India has made a strong mark in the latest QS World University Rankings: Asia 2026, with seven of its leading higher education institutions – including five IITs, the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, and Delhi University – featuring in the continent’s top 100 universities.
According to the rankings released by UK-based analytics firm Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) on Tuesday, the five IITs that secured spots in the top 100 are IIT-Delhi, IIT-Bombay, IIT-Madras, IIT-Kanpur and IIT-Kharagpur. Alongside them, IISc Bengaluru and the University of Delhi were the other Indian representatives in the elite list.
The QS Asia Rankings assess universities across multiple parameters, including academic reputation, employer reputation, faculty-student ratio, research output, and international collaboration. This year’s edition evaluated over 1,500 universities across Asia, making it one of the most comprehensive assessments so far.
While India’s showing in the top 100 is significant, education analysts note that none of the Indian institutions have yet broken into the top 50 bracket. Experts attribute this to lower international faculty representation and limited research citations compared to universities in East Asia and Southeast Asia.
Still, India’s growing footprint in the rankings signals positive momentum. Over 60 Indian universities made it to the top 500 list, showcasing a steady improvement in research quality and academic recognition.
Globally acclaimed institutions such as the University of Hong Kong, National University of Singapore, and Peking University continued to dominate the top positions in Asia.
