India Soars in QS World University Rankings with Record Performance

India has marked a significant milestone in the QS World University Rankings 2026, with 54 of its institutions earning a spot on the esteemed list. This marks a staggering 390% increase over the past decade and represents the most substantial growth among G20 nations. The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi emerged as the top-ranked Indian institution, climbing to 123rd position worldwide, a notable leap from last year's 150th place.

Following closely were IIT Bombay at 129th and IIT Madras at 180th, with IIT Madras breaking into the global top 200 for the first time. The rankings, compiled by the global education analysts QS (Quacquarelli Symonds), evaluated over 1,500 universities spanning across 106 countries and territories. With this performance, India now stands as the fourth most represented country, trailing only the United States, the United Kingdom, and Mainland China.

Jessica Turner, CEO of QS, highlighted that India's achievement is propelled by enhancements in areas such as Employer Reputation, Citations per Faculty, and Sustainability. Despite these strides, the International Student Ratio remains a weak spot, with 78% of Indian institutions showing a decline. No Indian universities currently rank in the global top 500 for attracting foreign students, underscoring a major gap in internationalisation. Amity University in Noida ranks highest among Indian institutions in this aspect at 540th, indicating room for growth.

(With inputs from agencies.)