Ministry of Earth Sciences underscores critical role of India's vast marine resources
Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) has launched a white paper titled "Transforming India's Blue Economy: Investment, Innovation and Sustainable Growth" in collaboration with its strategic knowledge partner. As the nodal agency for the implementation of the Blue Economy in India, MoES, has been actively working towards enhancing the visibility and effective implementation of blue economy initiatives across the nation. This white paper builds upon these efforts by providing a consolidated framework that aligns government actions, fosters cross-sectoral synergies, and promotes greater investment to unlock the vast potential of India's ocean resources for sustainable and economic development.
The report underscores the critical role of India's vast marine resources, including its extensive coastline and Exclusive Economic Zone, as a vital engine for national progress. It highlights the collaborative efforts of 25 ministries, alongside coastal state and union territory initiatives, in driving sustainable growth across various ocean-related sectors. The report builds upon India's G20 Presidency commitments and the Chennai High-Level Principles for a Sustainable and Resilient Blue Economy, further solidifying its importance within the Viksit Bharat vision for 2047.
While acknowledging significant sectoral progress, the white paper emphasises the need for a unified and coordinated approach to overcome existing challenges. It identifies key impediments to growth, limited data sharing, low private investment, and technology gaps, particularly in emerging areas like offshore wind and deep-sea exploration. It highlights pragmatic interventions and highlights scalable and replicable models from across India, including women-led seaweed farming, smart port development, and green ship recycling, demonstrating the potential for achieving both economic growth and environmental sustainability.
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Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Hindustan Times
‘We understand, our expectation is more': Iranian diplomat on India's stand
NEW DELHI: Iran expects India to condemn 'aggression by Israel' to uphold the principle of sovereignty of countries and international law and to prevent similar actions in other parts of the world, a senior Iranian diplomat said on Friday. Emergency personnel work at an impact site following Iran's missile strike on Israel, amid the Iran-Israel conflict, in Haifa, Israel, June 20. (REUTERS) Against the backdrop of reports that the US is making an outreach to Pakistan for support for possible American strikes on Iran, Mohammad Javad Hosseini, deputy chief of mission at the Iranian embassy, told reporters that Pakistan should stand with Iran in the face of Israel's aggression. 'We believe every country, including India, should condemn this aggression, not because of Iran or because of this conflict, but because it will open the way for other countries who [want] to attack a neighbour on some baseless allegations,' Hosseini said. 'If you don't condemn it, you are giving them an incentive.' Also Read: Iran eases airspace restrictions for 3 Indian charter flights India's actions should be in keeping with its role as the voice of the Global South at key forums such as the G20 and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). 'Our expectation is this voice [will take this issue] not as a matter of bilateral relations with Iran and Israel, but to condemn this aggression, so that international law is respected and everybody knows that if there is any aggression, there will be punishment,' Hosseini said. Iran's deputy chief of mission to India Mohammad Javad Hosseini addresses a press conference, in New Delhi, Friday (PTI) India has sought to take a balanced position on the Iran-Israel conflict because of its close relations with both countries. The Indian government has urged both sides to return to dialogue and diplomacy and insisted a solution cannot be found on the battlefield. India also disassociated itself from a recent SCO statement that condemned Israel's military strikes on Iran. Also Read: The prospect of a wider war | HT Editorial Asked if Iran is disappointed with India's stance, Hosseini replied: 'No, we can say that it is not a matter of disappointment, that we understand. But our expectation is more.' Hosseini said Iran appreciated India's stance of having good relations with Iran and Israel, especially in the context of the SCO statement. 'We have told them it isn't a matter of the Iran-Israel conflict, it's a matter of aggression against a sovereign country, it's a matter of blatant violation of international law, which should be condemned no matter who prepared this plan,' he said. He responded to questions about the US seeking Pakistan's support for possible American strikes on Iran, especially after a meeting this week between US President Donald Trump and Pakistan Army chief Asim Munir, by saying that he hoped Islamabad will stand with Tehran. 'I hope Pakistan won't go for that and will stand with Iran against Israeli aggression,' he said. 'We are in contact with Pakistani officials, they know our stance and they understand us well,' Hosseini said. 'And we hope the decision which is going to be made at the end will be to stand with Iran, to stand with the truth and condemn the aggressors [and] not to give some incentive to the aggressors.' The US, Hosseini said, is engaged in a 'psychological war' against Iran, which is prepared for all scenarios. 'It is a conflict between Iran and Israel, and it's better for a third party not to enter it. If it enters, it would definitely become more complicated and it will have very bad consequences for that third party,' he said.
