The number of Indian higher education institutions featured in the QS World University Rankings has increased from 11 in 2015 to 52 in the 2027 edition, the Centre informed the Lok Sabha on Monday. The rise reflects India’s expanding presence in global higher education rankings since the launch of the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) in 2015.
The NIRF was introduced to rank higher education institutions in India and encourage competition and improvements in quality. It evaluates institutions across five broad parameters: teaching, learning and resources; research and professional practices; graduation outcomes; outreach and inclusivity; and perception.
Participation in the national ranking exercise has also grown significantly. Applications increased from 6,272 in 2021 to 14,163 in 2025, while the number of unique participating institutions rose from 4,030 to 7,692 during the same period.
India’s performance in the QS World University Rankings 2027 showed that the improvement was not limited to the country’s leading IITs. Of the 52 Indian institutions ranked globally, 26 improved their positions, nine remained unchanged and 15 declined. Two institutions entered the rankings for the first time.
As many as 18 Indian institutions achieved their highest-ever QS rankings, including 13 institutions outside the IIT system.
IIT Delhi recorded the country’s strongest position, climbing five places to 118th. It matched the highest-ever ranking achieved by an Indian institution, a position previously reached by IIT Bombay in the 2026 rankings. IIT Bombay slipped five places to 134th, while IIT Madras improved to 170th and IIT Kharagpur to 205th. IISc Bengaluru was ranked 221st.
Several non-IIT institutions recorded notable gains. VIT climbed 94 places to 597th, while BITS Pilani rose 93 places to 575th. IIT Hyderabad improved by 76 places, Jamia Millia Islamia advanced by more than 75 places to 686th, and Shoolini University rose 51 places to 452nd.
The Centre attributed the broader improvement to various measures introduced under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which focuses on multidisciplinary education, critical thinking, research and innovation, infrastructure development and teacher training.
Other initiatives include the Institutions of Eminence scheme, support for state universities through RUSA and PM-USHA, and the expansion of premier educational institutions. According to the government, 43 new premier institutes have been established since 2014, including seven IITs, eight Central universities and nine IIMs.
The growth in India’s representation in global rankings indicates a widening footprint for Indian higher education, with universities beyond the traditional IIT and IISc group increasingly making their mark internationally.
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