**Executive Summary**
The QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026, released on March 25, 2026, mark the maiden entry of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) institutions into global rankings. This achievement aligns with the national "Viksit Bharat" vision and underscores the government’s priority to develop skilled human capital in agricultural sciences. Two premier deemed universities, IVRI and IARI, secured historic placements in the Veterinary Science and Agriculture & Forestry categories.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Global Ranking Achievements**
* **ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI):** Secured a place in the 51–100 ranking band, becoming the only Indian university featured in the top 100 for the Veterinary Science category.
* **ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI):** Debuted in the 151–200 band for the Agriculture & Forestry category.
* **National Representation:** A total of 10 Indian universities were listed in the Agriculture & Forestry category among 475 globally.
* **Notable Entries:** Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University made its maiden entry (301–350 band), while Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) featured in the 201–250 band.
**Evaluation and Methodology**
* **Scope:** The 2026 QS edition evaluated over 21,000 academic programs from more than 1,900 universities.
* **Parameters:** Rankings were determined based on academic reputation, employer reputation, research citations, and international collaboration.
**Institutional Strategy and Excellence**
* **NAREES Framework:** The results reflect the success of the National Agricultural Research Education and Extension System (NAREES) in building a multidisciplinary, research-intensive ecosystem.
* **Core Competencies:** Success was driven by an integrated approach combining fundamental research, translational science, and field-level outreach.
* **Strategic Focus:** Contributions to national programs regarding crop improvement, livestock enhancement, and climate-resilient agriculture were critical factors.
**Impact Analysis**
**ICAR Deemed Universities (IVRI and IARI)**
**Impact**
These institutions have gained global recognition as benchmarks for excellence, validating their research quality and societal impact on a world stage.
**Action Required**
Continue focusing on high-impact research, sustaining international collaborations, and leveraging their alumni networks to maintain and improve global standing.
**State Agricultural Universities (e.g., TNAU, CCSHAU)**
**Impact**
The inclusion of regional universities in the QS rankings signals a rising global standard across the broader Indian agricultural education system.
**Action Required**
Align institutional goals with global parameters like research citations and international collaboration to climb higher in future ranking bands.
**Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) / Ministry of Agriculture**
**Impact**
The rankings confirm the effectiveness of recent efforts to strengthen the agricultural education and extension ecosystem within the NAREES framework.
**Action Required**
Continue to support and fund multidisciplinary and research-intensive programs to further the goal of "Viksit Bharat" and develop high-quality human capital.
Key Entities Referenced
Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR): The apex body responsible for coordinating, guiding, and managing research and education in agriculture including horticulture, fisheries, and animal sciences in India.
QS World University Rankings by Subject: A global ranking platform that featured Indian agricultural institutions for the first time in its 2026 edition for Veterinary Science and Agriculture & Forestry.
ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI), Bareilly: The only Indian university to secure a place in the top 100 (51-100 band) globally in the Veterinary Science category.
ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi: A premier agricultural institute that made its debut in the 151–200 band in the Agriculture & Forestry category.
National Agricultural Research Education and Extension System (NAREES): The research and education ecosystem being developed into a world-class, multidisciplinary, and research-intensive framework.
Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare
ICAR Institutions Break New Ground in Global
Rankings, Marking Milestone for India’s
Agricultural Higher Education
Two Deemed Universities of ICAR Make Historic Debut in QS
World University Rankings - Subject wise 2026
Posted On: 27 MAR 2026 4:01PM by PIB Delhi
In a significant stride toward realizing the vision of a Viksit Bharat, Indian agricultural institutions have
registered their maiden entry in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026. This achievement
gains profound importance in light of the emphasis laid by the Prime Minister of India during the Chief
Secretaries’ conference in December 2025, where he underscored the critical need to develop skilled
human capital.
Responding to this national priority, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), under the
Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, has been tirelessly working to strengthen a world-class,
multidisciplinary, and research-intensive education ecosystem within the National Agricultural Research
Education and Extension System (NAREES). The latest QS rankings, released on March 25 by UK-based
analysts QS Quacquarelli Symonds, reflect the success of these concerted efforts. The 2026 edition
evaluated over 21,000 academic programs from more than 1,900 universities globally based on parameters
such as academic reputation, employer reputation, research citations, and international collaboration.For the first time, two ICAR institutions have earned a place on this prestigious global platform. ICAR-
Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Bareilly, has secured a place in the 51-100 ranking band, emerging as
the only Indian university featured among the top 100 in the Veterinary Science category. Meanwhile,
ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, has debuted in the 151–200 band in the
Agriculture & Forestry category, joining an elite group of Indian institutions.
Overall, the Agriculture & Forestry category saw 10 Indian universities listed among 475 globally.
Alongside IARI, the 151-200 band features Banaras Hindu University, University of Delhi, and IIT
Kharagpur, while Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) features in the 201-250 band. Notably,
Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, has also made its maiden entry in the
301-350 band.
Dr M.L. Jat, Secretary, DARE and Director General, ICAR says that the debut of ICAR’s Deemed
Universities is a testament to their sustained multidimensional contributions to basic and applied science
in agri-food and health systems. Their success is particularly noteworthy given the competitive global
landscape of agricultural sciences, where institutions are judged not only on research excellence but also
on societal impact. The strong performance of ICAR-IARI and IVRI underscores their integrated
approach, combining fundamental research, translational science, and field-level outreach, alongside their
vital contributions to national programs on crop and livestock improvement and climate-resilient
agriculture. A robust alumni network and enduring stakeholder trust have further bolstered their visibility
on the world map.
As India marches toward Viksit Bharat, the global recognition of ICAR’s premier institutions signals a
new era where the nation’s agricultural higher education is not just keeping pace with the world, but
setting the benchmark for excellence in science, innovation, and human capital development.
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