Centre for World University Rankings has published the academic rank of global universities for the year 2023 in which 68 Indian Universities have been ranked. Among these 68 listed Indian Universities, the top three positions are occupied by the IIM Ahmedabad, Indian Institute of Science and Tata Institute of Fundamental Research. Other important Universities making it to the top 10 positions of the list are Indian Institutes of Technology in Madras & Bombay, and the University of Delhi. The complete list can be checked on the website of the CWUR i.e. cwur.org.
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World University Rankings: Indian Universities List 2021 Latest Update as on 03 Sep 2026
Checked on 03 Sep 2026
As of 03 Sep 2026, no official source material was retrievable to confirm the latest standings of Indian universities in the World University Rankings for 2026 or 2027 cycles.
As of 03 Sep 2026, no official source material was retrievable to confirm the latest standings of Indian universities in the World University Rankings for 2026 or 2027 cycles. The article originally covers the 2021 edition of global rankings, including QS, THE, and ARWU lists featuring Indian institutions. Based on previous-year patterns, the QS World University Rankings 2027 edition is expected to have been published around June 2026, and the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2027 is anticipated around September–October 2026. India's NIRF Rankings 2026 are also likely released by August 2026. Students and aspirants seeking the most current World University Rankings: Indian Universities List should consult qs.com directly and cross-reference with nirfindia.org for India-specific data. No official confirmation of updated rankings or major changes to methodology is available from fetched sources as of today.
- QS World University Rankings 2027 edition expected to be released in mid-2026 (QS typically publishes annual rankings in June; 2026 edition was released around June 2026 — check qs.com for confirmation)
- Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2027 expected to be released in September–October 2026, based on previous-year pattern (THE released 2026 rankings in September 2025)
- NIRF Rankings 2026 (India-specific) expected to have been released in August 2026, as NIRF typically announces results in July–August each year
- Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU/Shanghai Rankings) 2026 edition expected around August 2026, based on historical annual release pattern
- Indian universities' updated placement in global rankings for 2026–27 cycle expected to be widely covered by September–October 2026 across major education portals
- Students tracking Indian university standings in world rankings should verify updated lists directly on qs.com, timeshighereducation.com, and nirfindia.org
Sources: NIRF India - Official Rankings Portal · QS World University Rankings - Official Site · Times Higher Education World University Rankings
The top ten ranked Indian Universities include
Following are the list of universities that have been ranked from 1 to 10 ranks:
- IIMA (Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad)
- IISC (Indian Institute of Science)
- TIFR (Tata Institute of Fundamental Research)
- IIT-Madras(Indian Institute of Technology, Madras)
- IIT-Bombay
- University of Delhi
- IIT-Delhi
- IIT-Kharagpur
- Panjab University
- IIT-Kanpur
Indian Universities ranked from 11 to 20
Following these universities, other universities are also listed in the rankings of 11 to 20. These are as follows:
- Jawaharlal Nehru University
- Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research
- Banaras Hindu University
- All India Institute of Medical Sciences New Delhi
- Indian University of Technology-Roorkee
- Indian Institute of Technology-Guwahati
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research
- Jadavpur University
- Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science
- University of Calcutta
Indian Universities ranked from 21 to 30
Major Changes This Year
No major change has been officially announced yet based on available source material. Tentatively, QS has in recent years introduced new metrics such as sustainability and employability into its rankings methodology — students should check qs.com for any confirmed changes to the 2027 edition. THE also periodically revises its pillar weightings. For India-specific rankings, NIRF may introduce or adjust subject-specific ranking categories. All such changes remain unconfirmed from official sources as of 03 Sep 2026 and should be treated as expected possibilities, not confirmed facts.
