The QS World University Rankings: Asia 2026 report shows that while Indian institutions have improved in their absolute scores, many of them slipped in ranking positions.
2026 Rankings
- University of Hong Kong secured the top position, surpassing Peking University (China), now ranked second.
- National University of Singapore (NUS) and Nanyang Technological University (NTU) shared the third spot.
- India’s best performer, IIT Delhi, slipped from 44th to 59th.
- IIT Bombay dropped 23 ranks to 71st, its biggest fall in recent years.
- The only notable Indian institution to improve was Chandigarh University, moving from 120th to 109th.
Reasons for India’s Relative Decline
- Stronger competition: Asian institutions, especially in China and Singapore, have increased investment in research, international partnerships, and faculty recruitment.
- Ranking expansion: The 2026 list included 1,529 universities, creating more competition.
- China added 261 new institutions, while India added 137, pushing rankings downward due to higher comparative benchmarks.
Key Weaknesses of Indian Institutions
- Low Research Impact: Citations per paper remain low compared to leading Asian universities. Indicates limited global research visibility.
- Poor Faculty-Student Ratio: IITs have large student loads and limited faculty strength. Scores remain far below leading East Asian institutions.
- Low Internationalisation: Very low foreign student and faculty numbers. Limits global exposure and collaborative research networks.
Strengths Noted
- Indian institutions scored strongly in:
- Academic reputation
- Employer reputation
- Staff qualification levels
- Research productivity (papers per faculty)
Way Forward
- Improve research quality and global collaboration for higher citation impact.
- Recruit more faculty and upgrade infrastructure to improve teaching capacity.
- Promote international exchanges, visiting faculty, and global academic partnerships.
- Align institutional reforms with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which emphasizes global competitiveness and research-driven learning.
Conclusion
The rankings indicate that while Indian universities are progressing, regional competitors are improving faster. Strengthening research ecosystems, internationalisation, and faculty capacity will be crucial to enhance India’s global academic standing.
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