New Delhi: India has achieved a remarkable milestone in the global academic landscape, with 54 Indian institutions making it to the prestigious QS World University Rankings 2026 — the highest number ever for the country. Topping the list among Indian entries is IIT Delhi, which has climbed to its highest-ever global position at 123, significantly improving from last year’s 150th rank.
This strong performance reflects India’s rising profile in international higher education and academic excellence. The 2026 rankings underscore a five-fold increase from 2014, when only 11 Indian universities featured on the QS list.
Reacting to the development, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan took to social media to express his pride. He credited the surge in global rankings to the far-reaching educational reforms brought in under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, particularly the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. The minister described NEP as a revolutionary shift that is not only reshaping but revolutionizing the Indian education system.
Pradhan also highlighted India’s growing influence on the global academic stage, noting that it is now the fastest-growing education system among G20 nations and the fourth most represented country in the QS rankings, behind only the United States, the United Kingdom, and China.
This achievement not only showcases the growing quality and competitiveness of Indian institutions but also positions India as a global education hub with expanding research, innovation, and international collaborations.
