The story so far: For the first time, in the international ranking of universities published by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), a company specialising in higher education analysis based in the U.K., Indian universities have more than 50 spots in the top 1,500. The highest rank among Indian universities goes to IIT Delhi (Rank 123), closely followed by IIT Bombay, IIT Madras, IIT Kharagpur and IISc Bengaluru. This number has increased from 11 in 2015 to 54 in 2026, with eight universities, including Ashoka University in Haryana and Shiv Nadar Institute of Eminence in Greater Noida, getting featured for the first time.
What are the parameters?
The 2026 ranking is based on a whole range of parameters which include the learning environment on campus, academic reputation (30%), impactful research (citations for research papers count for 20%, and international research network 5%), diversity (student diversity, international faculty and students count for 10%), student outcomes (employer reputation counts for 15%, while student placements 5%) and campus sustainability (5%).
Has higher education improved?
These rankings reflect how Indian universities are increasingly adapting to the norms followed by universities worldwide, and are thus becoming comparable to international universities.
For instance, the average undergraduate student to faculty ratio in Indian universities is 19. In order to be internationally competitive, this number needs to be between 10-15. At Ashoka University, for instance, over the last year for about 3,000 undergraduates, the ratio was 11.5. These undergraduates come from 20 countries, which enhances the score for international diversity. Most universities in India have few international students, and most public universities cannot employ international faculty, which results in low scores in these categories.
Moreover, over the last few decades, Indian universities have not put much emphasis on original research carried out by faculty and students. For STEM subjects especially, the research is traditionally done in research institutes. This is in sharp contrast to global practices, as universities are the primary institutions where creation of knowledge takes place, in addition to its transmission to students, worldwide.
However, this is now changing. More and more universities, particularly IITs/IISERs and new private sector universities, are paying particular attention to research. With the advent of the National Education Plan, 2020 (NEP), which emphasises on research in universities, more and more Indian institutions will take their place on international ranking lists.
Public universities used to pay very little attention to the employment opportunities of students, but professional institutes such as the IITs and IIMs have always had placement cells and employers’ fairs. Now, even for large central universities, this is an important consideration. All this is crucial to international ranking lists such as the QS.
How can universities fare better?
As more and more universities begin to build research networks across the world, and hire quality faculty who can do research along with the necessary teaching of students, we will see the rise of Indian universities in these ranking lists. India needs to encourage international students and faculty to become part of its educational institutions and to closely work with industry in identifying potential employment destinations for students. Particular attention to environmental aspects and sustainability in campuses will also earn points for universities aspiring to be among the top educational institutions.
Somak Raychaudhury is Vice-Chancellor and Professor of Physics, Ashoka University, Delhi-NCR. All opinions are personal.
Published – July 03, 2025 08:30 am IST
