With 54 Indian colleges making the worldwide list, academicians and education professionals have praised India’s best-ever achievement in the QS World University Rankings 2026. Compared to just 11 institutions in 2014 and 46 institutions last year, this represents a substantial increase.
India’s increasing prominence in international higher education is reflected in the fact that it now ranks fourth in the world in terms of the number of universities listed, behind only the US, the UK, and China.
On social media, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Prime Minister Narendra Modi thanked the educational institutions on their accomplishment. The government’s emphasis on education reforms, particularly under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, was credited by academics and education experts with this outstanding accomplishment.
“There is excellent news for our education sector from the QS World University 2026 Rankings. In his post on platform X, Prime Minister Modi stated, “Our Government is committed to furthering research and innovation ecosystems for the benefit of India’s youth.”
India’s education system is currently expanding at the quickest rate among G20 countries, according to Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. India’s fourth-place ranking in the world is something to be proud of. I have little doubt that additional Indian institutions will achieve worldwide distinction in the years to come if NEP’s emphasis on research, innovation, and internationalization is maintained,” he remarked.
This year, the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi has risen from 150th to 123rd place, making it the top-ranked Indian university.
IIT Delhi’s Planning and Ranking Cell leader, Professor Vivek Bhuva, described it as a major advancement. IIT Madras rose from 227th to 180th place, making its maiden appearance in the top 200, while IIT Bombay is ranked 129th.
IIT Madras Director Dr. V. Kamakoti gave the NEP credit for its improved international reputation. “Indian institutions are prepared for even greater success with global collaborations,” he stated.
“This is India’s best performance to date and a testament to Prime Minister Modi’s visionary reforms, particularly NEP 2020, which has strengthened research, digital inclusion, and global competitiveness,” stated Dr. Ashwin Fernandes, Executive Director of QS Asia. With the goal of being a developed country by 2047, India is quickly becoming a major academic force.
This opinion was supported by Prof. Himani Sood, the pro-chancellor of Chandigarh University and founder of the New India Development Foundation. “The impact of the NEP and international cooperation is reflected in this accomplishment. Under PM Modi’s direction, India is becoming a global leader in education, research, and innovation, as evidenced by the 54 Indian universities that made the QS rankings. This is a source of pride for the country, she said.
Read More