Most top Indian institutions drop in QS Asia 2026 rankings
New Delhi: Nine of the top 10 Indian institutions, including seven Indian Institutes of Technology IITs, have seen a decline in their positions in the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) Asia University Rankings 2026.
According to the rankings released by QS, IIT, Delhi, remains the country’s top-ranked institution for the second consecutive year but has fallen 15 places to the 59th position, its lowest in recent years.
Among the top 10 Indian institutions, IIT, Bombay, recorded the steepest fall, dropping 23 ranks to 71st. IIT, Bombay, had been India’s highest-ranked institution between 2021 and 2024.
Five IITs – Delhi, Madras, Bombay, Kanpur, and Kharagpur – recorded their lowest ranks in recent years.
Globally, the University of Hong Kong secured the top spot, followed by China’s Peking University in second place and the National University of Singapore and Nanyang Technological University in joint third. Institutions from Hong Kong, Mainland China, Singapore, South Korea, and Malaysia dominate the top 20 positions.
