India Records 294 Universities in QS Asia Rankings 2026; IIT Delhi Tops National List at 59th
Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi has emerged as top-ranked Indian institution in Asia, placed 59th, down from 44th last year. It is followed by Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bangalore (64th) and IIT Madras (70th).
India has achieved its highest-ever representation in QS Asia University Rankings 2026, with 294 institutions making it to list, up from 148 last year. However, most leading institutions saw a marginal dip in their ranks compared to 2025. Rankings were released by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) earlier today.
IIT Delhi Leads India, Followed by IISc Bangalore and IIT Madras
Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi has emerged as the top-ranked Indian institution in Asia, placed 59th, down from 44th last year. It is followed by Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bangalore (64th) and IIT Madras (70th).
Other Indian names in the top 100 include IIT Bombay (71st), IIT Kanpur (77th), IIT Kharagpur (77th), and the University of Delhi (95th).
Indian Institutions in QS Asia University Rankings 2026 – Top 200
| Institution | 2026 Rank | 2025 Rank |
|---|---|---|
| IIT Delhi | 59 | 44 |
| IISc Bangalore |
64 | 50 |
| IIT Madras | 70 | 53 |
| IIT Bombay |
71 |
46 |
| IIT Kanpur | 77 | 63 |
| IIT Kharagpur | 77 | 66 |
| University of Delhi | 95 | -- |
| IIT Roorkee | 114 | 100 |
| IIT Guwahati |
115 | 121 |
| VIT Vellore | 156 | -- |
National Trend
While several IITs and IISc registered minor declines, the overall national presence expanded sharply, confirming India’s growing higher-education footprint in Asia. Private and state universities such as Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, VIT Vellore, and Manipal Academy of Higher Education continued to strengthen their standing through research output and academic collaborations.
As per a statement by QS, “Seven Indian institutions rank in the top 100 in QS World University Asia rankings, 20 in the top 200 and 66 in the top 500. Overall, 41 Indian institutions appear in the top 80th percentile of universities. India ranks best in Asia for staff with PhD.”
Regional Overview
National University of Singapore (NUS) retained its top position in Asia, followed by Peking University and Tsinghua University of China. India remains third most-represented nation in QS Asia rankings after China and Japan.
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Abhay Anand is an experienced education journalist with over 15 years in print and digital media. Currently serving as Manager- Editorial at Shiksha.com, he specializes in higher education policy, student mobility,
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