Navrachana University | Gujarat | West | 6 |
| MIT Art, Design & Technology University | Maharashtra | West | 7 |
| Ganpat University | Gujarat | West | 8 |
| Pandit Deendayal Energy University | Gujarat | West | 9 |
| Karnavati University | Gujarat | West | 10 |
| AMITY University | Maharashtra | West | 11 |
| Parul University | Gujarat | West | 12 |
| Ajeenkya D Y Patil University | Maharashtra | West | 13 |
| AURO University (Surat) | Gujarat | West | 14 |
| Indus University | Gujarat | West | 15 |
| Institute of Advanced Research | Gujarat | West | 16 |
| TeamLease Skills University | Gujarat | West | 17 |
| Rai University | Gujarat | West | 18 |
| C.U. Shah University | Gujarat | West | 19 |
| Charotar University of Science & Technology | Gujarat | West | 20 |
| Spicer Adventist University | Maharashtra | West | 21 |
| GLS University | Gujarat | West | 22 |
| GSFC University | Gujarat | West | 23 |
Students in a country like India face huge competition while chasing their dream university because of a huge population that makes it impossible for everyone to get admission to the top universities in India. So for that reason, the zonal ranking and the top universities in each zone are favorable options for them to get enrolled and receive the best quality of education.
Also Read:
Top Universities in India
Top MBA Colleges in India
Top Engineering Colleges in India