IIT Delhi Tops QS World University Rankings 2026

New Delhi, June 19 — In a major milestone for Indian higher education, the QS World University Rankings 2026, released early Thursday morning, showcased significant progress by Indian institutions, with nearly half of them improving their global positions. Leading the national charge, the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT Delhi) emerged as the highest-ranked Indian university, securing the 123rd position globally.

This marks a sharp rise for IIT Delhi, which had ranked 150th in 2025 and 197th in 2024. The institute’s notable performance across multiple indicators contributed to its ascent—it ranked 50th globally in Employer Reputation, 86th in Citations per Faculty, and 142nd in Academic Reputation.

IIT Bombay, which held the top Indian position in last year’s rankings, slipped to 129th from 118 in 2025. Meanwhile, IIT Madras delivered one of the most remarkable performances, leaping 47 places to reach 180th this year, up from 227 in the previous edition.

India: A Rising Force in Global Academia

India is now the fourth most represented country in the QS rankings, with 54 universities featured—trailing only the United States, United Kingdom, and Mainland China. Notably, eight Indian universities made their debut this year, the highest number of new entries from any nation, underscoring India’s increasing academic visibility on the world stage.

Other prominent Indian institutions include IIT Kharagpur (215), Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bangalore (219), and Delhi University (328). Among private universities, BITS Pilani (668) and OP Jindal Global University (851–900) also maintained or improved their standings.

Global Highlights: MIT Leads Again, Asian Universities on the Rise

Globally, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) continues its reign at the top, securing the number one position for the 14th consecutive year. It is followed by Imperial College London in second and Stanford University in third. The United States remains the most represented country overall, with 192 institutions featured, many of which climbed in rank.

Asian universities also posted strong performances. China’s Peking University held firm at 14th, Tsinghua University rose to 17th, and Fudan University advanced nine places to 30th. Hong Kong SAR and Ireland were also among the most improved regions this year.

Europe saw gains as well, with Italy’s Politecnico di Milano entering the global top 100 for the first time, ranking 98th.

Ranking Methodology: Diversity Takes Centre Stage

This year’s rankings assessed over 1,500 universities across more than 100 locations. A key addition to the methodology was the International Student Diversity (ISD) indicator, introduced as an unweighted metric. It measures not just the proportion of international students but also their geographic spread, reflecting an evolving emphasis on inclusivity and global student engagement.

As Indian institutions continue to rise in global stature, the QS 2026 rankings signal a growing confidence in India’s academic capabilities and its expanding influence in international higher education.