IISc Bengaluru

India’s presence in global higher education rankings has expanded significantly over the past decade, with the number of Indian institutions featured in the QS World University Rankings rising from 11 in 2015 to 52 in the 2027 edition, the Centre informed the Lok Sabha on Monday. The government linked the growth to efforts to strengthen the quality, competitiveness and global visibility of Indian higher education institutions following the launch of the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) in 2015. NIRF was introduced to assess and rank higher education institutions across the country. Its evaluation framework covers teaching, learning and resources; research and professional practices; graduation outcomes; outreach and inclusivity; and peer perception. NIRF participation more than doubles The government response also highlighted a substantial rise in participation in the national ranking exercise. The number of applications submitted to NIRF increased from 6,272 in 2021 to 14,163 in 2025. Over the same period, the number of unique institutions participating in NIRF grew from 4,030 to 7,692, reflecting wider participation across India’s higher education sector. More Indian institutions make gains in QS rankings The QS World University Rankings 2027 indicate that India’s progress is increasingly extending beyond the country’s traditional IIT-led group of institutions. Of the 52 Indian institutions included in the latest rankings, 26 improved their positions, while nine retained their previous ranks. Another 15 institutions saw their rankings decline, while two institutions made their debut in the global rankings. Eighteen Indian institutions recorded their highest-ever QS positions, with 13 of them coming from outside the IIT system. Among the leading Indian institutions, IIT Delhi moved up five places to rank 118th globally, equalling the highest position ever attained by an Indian institution. IIT Bombay, which had reached the same position in the 2026 edition, slipped five places to 134th. IIT Madras improved to 170th, while IIT Kharagpur climbed to 205th. IISc Bengaluru was placed at 221st. Several non-IIT institutions recorded particularly notable gains. Shoolini University moved up 51 places to 452nd, while BITS Pilani jumped 93 places to 575th. VIT made one of the biggest advances, rising 94 places to 597th. IIT Hyderabad improved by 76 places, while Jamia Millia Islamia climbed more than 75 positions to rank 686th. NEP 2020 among key government initiatives The Centre attributed the improvement in the global standing of Indian institutions to a range of policy measures, including initiatives introduced under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. The policy places emphasis on multidisciplinary education, critical thinking, research and innovation, improved infrastructure and faculty development. The government also cited the Institutions of Eminence scheme, funding and institutional support provided through RUSA and PM-USHA, and the expansion of premier higher education institutions as contributing factors. Since 2014, the government said, 43 new premier institutions have been established, including seven IITs, eight Central universities and nine IIMs. The rising number of Indian institutions in the QS rankings, alongside broader participation in NIRF, points to a widening global footprint for India’s higher education sector and growing competition among institutions to improve academic and research performance. Source: Indian Express