India's Universities Face Challenges in Latest Asian Rankings

The 2027 QS World University Rankings reveal that while India has increased its representation in Asia, its top institutions are struggling to maintain their standings. IIT Delhi remains the highest-ranked Indian university, but it has dropped in position. This article delves into the rankings of various Indian universities, highlighting both improvements and declines, and provides a detailed overview of the challenges faced by these institutions in a competitive educational landscape.

By Ambika Singh Nov 4, 2026, 13:49 IST

Overview of the 2027 QS World University Rankings

India has made strides in the Asian university rankings, yet its top institutions are struggling to compete with regional rivals.

The QS World University Rankings: Asia 2027 have been unveiled, showcasing 325 Indian universities, including 34 newcomers. This positions India as the country with the second-highest representation in Asia, following China. The rankings cover a total of 1,722 universities from 26 different higher education systems. Despite this increase in representation, six of India's leading universities have seen a decline in their rankings this year.

Top Indian Institutions in the Rankings

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi retains its status as the highest-ranked institution in India, although it has dropped from 59th to 66th in Asia. The Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bengaluru follows at 79th, with IIT Bombay at 83rd and IIT Madras at 85th. IIT Kharagpur and IIT Kanpur are ranked 90th and 97th, respectively. All six institutions have experienced a decline compared to last year's rankings. Notably, the University of Delhi has fallen out of the top 100, dropping from 95th to 106th. In contrast, Chandigarh University has improved its position, moving from 109th to 104th, while Lovely Professional University advanced from 187th to 154th.

Ranking Changes for Indian Institutes

The following table illustrates the rankings of prominent Indian institutions in the QS Asia Rankings 2027:

Ranking Table

Indian Institute / University	Asia Rank
IIT Delhi	66
IISc Bengaluru	79
IIT Bombay	83
IIT Madras	85
IIT Kharagpur	90
IIT Kanpur	97
Chandigarh University	104
University of Delhi	106
IIT Guwahati	120
IIT Roorkee	124

India's Top 10 Institutions in the QS Asia Rankings 2027

The following table summarizes the top 10 Indian institutions in the QS Asia Rankings 2027, along with their previous ranks:

Top 10 Indian Institutions Ranking Table

Indian Institute	QS Asia Ranking 2027	Previous Rank (2026)
IIT Delhi	66	59
IISc Bengaluru	79	64
IIT Bombay	83	71
IIT Madras	85	70
IIT Kharagpur	90	77
IIT Kanpur	97	77