3 weeks ago
Indian institutions in QS rankings rise from 11 to 52
There is a big worldwide list called the QS World University Rankings that shows how good universities are.
In 2015, only 11 universities and colleges from India were on that list.
That year, the Indian government started a program called NIRF to rank its own schools every year.
The government wanted schools to compete and work hard to get better.
Now, 52 Indian schools are on the world list — a big jump from 11.
Many more schools also joined the Indian rankings: about 4,030 in 2021 and almost 7,700 by 2025.
The best Indian school on the world list this time is IIT Delhi, which moved up to 118th place, followed by IIT Bombay and IIT Madras.
A government minister named Sukanta Majumdar told India's parliament, the Lok Sabha, about this progress.
He said the government is helping schools by giving money to state universities and letting some special universities run themselves.
He said these changes show that Indian schools are getting better at teaching, research, and helping students succeed.
Indian institutions in the QS World University Rankings rose from 11 in QS WUR 2015 to 52 in QS WUR 2027.
Minister of State for Education Sukanta Majumdar shared the figures in a written reply to the Lok Sabha on Monday.
NIRF applications increased from 6,272 in 2021 to 14,163 in 2025, while unique participating institutions rose from 4,030 to 7,692.
Among the 52 ranked institutions in QS 2027, 26 improved positions, 15 slipped, nine held steady and two entered the rankings for the first time.
IIT Delhi was India's best performer at 118th globally, and the government credited NIRF, the Institutions of Eminence scheme, NEP 2020 and RUSA/PM USHA funding.
- Who
- Minister of State for Education Sukanta Majumdar, on behalf of the Government of India, informed the Lok Sabha.
- What
- The number of Indian institutions in the QS World University Rankings increased from 11 in QS WUR 2015 to 52 in QS WUR 2027.
- Where
- Lok Sabha, New Delhi.
- When
- Monday, August 10, per the PTI report.
- Why
- To highlight the impact of NIRF and other government initiatives aimed at improving higher education quality since 2015.
Key facts
- Indian institutions in QS WUR 2015
- 11
- Indian institutions in QS WUR 2027
- 52
- NIRF launch year
- 2015
- NIRF applications 2021
- 6,272
- NIRF applications 2025
- 14,163
- Unique NIRF institutions 2021
- 4,030
- Unique NIRF institutions 2025
- 7,692
- Best Indian institution (QS 2027)
- IIT Delhi, 118th globally
Quotes
Minister of State for Education Sukanta Majumdar
Indian Minister of State for Education
“"Since, the launch of NIRF, there has been increase in the number of institutions appearing in the QS World University Rankings, it has increased from 11 institutions in QS WUR 2015 to 52 in QS WUR 2027"”
theprint.in
“"To improve quality of education, several initiatives have been institutionalised in Centrally Funded Institutions"”
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