Parliament Question: Performance of IITs in QS Asia University Rankings 2026

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2760 ANSWERED ON 09/03/2026 Performance of IITs in QS Asia University Rankings 2026 2760. Dr. D Ravi Kumar: Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government has assessed the performance of Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) in the QS Asia University Rankings 2026; (b) if so, the key findings of such assessment; (c) whether the Government proposes to undertake targeted measures to strengthen the IIT system, including enhanced funding for high-impact research, international faculty and student mobility, industry-linked doctoral programmes and global academic collaborations under the National Education Policy, 2020; and (d) if so, the details thereof along with the proposed timelines for implementation and if not, the reasons therefor? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION (DR. SUKANTA MAJUMDAR) (a) to (d): The representation of Indian Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in QS Asia University Rankings (QS AUR) has improved significantly over the years. From 100 institutions ranked in 2020, the number increased steadily to 294 in 2026. In the recently released Rankings 2026, the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) continue to lead, with IIT Delhi emerging as the top-ranked Indian institution for the second consecutive year, securing the 59th position in Asia, followed by IIT Madras at 70th and IIT Bombay at 71st. A total of 5 IITs i.e. IIT Delhi, IIT Madras, IIT Bombay, IIT Kanpur, and IIT Kharagpur have secured spots within the top 100 rankings.To enhance the quality of higher education, the Government of India (GoI) has undertaken several measures for the provision of quality infrastructure, strengthening of the research and innovation ecosystem, promotion of industry–academia linkages which inter- alia include the following: i. With an objective of Research & Development driven integration of academic, industry and enterprise creation, Research Parks have been set up in premier HEIs including eight IITs to establish research ecosystem around these institutions. These research parks facilitate funded research from Industry, promoting Industry- Academia collaborations. ii. To attract the best minds to pursue high - quality research in India's premier academic institutions, the Government launched Prime Minister’s Research Fellows (PMRF) Scheme in 2018-19 with total financial outlay of Rs. 1650 Crores. The scheme aimed to attract the best and brightest minds to pursue high – quality research in India’s premier academic institutions with enhanced financial support which includes fellowship and research grant. Under PMRF, 3688 scholars have been admitted. iii. In alignment with the principles of NEP 2020, the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF), has been established as an apex body to provide high-level strategic direction for research, innovation and entrepreneurship in the fields of natural sciences including mathematical sciences, engineering and technology, environmental and earth sciences, health and agriculture. iv. The Government has approved the One Nation One Subscription (ONOS) scheme to expand access to scholarly journals to a vast diaspora of students, faculty, researchers and scientists of all disciplines, of all HEIs and Research & Development centers including IITs. A total of about Rs. 6,000 crore has been allocated for the scheme for 3 calendar years, 2025, 2026 and 2027. v. To conduct interdisciplinary research, develop cutting-edge applications, and create scalable solutions in three areas of health, sustainable cities and Agriculture, the Government has established three Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Artificial intelligence (Al), one each in the areas of health, sustainable cities and agriculture at IISc Bengaluru, IIT Kanpur and IIT Ropar respectively, with a total financial outlay of Rs. 990.00 Cr over the period of FY 2023- 24 to FY 2027-28. An AI CoE in the field of Education with an outlay of Rs. 500 crores has also been established in IIT Madras.Various IITs have collaborated with the International Universities/Institutions in line with the objectives of the National Education Policy, 2020. Overseas campuses of IITs have also been established, viz. campus of IIT, Madaras at Zanibar; IIT, Delhi at Abu Dhabi. *****