India has topped the QS World University Rankings 2026 for the highest number of new entries globally, with its ranked institutions rising from 11 to 54 in a decade—the fastest among G20 nations.
India has recorded the highest number of new entrants globally in the QS World University Rankings 2026, with the number of ranked Indian universities growing by 390% over the past decade—from 11 to 54—marking the fastest rise among G20 nations.
With eight new entries this year, India has become the fourth most represented country, trailing only the US (192), UK (90), and Mainland China (72). “No other country has seen more universities debut in this edition of the rankings – a clear sign of a system evolving at speed and scale,” said Jessica Turner, CEO of QS.
Leading the Indian list, IIT Delhi ranks joint 123rd, followed by IIT Bombay (129th) and IIT Madras (180th). Others in the top 10 include IIT Kharagpur (215th), IISc Bangalore (219th), IIT Kanpur (222nd), University of Delhi (328th), IIT Guwahati (334th), IIT Roorkee (339th), and Anna University (465th).
Indian institutions are steadily expanding their global research presence, making gains in Citations per Faculty, Sustainability, and International Research Network metrics. At the same time, employer perception is also improving. Five institutions— IIT Delhi, IIT Bombay, IIT Madras, IIT Kanpur, and Symbiosis International—rank in the global top 100 for employer reputation, with an average score of 24.9, ahead of countries like Mainland China, Finland, and France.
Eight Indian institutions also feature in the top 100 for Citations per Faculty, reflecting a strong research momentum. “The National Education Policy 2020 has sought to promote India as a global study destination,” said Turner. “With more than 40% of India’s people under 25, the drive to expand both access and quality is not just an education agenda, it is a national imperative.”
Yet, India faces challenges in internationalization. This year, 78% of Indian universities declined in the International Students Ratio metric, and 63% saw drops in Faculty/Student Ratio. O.P. Jindal Global University is the only Indian institution to make the global top 350 for this metric, ranking 257th.
“The rankings also highlight the next frontier — attracting more international students and faculty and building academic capacity to support quality at scale,” said Turner.
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