QS Asia Rankings 2026: PM Modi Hails IITs, DU, IISc as India Breaks Into Asia’s Top 100

India has achieved a historic leap in the QS Asia University Rankings 2026, with five IITs, Delhi University, and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) securing positions among Asia’s top 100 universities. This milestone marks a new era in India’s higher education and research ecosystem, reflecting over a decade of consistent growth and reform.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded the achievement, describing it as evidence of India’s expanding global academic influence and strengthened research capacity. In a post on X, he wrote:

“Glad to see a record increase in the number of Indian universities in the QS Asia University Rankings over the last decade. Our government remains committed to ensuring quality education for our youth, focusing on research and innovation.”

PM Modi emphasised that India’s progress represents the success of initiatives under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which promotes innovation, multidisciplinary learning, and international collaboration.

India’s Representation Grows Over Tenfold in a Decade

India’s presence in the QS Asia Rankings has expanded from 24 universities in 2016 to 294 in 2026, signifying a more than tenfold increase. The 2026 edition saw 137 new Indian entrants, the country’s largest-ever inclusion in a single ranking cycle.

Seven Indian institutions made it to the top 100, while 20 ranked within the top 200. Among them, IIT Delhi stood out as India’s highest-ranked university, securing the 59th position in Asia.

India also led the continent in two critical metrics — papers per faculty and staff with PhDs — underscoring the nation’s growing research and academic output. Notably, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad University of Technology (West Bengal) achieved the No. 1 position in Asia for research productivity.

Emerging Leaders in Indian Academia

A record number of Indian universities also achieved their best-ever rankings this year. Chandigarh University, BITS Pilani, Shoolini University, and OP Jindal Global University were among the standout performers, all showing significant improvements in academic reputation and research citations.

The number of Indian universities performing better than 90 percent of their Asian counterparts rose from just three in 2016 to eleven in 2026, demonstrating a sustained upward trend in quality and competitiveness.

The QS Asia 2026 rankings included 1,529 universities from 25 education systems, with 558 new institutions joining the list — making it the most extensive edition to date.

China Leads, India Closes the Gap

For this ranking cycle, China (Mainland) retained the top spot with 395 universities, followed closely by India with 294 — a gap that has narrowed substantially over the last decade.

The University of Hong Kong took first place overall, followed by Peking University, while Singapore’s NUS and NTU shared the third position.

India’s rapid advancement coincides with five years of the NEP 2020, a transformative policy designed to align Indian education with global standards through enhanced research funding, international collaborations, and interdisciplinary studies.

India’s remarkable rise in the QS Asia 2026 rankings marks not only an institutional triumph but also a national milestone. It signals a future where Indian universities are poised to lead global conversations in research, technology, and innovation — fulfilling the vision of an education system that empowers, inspires, and competes at a global level.