The Hindu
a day ago
- The Hindu
QS 2026 rankings: Reputation of Indian graduates among employers, faculty citations boost Indian HEIs
In the QS 2026 edition, 54 Indian institutions were listed, a significant increase from 46 in 2025 and 45 in 2024. This represents a substantial 390% increase from just 11 ranked universities in 2014, positioning India as the fastest-growing higher education system among G20 countries. India is now the fourth most represented nation globally, trailing only the United States (192), the United Kingdom (90), and Mainland China (72). The inclusion of eight new Indian universities in the 2026 edition, more than any other country, further underscores a broader institutional momentum within the nation's higher education sector. While the total number of ranked institutions has increased, number of Indian universities in the global top 500 in 2026 dropped marginally from 12 in 2025 to 11 in 2026. India demonstrated unique strengths in areas such as Employer Reputation and Citations per Faculty, where its average scores surpass those of several established higher education systems like the U.K. and U.S. Despite these strengths, India lags significantly in attracting international students, a critical component of global competitiveness. QS Ranking methodology QS 2026 ranking framework assesses universities across five broad lenses: Research and Discovery (50%), Employability and Outcomes (20%), Learning Experience (10%), Global Engagement (15%), and Sustainability (5%). Academic Reputation and Citations per Faculty constitute the indicators of Research and Discovery, whereas Employer Reputation and Employment Outcomes i.e. employability of the graduates are the indicators for Employability and Outcomes. Learning Experience reflects the overall learning environment and support provided to students. Global Engagement captures the internationalisation efforts of higher education institutions, including their global outlook in terms of foreign students, staff, and research collaborations. Sustainability was introduced in 2024, which provides insight into institutions' commitment to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors, including the impact of academic research on Sustainable Development Goals. Top performers in 2026 A total of three institutions ranked among the top 200, which include IIT Delhi, IIT Bombay, and IIT Madras. About 10 institutions ranked among the top 500, which include nine centrally funded institutions and one state government institution, Anna University IIT Delhi achieved its best-ever showing at a joint 123rd position globally, marking a consistent climb from 150th in 2025 and 197th in 2024. This steady rise is attributed to strong scores in key indicators, including Employer Reputation (50th globally), Citations per Faculty (86th), Academic Reputation (142nd), and Sustainability (172nd). While IIT Bombay experienced a slight slip to 129th this year from its all-time best rank of 118 in 2025. IIT Madras recorded one of the most dramatic improvements, leaping 47 places to reach the 180th spot, marking its first entry into the global top 200. Other institutions demonstrating strong performance include IIT Kharagpur (215), IISc Bangalore (219), and IIT Kanpur (222). Non-IITs in top 500 include Delhi University (328) and Anna University (465). Break-up of the institutions ranked in 2026 Central government-funded institutions, particularly the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), consistently serve as the primary drivers of India's performance in the QS top 500 rankings, with the lion's share of 12 out of 13. However, share of private institutions is substantial, with about 40% in 2026. Not only that, seven out of eight new entrants in 2026 are the private ones. The increasing number of private institutions not only participating but also significantly improving their positions in the QS rankings points to a fundamental and dynamic shift in India's higher education landscape. Comparative Strengths of Indian Institutions India demonstrated a commendable performance in Employer Reputation, with an average score of 24.9, ahead of China (23.7), Finland (23.1), and France (21.5). This suggests that Indian graduates are highly regarded by employers. India also exhibited a strong showing in research impact. Its average Citations per Faculty score of 43.7 places it ahead of Germany (41.6), the U.K. (39.2), the U.S. (38.1), and Ireland (36.8). This highlights the increasing quality and recognition of research originating from Indian institutions. Areas of relative weaknesses A substantial 78% of Indian universities experienced a decline with regard to International Students Ratio, and no Indian institution ranks within the global top 500 for attracting international students. India faces a structural challenge with regard to Faculty-Student Ratio, with only O. P. Jindal Global University, being an outlier in the global top 350. The U.K., with an average score of 26.7, also lags behind top performers like Norway (73.7), Switzerland (63.8), and Sweden (61.8), suggesting that resource allocation for teaching staff remains a challenge for many nations. India is showing promising performance in sustainability, outperforming China and Brazil in Knowledge Exchange, Environmental Sustainability, and Environmental Research. However, it lags behind South Africa in overall sustainability impact. Conclusion An analysis of Indian institutions' performance in the QS World University Rankings in the last three years reveals significant growth in their global engagement, marked by a substantial increase in the number of ranked institutions and notable improvements in key performance indicators, particularly in research and employer reputation. The evolving landscape, characterised by the continued dominance of central institutions and the dynamic emergence of private players, underscores a diversifying and maturing higher education ecosystem. However, in order to improve its global standing, it has to enhance internationalisation initiatives to attract more foreign students, while continuing to leverage its existing strengths in research output, impact, and employer reputation. (Dr. O R S Rao is the Chancellor of the ICFAI University, Sikkim.)
