Indian Institutions Rise to 52 in QS Rankings

The QS World University Rankings 2027 listed 52 Indian higher education institutions, up from 11 in the 2015 edition. The rankings were released on 18 June 2026, and the Indian government linked the rise in representation to the National Institutional Ranking Framework, launched in 2015.

QS World University Rankings

The QS World University Rankings is an annual global university ranking system published by Quacquarelli Symonds. It uses indicators such as academic reputation, employer reputation, faculty-student ratio, citations per faculty, international faculty, and international students.

Indian Performance in 2027 Edition

Indian Institute of Technology Delhi ranked 118th globally and became India’s highest-ranked institution in the 2027 edition. It moved up five places and matched the highest-ever global position achieved by an Indian institution.

Among the 52 Indian institutions, 26 improved their positions, nine remained unchanged, 15 declined, and two entered the rankings for the first time. Eighteen Indian institutions recorded their best-ever QS positions in this edition.

Key Indian Institutions in the Rankings

Indian Institute of Technology Bombay ranked 134th, Indian Institute of Technology Madras ranked 170th, and Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur ranked 205th. Indian Institute of Science Bengaluru and Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur were tied at 221st.

University of Delhi ranked 322nd and remained India’s top non-STEM institution in the list. Thirteen non-IIT institutions reached their highest-ever QS positions in the 2027 edition.

Important Facts for Exams

• The National Institutional Ranking Framework was launched in 2015 by the Ministry of Education.
• The QS World University Rankings 2027 placed Indian Institute of Technology Delhi at 118th globally.
• India had 52 institutions in the QS World University Rankings 2027, compared with 11 in the 2015 edition.
• Indian institutions in the NIRF framework increased from 4,030 in 2021 to 7,692 in 2025.

NIRF and Domestic Ranking Framework

The National Institutional Ranking Framework assesses institutions on teaching, learning and resources, research and professional practice, graduation outcomes, outreach and inclusivity, and perception. It is used in India for ranking universities, colleges, engineering institutions, management institutions, pharmacy institutions, and overall institutions.