Beyond the Ranking Rush: India’s Education Ascent Needs More Than Elite Stars 

India’s higher education sector has achieved a remarkable milestone, with 54 institutions making it to the QS World University Rankings 2026 – a fivefold rise from 2014 – led by IIT Delhi’s record 123rd rank. This success stems from QS’s revamped metrics emphasizing international research, sustainability, and employability, as well as the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020’s focus on multidisciplinary learning, global partnerships, and research innovation.

While IITs and other elite institutions dominate, the rise of universities like Delhi University, VIT, and Chandigarh University signals broader progress. However, challenges persist, including a poor student-faculty ratio, slow foreign student growth under the ‘Study in India’ program, and delays in establishing the Higher Education Commission of India (HECI). The uneven pace of improvement risks widening the gap between top-tier and mid-tier universities. To sustain momentum, India must invest in faculty development, empower mid-level institutions, and strengthen subject-specific excellence.

Streamlining visa policies, enhancing campus internationalization, and adopting global curricula are crucial to attract international talent. Ultimately, India’s true educational success will be measured not just by elite rankings but by a system-wide transformation that uplifts all institutions and fosters inclusive national progress.

Beyond the Ranking Rush: India's Education Ascent Needs More Than Elite Stars 
Beyond the Ranking Rush: India’s Education Ascent Needs More Than Elite Stars 

Beyond the Ranking Rush: India’s Education Ascent Needs More Than Elite Stars 

India’s higher education sector is buzzing. The recent QS World University Rankings for 2026 show a dramatic leap: 54 Indian institutions featured, a five-fold increase from just 11 in 2014, making India the fourth most represented nation globally, trailing only the US, UK, and China. The crowning achievement was IIT Delhi soaring to 123rd place, India’s highest-ever rank. Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan hailed this as a direct outcome of the transformative National Education Policy 2020 (NEP). But beneath the celebratory headlines lies a critical question: Does this surge signal a genuine systemic shift, or is it primarily an elite drive leaving the broader ecosystem behind? 

Unpacking the Rankings Rise: Method and Momentum 

The jump isn’t accidental. Two key forces converged: 

  • Evolving Metrics: QS refined its methodology to be more holistic. Introducing indicators like international research networks, sustainability, and employment outcomes, and shifting from total citations to “citations per faculty” created a fairer playing field. This particularly benefited institutions like IIT Delhi and Bombay, whose strong engineering research (traditionally fewer citations than life sciences) and excellent placement records were now better captured. 
  • Policy Alignment: The NEP 2020’s emphasis on multidisciplinary learning, research, innovation, and global partnerships provided a crucial framework. Many institutions strategically pursued international collaborations and joint publications, boosting their scores in the new “international research network” metric. The policy shift acted as a catalyst for proactive global engagement. 

Beyond the IIT Shine: Glimmers of Wider Progress 

While the IITs and a few top universities dominate the highest ranks, the 2026 data offers encouraging signs of broader momentum: 

  • 8 New Entrants: India saw the highest number of new institutions entering the rankings globally this year. 
  • Widespread Improvement: Nearly 50% of all participating Indian institutions improved their global standing. This includes diverse players like the University of Delhi, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), and Chandigarh University – evidence that progress isn’t confined to the absolute elite. 
  • Blueprint for Aspiration: The success of leading institutions under the NEP framework provides a tangible model for mid-tier universities striving to adapt to evolving national and global benchmarks. 

The Persistent Gaps: Where the “Systemic Shift” Stumbles 

Despite the positive trajectory, deep-rooted challenges threaten to capsize India’s aspirations for true internationalization and equitable quality: 

  • Chronic Understaffing: India’s student-faculty ratio (24:1) remains significantly worse than the OECD average (16:1). This strains teaching quality and hinders research output – core pillars of global rankings and genuine excellence. 
  • The Diversity Deficit: Efforts like the ‘Study in India’ initiative struggle. Foreign student enrollment (~72,000 in 2024-25) languishes far below the target (200,000), reflecting challenges in global appeal, visa processes, scholarships, and campus internationalization. 
  • Regulatory Limbo: The critical Higher Education Commission of India (HECI), envisioned by the NEP to unify and streamline regulation, faces delays, leaving a fragmented oversight system. 
  • The Speed Divide: Progress remains profoundly uneven. While elite institutions sprint ahead, many others face a steep, resource-intensive climb to adapt. 

From Elite Islands to a Thriving Mainland: The Roadmap Ahead 

Consolidating gains into genuine, system-wide transformation requires focused action on six fronts: 

  • Empowering the Middle Tier: Invest in targeted funding, mentorship programs led by top institutions, and research capacity building specifically for mid-tier and state public universities. Inclusive progress is key. 
  • Building the Academic Backbone: Urgently expand, support, and develop the academic workforce – improving recruitment, retention, and continuous professional development to tackle the faculty shortage. 
  • Championing Regional & Subject Excellence: Identify and support institutions excelling in specific domains (agriculture, humanities, life sciences) to shine in subject-specific global rankings, diversifying India’s strengths. 
  • Revamping “Study in India”: Go beyond targets. Simplify visas, boost scholarships, enhance global marketing, and crucially, improve the on-campus experience for international students. 
  • Internationalization at Home: Integrate global curricula, pedagogies, and intercultural learning into domestic programs. This builds global competence for Indian students and makes campuses more attractive internationally. 
  • Fast-Track HECI & Systemic Foundations: Prioritize establishing a functional HECI focused not just on regulation, but on enhancing “ranking literacy,” tracking global engagement metrics (research, mobility), and aligning with SDGs. 

The True Measure of Success 

India’s QS ranking surge is undeniably promising. It reflects focused effort, policy alignment, and the undeniable excellence of its top institutions. However, mistaking elite achievement for systemic reform would be a profound error. The real test lies not in how high IIT Delhi climbs, but in how many institutions across India’s vast and diverse higher education landscape are lifted alongside it. Closing the structural gaps – faculty, funding, diversity, regulation – is paramount. Only then will India’s ranking rise translate into a genuine, equitable, and sustainable transformation of its higher education ecosystem, empowering millions of students and fueling national progress. The baton, as the article suggests, must now be passed.