India Today
a day ago
- India Today
India gains momentum in QS world university rankings as new institutions make global debut
India has recorded its strongest performance yet in the QS World University Rankings 2026, with 54 institutions now featured — a fivefold increase from just 11 in 2015. What makes this year especially notable is the entry of eight Indian universities into the global rankings for the first time, the highest number of debutants from any cohort includes a mix of promising private and public institutions: IIT Gandhinagar, Galgotias University, Ashoka University, Shiv Nadar University, CHRIST (Deemed to be University), LPU, Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology, and Manav Rachna International Institute of Research and Studies (MRIIRS). Their inclusion signals a clear shift — global recognition is no longer limited to legacy institutions but is expanding to next-gen universities focused on innovation, industry alignment, and global research total of 54 universities are featured this year making India the fourth most represented country, after the United States, the United Kingdom and China. The rise has been swift and steady. From just 11 ranked institutions in 2015, India has recorded a remarkable five-fold increase over the decade. This makes India the fastest-rising G20 nation in the rankings. This year's results reflect a growing global appreciation for India's academic strength. Indian universities are earning recognition for their quality, research output and contribution to global on Galgotias University getting ranked 15th among top private universities and 43rd among all Indian universities, Dr. Dhruv Galgotia, CEO of Galgotias University said, 'This is a proud moment for Galgotias University. Breaking into the QS Rankings is a reflection of our commitment to world-class education, cutting-edge research, and holistic development of our students. We dedicate this achievement to our outstanding faculty, students, and partners who continue to push the boundaries of excellence.'advertisementHighlights for Indian institutions from QS World University Ranking 2026Only the United States (192), the United Kingdom (90), and Mainland China (72) have more universities ranked than India.48 percent of India's ranked universities improved their positions compared to the previous Indian institutions feature in the global top Delhi leads the Indian contingent. It is ranked 123rd globally, rising from 150th in Madras recorded one of the biggest jumps, rising 47 places from 227 in 2025 to 180 in 2026.A total of 12 Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) feature in the list, highlighting their strong presence in global academia. Five Indian institutions feature in the global top 100 for Employer Reputation. This reflects strong industry confidence in Indian Indian universities rank among the world's top 100 for Citations per Faculty. Their average score of 43.7 is higher than that of Germany, the United Kingdom and the United now has a diverse mix of public and private institutions represented, including central universities, deemed-to-be universities, and technical institutes. The QS World University Rankings 2026 are among the most credible global assessments, drawing data from over 16 million research papers and feedback from 151,000 academics and 100,000 employers. This year introduces a new metric—International Student Diversity—and refined scoring for sharper presence in the rankings has never been stronger. With 54 institutions featured and eight making their debut, India is now the fourth most represented country. The surge in Indian institutions featuring in the list reflects the impact of the National Education Policy 2020, enhanced research focus, and growing global partnerships. The rise of both legacy institutions and emerging private universities signals a broader shift with India steadily positioning itself as a global hub for high-quality, future-ready education. Must Watch
