India's diversity not reflected in global rankings: Smriti Irani

Fielding criticism on Indian varsities and research institutes not making the cut in global rankings, union Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani on Sunday asserted India's diversity is not reflected in the rankings.

"There is a reason behind that. In India, the research is conducted in different languages but international ranking agencies given importance to research in English.

"Very few people know how to patent technologies and publish in international journals.

"But international ranking agencies consider those publications that are carried in international journals," Irani said here at a seminar on new education policy.

She said another parameter considered by international ranking agencies the number of foreign students enrolled in the varsity.

Downplaying the "hungama (debate) that erupts on India not figuring in international rankings", Irani said India is a country of diversity and it has its own temperament and speciality which is "not reflected in international rankings many times".

"This doesn't mean our standard of education is low," she said.

Irani averred Indians have proved their might in fields such as medicine, engineering and IT sector.

She said the National Ranking Framework will become important in the coming days to assess ranking and accreditation of institutes.