- Visva-Bharati University
- Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Pune
- Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research
- Aligarh Muslim University
- Anna University
- Indian Agricultural Research Institute
- University of Hyderabad
- XLRI-Xavier School of Management
- Vellore Institute of Technology
- Indian Institute of Science, Education and Research, Kolkata
Indian Universities ranked from 31 to 40
The Universities Occupying ranks 31 to 40 are listed below:
- National Institute of Technology, Rourkela
- Savitribai Phule Pune University
- Manipal Academy of Higher Education
- Indian Institute of Technology (Indian School of Mines), Dhanbad
- Indian Institute of Technology, Indore
- Indian Institute of Technology (BHU) Varanasi
- Thapar Institute of Engineering & Technology
- Birla Institute of Technology & Science, Pilani
- Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata
- Tamil Nadu Dr M.G.R. Medical University
Indian Universities ranked from 41 to 50
From ranks 41 to 50, the listed Indian Universities are mentioned below in the sequence:
- Indian Institute of Technology-Hyderabad
- Indian Institute of Management-Calcutta
- National Institute of Technology-Tiruchirappalli
- Bharathiar University
- Homi Bhabha National Institute
- Indian Institute of Technology, Bhubaneswar
- University of Jammu
- University of Rajasthan
- Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham
- Jamia Milia Islamia respectively
Indian Universities ranked from 51 to 60
At the bottom of the list of Indian Universities, ranging from 51 to 60 are
- Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences
- Guru Nanak Dev University
- University of Madras
- Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences
- Indian Institute of Science, Education & Research, Bhopal
- Annamalai University
- Institute of Chemical Technology
- Mumbai, Indian Institute of Technology, Gandhinagar
- Indian Institute of Engineering, Science & Technology, Shibpur
- Amity University
The other 8 Indian Universities which are there in the list are as follows:
- Tezpur University
- Indian Institute of Science Education & Research, Thiruvananthapuram
- Punjab Agricultural University
- SRM Institute of Science & Technology
- SASTRA
- Pondicherry University
- National Institute of Mental Health & Neurosciences
- National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education & Research, SAS Nagar
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Indian universities typically appear in the QS World University Rankings top 500?
Based on the 2021 and subsequent editions, IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi, IISc Bangalore, and IIT Madras have consistently ranked among the top 500 globally in QS rankings. Exact 2026–27 positions should be verified on qs.com as no official 2027 data was confirmed at this time.
Has the QS World University Rankings 2027 list featuring Indian universities been released?
Based on historical patterns, QS typically releases annual rankings in June. The 2027 edition may have been released around June 2026, but this could not be officially confirmed from fetched sources as of 03 Sep 2026. Check qs.com for the latest list.
When are the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2027 expected?
Based on previous-year pattern, THE typically releases its annual World University Rankings in September–October. The 2027 edition is tentatively expected around September–October 2026. This is not officially confirmed yet.
What is India's NIRF Ranking and how does it relate to world university rankings?
NIRF (National Institutional Ranking Framework) is India's own domestic university ranking system, released annually by the Ministry of Education. It is separate from QS or THE global rankings. NIRF 2026 results are tentatively expected to have been released around August 2026 based on past patterns — verify on nirfindia.org.
Which is the top-ranked Indian university in world university rankings as of the latest available data?
IIT Bombay and IISc Bangalore have traded the top position among Indian universities in QS and THE rankings respectively in recent years. For the most current confirmed ranking, refer to qs.com or timeshighereducation.com directly, as no 2026–27 official data was confirmed here.
Are there any changes to the methodology of world university rankings affecting Indian universities?
QS has previously introduced sustainability and employability metrics, and THE adjusts pillar weightings periodically. No officially confirmed methodology changes for the 2027 edition are available from fetched sources as of 03 Sep 2026. Treat this as tentative.
How many Indian universities are in the QS World University Rankings 2021 list?
In the QS World University Rankings 2021 edition (the year this article originally covers), approximately 21 Indian universities featured in the global list, with IIT Bombay being the highest-ranked Indian institution. Updated figures for 2026–27 should be confirmed on qs.com.
What should students do to stay updated on Indian universities' world ranking status?
Students should directly visit qs.com, timeshighereducation.com, and nirfindia.org for the most current and officially confirmed ranking data. Relying on third-party education portals for ranking positions carries a risk of outdated information.










