QS World University 2026 Rankings great news for India's education sector, says PM

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday asserted that the QS World University Rankings 2026 have brought great news for India's education sector with a record 54 institutions figuring in the list. "The QS World University 2026 Rankings bring great news for our education sector. Our Government is committed to furthering research and innovation ecosystems for the benefit of India’s youth," Modi wrote on X.

According to the rankings announced on Thursday morning, the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi is the best-ranked Indian institution -- climbing more than 70 places in two years to secure the 123rd spot in the coveted list. With eight new institutions added to the ranking this year, India now has 54 institutions included, making it the fourth most represented country behind only the US (192 institutions), the UK (90 institutions) and Mainland China (72 institutions).

No other country or territory has seen as many universities added to the ranking this year. Jordan and Azerbaijan are second most improved and have both seen six added in 2026 rankings.

The coveted QS World University Rankings, published annually by London-based global higher education analytics firm Quacquarelli Symonds, assess universities based on a variety of performance indicators, including academic reputation, faculty-student ratio, research impact, international student diversity and graduate employability.