India achieved a significant milestone in the QS World University Rankings 2026, with IIT Delhi ranked 123rd globally, leading 54 Indian institutions on the list. IIT Bombay and IIT Madras followed at 129th and 180th, respectively. India saw the biggest rise in ranked institutions, up from 45 in 2025, now making it the fourth most represented country. QS lauded India’s rapid higher education growth, emphasizing its ambitious target of a 50% Gross Enrolment Ratio by 2035, requiring extraordinary expansion efforts.

India has made remarkable strides in the QS World University Rankings for 2026, with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi emerging as the top Indian institution, securing the 123rd position globally. This achievement highlights the growing prominence of Indian universities on the world stage, as the country saw a record 54 institutions make it to this prestigious list.

IIT Delhi’s rise to the 123rd spot marks a significant milestone, followed by IIT Bombay at 129th, which saw a slight dip from its best-ever rank of 118 in 2025. IIT Madras also featured prominently, achieving the 180th rank. Among the 54 Indian institutions listed this year, 30 are public universities, while 24 are privately funded. The representation includes 12 IITs, one National Institute of Technology (NIT), and one Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT).

The rankings, compiled by London-based higher education analytics firm Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), evaluated over 1,500 universities worldwide. The assessment is based on various parameters including research output, student learning experience, employability of graduates, global engagement, and sustainability initiatives.

India’s presence in the rankings has grown significantly, with nine new institutions added this year, up from 45 in 2025. This makes India the biggest gainer in terms of newly ranked institutions. The country now ranks as the fourth most represented nation on the list, trailing only the United States with 192 institutions, the United Kingdom with 90, and Mainland China with 72.

QS officials highlighted the rapid transformation of India’s higher education landscape. Over the past decade, the number of Indian institutions featured in the rankings has grown from just 11 to 54—a growth rate unmatched within the G20 nations. Jessica Turner, the CEO of QS, praised India’s progress, emphasizing that the country is reshaping the global higher education landscape.

“In the world’s most populous nation, with over 40 percent of its population under the age of 25, expanding access to high-quality education is not just an academic goal but a national necessity,” Turner remarked. She also pointed out the ambitious target set by India to achieve a 50 percent Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) by 2035. Meeting this goal, according to QS estimates, would require the establishment of 14 new universities every week—an extraordinary challenge that underlines the scale of India’s educational aspirations.

India’s growing representation in the global rankings is a testament to the country’s commitment to enhancing the quality of its higher education institutions. As India continues to invest in research, innovation, and student outcomes, its universities are poised to play an increasingly influential role on the global academic stage.

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