QS World University Rankings 2026: India Shows Growth with New Entrants
Overview of QS World University Rankings 2026
The QS World University Rankings for 2026 have been released, showcasing a mixed outcome for Indian institutions. A total of 54 universities from India are now included in the global rankings, a significant rise from just 11 in 2014, positioning India as the fourth country globally in terms of representation, following the United States, the United Kingdom, and China. However, only three Indian universities have secured spots in the top 200.
IIT Delhi Achieves 123rd Rank, Significant Improvement
IIT Delhi has made an impressive leap to the 123rd position, climbing from 150th in 2025 and 197th in 2024, marking a remarkable 74-place increase over two years. This institution now holds the top rank among Indian universities, attributed to its strong performance across various metrics, including:
- Employer Reputation: Global Rank 50
- Citations per Faculty: Rank 86
- Academic Reputation: Rank 142
IIT Bombay Drops to 129th, IIT Madras Climbs 47 Ranks
IIT Bombay, which was the highest-ranked Indian university last year at 118th, has fallen to 129th place. In contrast, IIT Madras has made headlines by jumping 47 ranks to achieve the 180th position, marking one of the most significant advancements for Indian universities this year.
New Indian Universities Enter QS Rankings
This year, eight Indian universities have made their debut in the QS rankings, the highest number from any nation, reflecting the increasing global acknowledgment of Indian higher education.
Top 20 Indian Universities in QS Rankings 2026
MIT continues to hold the top position for the 14th consecutive year, while Imperial College London has surpassed Stanford University to claim the second spot.
Table of India's Top Universities
| India Rank | Global Rank | University | State |
| 1 | 123 | IIT Delhi | Delhi |
| 2 | 129 | IIT Bombay | Maharashtra |
| 3 | 180 | IIT Madras | Tamil Nadu |
| 4 | =215 | IIT Kharagpur | West Bengal |
| 5 | =219 | IISc Bangalore | Karnataka |
| 6 | 222 | IIT Kanpur | Uttar Pradesh |
| 7 | =328 | Delhi University | Delhi |
| 8 | =334 | IIT Guwahati | Assam |
| 9 | =339 | IIT Roorkee | Uttarakhand |
| 10 | =465 | Anna University | Tamil Nadu |
| 11 | 503 | Shoolini University | Himachal Pradesh |
| 12 | =556 | IIT Indore | Madhya Pradesh |
| 13 | =558 | JNU | Delhi |
| 14 | =566 | IIT BHU Varanasi | Uttar Pradesh |
| 15 | =566 | Savitribai Phule Pune University | Maharashtra |
| 16 | =575 | Chandigarh University | Punjab |
| 17 | =664 | IIT Hyderabad | Telangana |
| 18 | =664 | University of Mumbai | Maharashtra |
| 19 | =668 | BITS Pilani | Rajasthan |
| 20 | =676 | Jadavpur University | West Bengal |
Global Rankings of Top Universities
World's Top 10 Universities: QS Rankings 2026
| Rank | University | Country |
| 1 | MIT | USA |
| 2 | Imperial College London | UK |
| 3 | Stanford University | USA |
| 4 | University of Oxford | UK |
| 5 | Harvard University | USA |
| 6 | University of Cambridge | UK |
| 7 | ETH Zurich | Switzerland |
| 8 | National University of Singapore (NUS) | Singapore |
| 9 | University College London (UCL) | UK |
| 10 | Caltech | USA |
New Developments in QS Rankings
This year, QS has introduced a new category focusing on International Student Diversity, which evaluates the number and variety of international students at each university. Although this metric is not yet part of the scoring system, it may play a crucial role in future rankings.