New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has lauded the significant increase in the number of Indian universities featured in the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) Asia University Rankings. Modi expressed his delight on Tuesday, noting the remarkable progress in the Indian higher education sector.
In a statement released on Tuesday, Modi highlighted the impressive surge from 24 Indian universities in the 2016 rankings to 294 in the 2026 report. This substantial increase underscores the country's commitment to improving educational quality and expanding its educational infrastructure. Modi shared his remarks on X (formerly Twitter), linking to the latest rankings and reiterating his government's dedication to fostering quality education with a strong emphasis on research and innovation. He affirmed that the creation of institutional capacity through the establishment of more educational institutions across the nation remains a paramount objective.
The Prime Minister emphasized the government's commitment to ensuring quality education for the nation's youth, with a particular focus on research and innovation. He added that the government is actively building institutional capacities by enabling more educational institutions throughout India.
The QS Asia University Rankings serve as a comprehensive evaluation of higher education institutions in Asia, assessing factors such as academic reputation, employer reputation, faculty-student ratio, research output, and internationalization. The improved representation of Indian universities reflects the country's growing prominence as a hub for education and research.
According to the latest rankings, India now trails only China in terms of representation, with 395 universities. India has welcomed 137 new entrants to the rankings this year. Five Indian institutions are among Asia's top 10 for papers per faculty, and 28 are in the top 50, surpassing China's count. Seven Indian institutions are ranked in the continental top 100.
Several Indian institutions have been recognized for their outstanding performance. The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi has maintained its position as the nation's leading institution, securing 59th place. The Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bangalore follows at 64th, and IIT Madras is ranked 70th. These institutions, along with others like Delhi University, have consistently demonstrated their commitment to academic excellence and research.
