QS World Rankings 2026: India shines in the QS World Rankings 2026 list with 54 universities featured, and IIT Delhi leads the country by achieving its highest-ever global rank. While India shows strong growth, challenges remain in attracting international students and improving faculty ratios.
India has made a strong mark in the QS World Rankings 2026. This year, a total of 54 Indian universities made it to the list 〞 the highest ever. This is a major jump from 46 in 2025 and 45 in 2024. Back in 2014, only 11 Indian institutions were ranked. That means there's been a 390% increase in just over a decade.
With this impressive growth, India is now the fourth most represented country in the QS global rankings, behind only the USA, UK, and China. This shows how India＊s higher education sector is quickly growing on the world stage.
The highlight of the QS World Rankings 2026 list is the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT Delhi). It has reached its best-ever global rank 〞 joint 123rd alongside Georgia Institute of Technology, USA. This is a huge leap from its 150th position in 2025 and 197th in 2024.
IIT Delhi＊s rise is mainly due to its strong scores in:
These numbers reflect IIT Delhi's increasing global recognition among employers and academics alike.
Apart from IIT Delhi, other Indian universities also performed well in the QS World Rankings 2026:
| Rank | University | Location | Overall Score | Academic Reputation | Employer Reputation | Employment Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 123 | IIT Delhi | New Delhi | 65.5 | 67.9 | 95 | 50.5 |
| 129 | IIT Bombay | Mumbai | 64.8 | 73.3 | 97 | 72.6 |
| 180 | IIT Madras | Chennai | 58.4 | 56.8 | 86 | 45.8 |
| 215 | IIT?Kharagpur | Kharagpur | 54.5 | 42.5 | 79 | 47.7 |
| 219 | IIT?Bangalore | Bangluru | 54.2 | 56.6 | 46.4 | 15.1 |
| 222 | IIT?Kanpur | Kanpur | 54 | 49.4 | 82.7 | 47.6 |
| 334 | IIT?Guwahati | Guwahati | 42.3 | 25.4 | 62 | 8.7 |
| 339 | IIT?Roorkee | Roorkee | 42.2 | 26.8 | 52.2 | 20 |
| 556 | IIT?Indore | Indore | 30 | 8 | 16.9 | 5 |
| 566 | IIT?BHU Varanasi | Varanasi | 29.3 | 9.3 | 19.4 | 10 |
| 664 | IIT?Hyderabad | Sangareddy | 26.4 | 10.3 | 15 | 6.5 |
| 691 | Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT) | Vellore | 25 | 20.5 | 26 | 16 |
| 801-850 | IIT?Gandhinagar | Gandhinagar | n/a | 7 | 9.1 | 2 |
| 851-900 | Manipal Academy of Higher Education | Manipal | n/a | 14.7 | 11.8 | 14 |
| 951-1000 | IIT?Bhubaneswar | Bhubaneswar | n/a | 5 | 12.4 | 2 |
| 1401+ | IIT?Allahabad | Prayagraj | n/a | 4.2 | 13 | 2 |
Even though India＊s presence in the QS World Rankings 2026 list has grown, some challenges remain. One key issue is the International Students Ratio. Around 78% of Indian universities saw a drop in this area. No Indian university is ranked in the top 500 for attracting international students.
This affects campus diversity and limits global learning exposure for Indian students.
Another area that needs attention is the Faculty-Student Ratio. Most Indian universities score low on this metric. OP Jindal Global University is the only one from India that made it to the global top 350 for this indicator.
To compete globally, Indian institutions need to invest more in hiring qualified faculty and improving educational infrastructure.
On the global front, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has again secured the top position for the 14th consecutive year. It is followed by:
India＊s growing presence in this prestigious list shows its potential in shaping the future of global higher education.
The QS World Rankings 2026 list proves that Indian universities, especially IIT Delhi, are making steady progress in the global academic landscape. While there are challenges in areas like faculty numbers and international outreach, the overall trend is promising. With focused efforts, India can soon rise even higher in global rankings and become a major hub for quality education.
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