IIT Delhi Tops India in QS Asia Rankings 2026 for Fifth Year, Seven Indian Institutes in Top 100

New Delhi, November 4 — The Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi (IIT-D) has once again emerged as India’s best institution for the fifth consecutive year, according to the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) Asia University Rankings 2026. The 64-year-old premier institute secured an overall score of 65.5 and ranked 59th in Asia.

India showcased strong representation this year, with seven institutions making it to the top 100. Following IIT Delhi are the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru at 64th, IIT Madras at 70th, IIT Bombay at 71st, IIT Kanpur and IIT Kharagpur jointly at 77th, and Delhi University at 95th position.

According to the report released on Tuesday, “Seven Indian institutions rank in the top 100 in QS World University Asia Rankings, 20 in the top 200, and 66 in the top 500.” The London-based QS group further noted that while 36 Indian institutions improved their positions this year, 16 maintained the same ranks and 105 witnessed a drop compared to last year.

The ranking saw significant reshuffling as IIT Delhi dropped from 44th to 59th, IISc from 62nd to 64th, IIT Madras from 56th to 70th, IIT Kanpur and IIT Kharagpur from 67th and 60th respectively to 77th, and Delhi University from 81st to 95th. “Overall, 41 Indian institutions appear in the top 80th percentile of universities,” the QS statement added.

India also led the continent in one key metric—staff with PhDs—reflecting its growing emphasis on academic and research excellence.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the results, expressing pride in the rising number of Indian universities featured in the prestigious list. “Glad to see a record increase in the number of Indian universities in the QS Asia University Rankings over the last decade,” he wrote on X (formerly Twitter). Modi reiterated his government’s commitment to expanding quality education and research opportunities, stating, “We are also building institutional capacities in this sector by enabling more educational institutions across India.”

The QS rankings continue to highlight India’s expanding academic influence across Asia, reflecting its growing global competitiveness in higher education.