IIT Delhi Retains Top Rank Among Indian Institutions in QS Asia Rankings 2026
IIT Delhi remains India's highest-ranked university for the fifth consecutive year, placed 59th in Asia according to QS Rankings 2026. Seven Indian institutions feature in Asia's top 100, including IISc Bengaluru, IIT Madras, IIT Bombay, IIT Kanpur, IIT Kharagpur, and Delhi University. Although most Indian universities' ranks declined compared to last year, overall improvements were noted amid stiff regional competition.
According to the QS Asia University Rankings 2026, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT Delhi) has maintained its status as the top Indian institution for the fifth year running, though its rank slipped from 44th to 59th in Asia. Alongside IIT Delhi, six other Indian institutions rank in the continent's top 100: IISc Bengaluru (64th), IIT Madras (70th), IIT Bombay (71st), IIT Kanpur and IIT Kharagpur (both 77th), and Delhi University (95th). Overall, 137 Indian institutions were featured in the QS rankings, placing India second in Asia by representation behind China. Despite a drop in rankings for many Indian institutions due to stronger gains by universities in China, Singapore, Malaysia and South Korea, 36 Indian institutions improved their scores compared to the previous year. The report highlights India's strength in staff holding PhDs and reflects a commitment to improving higher education quality and research innovation, as underscored by statements from PM Narendra Modi praising the increase in ranked Indian universities over the decade. This performance reflects the impact of educational reforms such as the NEP 2020, enhancing research output and global competitiveness of Indian higher education institutions.
