QS World University Rankings 2026: IIT Delhi leads the way, see the full list of Indian universities and their rankings
India makes biggest leap in QS World Rankings 2026, IIT Delhi leads at 123rd. (Getty Images)
QS World Rankings 2026:
India has recorded its most robust presence yet in the QS World University Rankings 2026, with a total of 54 institutions making the list. This marks a significant rise from 46 universities in 2025 and 45 in 2024.
The 390% increase from just 11 ranked universities in 2014 positions India as the fastest-growing higher education system among G20 nations. It also ranks India as the fourth most represented country in the global rankings, behind the U.S., UK, and China.
This upward trajectory reflects a growing focus on improving the quality and international visibility of Indian higher education institutions. However, while the quantity of ranked universities is increasing, India continues to face challenges in aspects critical to global competitiveness, such as international student diversity and faculty resources.
Top performers and rising stars
At the forefront of India's academic success is the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT Delhi), which climbed to a joint 123rd position with Georgia Institute of Technology, USA — its best-ever ranking. In previous years, IIT Delhi was ranked 150th in 2025 and 197th in 2024, showing steady improvement. This rise is underpinned by strong scores in employer reputation (ranked 50th globally), citations per faculty (86th), and academic reputation (142nd), reflecting growing recognition among employers and peers alike.
IIT Bombay remains among the top Indian universities, holding the 129th spot despite slipping from its all-time best rank of 118 last year. The institution scores particularly well for employer reputation, ranked 39th worldwide. Another notable highlight is IIT Madras, which leapt 47 places to break into the global top 200 for the first time, now positioned at 180th. This represents one of the most significant ranking improvements in 2026.
Other prominent Indian universities in the global top 500 include IIT Kharagpur (215), Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bangalore (219), and IIT Kanpur (222). Additionally, prestigious non-IIT institutions such as Delhi University (328) and Anna University (465) continue to maintain respectable positions.
Rank
University
Location
Overall Score
Citations per Faculty
Academic Reputation
123
Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IITD)
New Delhi
65.5
93.1
67.9
129
Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IITB)
Mumbai
64.8
82.9
73
180
Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IITM)
Chennai
58.4
90.2
57
215
Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur (IIT-KGP)
Kharagpur
54.5
97
43
219
Indian Institute of Science
Bangalore
54.2
99.9
56.6
222
Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IITK)
Kanpur
54
84.1
49.4
334
Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IITG)
Guwahati
42.3
96.9
25.4
339
Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee (IITR)
Roorkee
42.2
96.6
26.8
556
Indian Institute of Technology Indore
Indore
30
97
8
566
Indian Institute of Technology BHU Varanasi
Varanasi
29.3
98
9.3
664
Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad (IITH)
Sangareddy
26.4
84
10.3
691
Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT)
Vellore
25
34.3
20.5
801-850
Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar (IITGN)
Gandhinagar
n/a
53.2
7
851-900
Manipal Academy of Higher Education
Manipal
n/a
9.7
14.7
951-1000
Indian Institute of Technology Bhubaneswar
Bhubaneswar
n/a
55.6
5
1401+
Indian Institute of Information Technology, Allahabad
Prayagraj
n/a
27.5
4
Ongoing challenges in internationalisation and faculty ratio
Despite these improvements, India's rise in global higher education has been uneven.
One of the key areas of concern remains the International Students Ratio. A substantial 78% of Indian universities have witnessed a decline in this metric, and no Indian institution ranks within the top 500 globally for attracting international students. This impacts campus diversity and global exposure for students.
Read Also:
India hits new high in QS rankings with 54 entrants
Furthermore, the Faculty-Student Ratio presents structural challenges. OP Jindal Global University stands out as the only Indian university within the global top 350 for this indicator, highlighting a broader need for faculty expansion and better resource allocation across institutions.
QS World University Rankings 2026: MIT takes the lead, see which other institutions made the top 10
The rankings also reveal a slight dip in the number of Indian universities in the global top 500, falling from 12 in 2025 to 11 in 2026, suggesting room for improvement despite the growth in overall presence.
India's place in the Asia-pacific context and global outlook
India's rise contrasts with the broader Asia-Pacific region, which now leads globally with 565 ranked universities, surpassing Europe (487) and the Americas (358).
With the addition of eight new Indian universities — more than any other country — India signals expanding institutional momentum and a commitment to advancing research capacity and international recognition.
Globally, the QS World University Rankings 2026 were once again topped by Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) for the 14th consecutive year, followed by Imperial College London, Stanford University, University of Oxford, and Harvard University. This global context underscores India's emerging role in a rapidly evolving, multipolar academic landscape.
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