Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Jun 19: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has hailed India’s remarkable rise in the QS World University Rankings 2026, calling it a proud moment for the nation and a testament to the government’s commitment toward empowering the youth through educational excellence.
In a message posted on social media platform X, PM Modi stated, “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.”
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan also shared the news, revealing that a record 54 Indian Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) have been featured in the global rankings—a fivefold leap from just 11 in 2014. "This monumental jump reflects the impact of the transformative educational reforms brought in under PM @narendramodi ji’s leadership over the past decade," Pradhan said.
Highlighting the role of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, Pradhan said it is not merely reshaping the education system—it is revolutionising it. He added that India is now the fastest growing education system among G20 nations, and ranks fourth globally in representation, behind only the US, UK, and China.
The 2026 edition of the QS Rankings marks several milestones for India:
• IIT Delhi emerged as the top-ranked Indian institution, climbing from 150th to 123rd position, its highest rank ever.
• IIT Bombay, previously the top Indian entry, saw a slight drop from 118 to 129.
• IIT Madras made a significant leap, rising 47 places to rank 180th, up from 227 last year.
• Eight Indian universities made their debut in the rankings—the highest number of new entries from any single country.
Other prestigious institutions featured include:
• IIT Kharagpur at 215
• Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bangalore at 219
• Delhi University at 328
Notably, private institutions also secured spots, including BITS Pilani (ranked 668) and OP Jindal Global University (ranked in the 851–900 bracket).
Nearly 48% of Indian universities improved their global standings this year, and five institutions were ranked among the global top 100 for Employer Reputation.
On the international front, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) retained its top position for the 14th consecutive year.
With India’s academic footprint expanding rapidly, the 2026 QS Rankings underscore a resounding global recognition of the country’s evolving higher education landscape.