Key Takeaways

  • Indian institutions in QS rankings increased from 11 in 2015 to 52 in the 2027 edition, highlighting India’s growing global higher education presence.
  • Of the 52 Indian institutions ranked by QS in 2027, 26 improved their positions, while 18 achieved their highest-ever rankings.
  • The Centre attributed the broader improvement to NEP 2020, Institutions of Eminence, support for state universities and expansion of premier institutions.

Quick Facts

  • QS representation rose to 52 institutions
  • NIRF participation reached 7,692 institutions
  • IIT Delhi ranked 118th globally
  • 18 institutions achieved highest-ever rankings

India’s presence in global higher education rankings has expanded significantly over the past decade, with the number of Indian institutions featured in the QS World University Rankings increasing from 11 in 2015 to 52 in the 2027 edition, according to data shared by the Centre in the Lok Sabha.

The rise comes alongside the expansion of the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF), which was launched in 2015 to assess higher education institutions in India and encourage competition and improvements in academic performance. NIRF evaluates institutions across teaching and learning resources, research and professional practices, graduation outcomes, outreach and inclusivity, and peer perception.

NIRF participation expands sharply

Participation in NIRF has grown considerably in recent years. The number of applications increased from 6,272 in 2021 to 14,163 in 2025. Over the same period, the number of unique participating institutions rose from 4,030 to 7,692.

The government’s data indicates that the expansion of participation has coincided with a broader presence of Indian institutions in international rankings. In the QS World University Rankings 2027, 26 of the 52 Indian institutions improved their positions, while nine retained their previous ranks and 15 declined. Two institutions entered the rankings for the first time.

More institutions beyond IITs make gains

India’s improvement in the latest QS rankings was not restricted to the traditional IIT-heavy group. Eighteen Indian institutions achieved their highest-ever positions, including 13 institutions that are not IITs.

IIT Delhi emerged as the highest-ranked Indian institution, climbing five places to 118th globally. IIT Bombay slipped from 129th to 134th, while IIT Madras improved to 170th and IIT Kharagpur to 205th. The Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, was ranked 221st.

Several non-IIT institutions recorded notable gains. VIT moved up 94 places to rank 597, while BITS Pilani climbed 93 places to 575. IIT Hyderabad gained 76 places, Jamia Millia Islamia advanced by more than 75 places to 686, and Shoolini University improved by 51 places to 452.

The performance suggests that India’s growing international visibility is increasingly being supported by a wider group of universities and institutions rather than only the country’s established IITs.

Government links progress to education reforms

The Centre attributed the broader improvement to measures introduced as part of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. The policy places emphasis on multidisciplinary education, critical thinking, research and innovation, infrastructure development and teacher training.

The government also cited initiatives such as the Institutions of Eminence scheme and support for state universities through RUSA and PM-USHA. It said 43 new premier institutions have been established since 2014, including seven IITs, eight Central universities and nine IIMs.

The latest figures therefore point to two parallel developments: a substantial increase in the number of Indian institutions appearing in global rankings and a gradual widening of India’s internationally visible higher education base. While the QS rankings remain only one measure of institutional performance, the increase in representation provides an indication of the growing global footprint of Indian higher education.