The dominance of Indian higher education institutions on the global educational stage continues to strengthen. The latest QS World University Rankings 2027 features a record number of 52 universities and institutions from India. Ten years ago, only 11 Indian institutions were represented in this ranking.
IIT Delhi achieved the greatest success in the new ranking, jumping five positions to become the best institution in India globally, securing the 118th spot. Among the leading institutions in the country, the following positions were noted:
- IIT Delhi: 118th place (No. 1 in India)
- IIT Bombay: 134th place
- IIT Madras: 170th place
- IIT Kharagpur: 205th place
- IISc Bangalore: 221st place
In addition to the traditional and authoritative IITs, private and other technical educational institutions have demonstrated significant success. VIT made an impressive leap to the 94th position, reaching 597th place, while BITS Pilani rose 93 positions to secure the 575th place. There has also been a noticeable improvement in the global ranking for IIT Hyderabad and Jamia Millia Islamia.
Reasons for the transformation of Indian education
The main reason for the outstanding performance of Indian institutions internationally is considered to be the large-scale reforms implemented by the central government and the Ministry of Education. One of the key factors is the influence of the National Education Policy (NEP 2020). The emphasis placed within NEP 2020 on research, innovation, interdisciplinary learning, and infrastructure is now reflected in international rankings.
The expanding coverage of the domestic NIRF ranking is also important: if 4030 institutions participated in it in 2021, this number increased to 7692 by 2025. Furthermore, after 2014, 43 new premier institutions were established in the country, including 7 new IITs, 8 central universities, and 9 new IIMs. Funding of public universities through programs such as 'Institution of Eminence', RUSA, and PM-USHA has also contributed to their improved ranking.
