Panjab University slips from rank 4 to 9 in India in rankings based on research citations

Panjab University (PU), Chandigarh, has slipped from rank 4 to 9 in India in Netherlands-based Leiden University Rankings 2017 in the category of proportion of papers among the top 10% most frequently cited for any institution. IIT Delhi tops the chart, followed by IIT Roorkee and Annamalai University. The Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) in Chandigarh, has been ranked19 and AIIMS 20 in the list.  

Methodology

The rankings, released on May 17, were based on citations of research papers from 2012-2015 in web of science database for 902 institutions around the world.

Fractional counting was used, which gave less weightage to the collaborative publications than non-collaborative ones. The citations were counted until the end of 2016. They were then compiled by the Centre for Science and Technology Studies at Leiden University in the Netherlands. The first edition of rankings came in 2007.

Ranking in 3 categories

In 2017 edition of rankings, PU has 7% of its publications among the 10% of most cited publications while PGIMER has 4.5%. In the 2016 edition of rankings, PU had 7.4% of its publications among the 10% of the most cited publications while PGIMER had 4.4%.

If the proportion of papers among the 1% of most cited publications is calculated, then PU comes at 13th rank with 0.4% of its publications falling under this category while IIT Roorkee tops the chart followed by Banaras Hindu University (BHU). PU was at 13th place in 2016 as well under this category.

In the category of proportion of papers among the 50% of most cited publications, PU comes at the 6th place with 46.1% of its publications and PGIMER is at 19th rank. IIT Delhi, however, bags the top position under this category. Meanwhile, in life sciences, PU tops the list in the country in 2017 edition.    

Research papers through collaboration

PU tops in percentage of papers produced in collaboration with others as it comes to 69.1% followed by Jadavpur University (67%) and Delhi University (66%). In 2016 also, PU was on the top with 68.4% of its publications in collaboration.

If the research papers are further classified in international collaboration, then PU is at second place while Aligarh Muslim University tops the chart. In 2016, PU was on the top.

In collaborated papers with industry, PU lags behind and comes at the 14th place in 2017 rankings while Vellore Institute of Technology tops.

PU professor Rajat Sandhir said, “In spite of all odds, we are doing good in research in sciences. It feels great to be a part of top institutes of this country. We need to keep it up.”

Without fractional counting

If the fractional counting is not used, then PU tops in the country under the categories of proportion of papers in the top 10% and 50% most cited papers. However, in the top 1% most cited papers, it comes at number 3.