In the 2026 QS university sustainability rankings, the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT-D) has secured the top position as India’s leading institution for the second consecutive year. IIT-D achieved a rank of 205, demonstrating strong sustainability performance with a score of 83.1. Following IIT-D, the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT-B) is ranked 235 and the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur (IIT-KGP) is at 236. IIT Delhi also made it to the top 100 global institutions for employability and outcomes, ranking 93rd, while IIT Kharagpur and IIT Bombay followed closely at 96th and 100th, respectively, in the environmental impact category.
This year, 26 new universities entered the rankings, making India one of only four higher education systems with over 100 universities listed. Among the 103 Indian universities, 32 improved their rankings, 15 maintained their positions, and 30 dropped in rank. IIT Delhi remains India’s top-performing institution, as highlighted by the London-based QS. Of the 15 IITs included in this year’s rankings, six have shown improvement compared to 2025. IIT Delhi has made notable progress since the inaugural rankings three years prior.
Other Indian institutions that made it into the top 700 include IIT Madras, IIT Kanpur, IIT Roorkee, Vellore Institute of Technology, Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bangalore, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, IIT BHU Varanasi, and IIT (Indian School of Mines) Dhanbad. Jessica Turner, CEO of QS, emphasized that Indian universities excel in knowledge exchange and environmental sustainability, underscoring the critical role of higher education in combating climate change and highlighting India’s contributions to sustainable development.