India has marked a new milestone in global higher education visibility with 54 institutions included in the QS World University Rankings 2026—the country’s highest representation to date. This places India fourth globally in terms of the number of ranked universities, following the United States, the United Kingdom, and China.
The rankings, released by global education analytics firm QS Quacquarelli Symonds, evaluated over 1,500 universities worldwide across indicators such as academic reputation, employer perception, faculty-student ratio, research productivity, and internationalisation. This year’s list reflects a growing presence of Asian universities, with notable improvements from India, China, and several Southeast Asian nations.
Among the eight Indian universities making their debut this year is Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT), located in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. KIIT has been ranked ninth among private universities in India and is the highest-ranked private university in Odisha. It also placed 55th among South Asian universities in the QS Asia University Rankings.
Founded in 1992, KIIT has expanded its academic offerings over the past three decades and has participated in regional rankings in recent years. Its entry into the QS World University Rankings comes amid a broader trend of Indian institutions increasing their global engagement and research output.
The surge in Indian representation is attributed in part to strategic efforts by universities to improve global partnerships, invest in faculty and infrastructure, and align academic programs with international standards.
QS officials noted that India’s growing presence signals a shift in global academic dynamics, with more institutions from emerging economies gaining international recognition. The 2026 rankings underscore the increasing competitiveness of higher education in the region.