Pretty much like last year, this year too, IITs have emerged as the leading Indian institutions in the QS Asia University Rankings. However, despite their continued appearance in the top 100 Asian universities, several IITs have experienced a sharp decline in their rankings compared to the previous year.
QS Asia University Rankings 2026 – Top IITs This Year
A total of ten IITs have earned recognition in this year’s QS Asia University Rankings. Among these, five IITs have secured positions under the top 100 universities in Asia, with IIT Delhi leading the way, securing 1st rank in Southern Asia.
QS Asia University Rankings 2026 – List of Top-Ranking IITs
| Name of the Institution | Overall Score | Ranking |
| Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IITD) | 78.6 | 59 |
| Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IITM) | 75.1 | 70 |
| Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IITB) | 75 | 71 |
| Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IITK) | 73.4 | 77 |
| Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur (IIT-KGP) | 73.4 | 77 |
| Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee (IITR) | 66.2 | 114 |
| Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IITG) | 66.1 | 115 |
| Indian Institute of Technology BHU Varanasi (IIT BHU Varanasi) | 45.8 | 237 |
| Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad (IITH) | 43.1 | 270 |
| Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar (IITGN) | 41 | 300 |
QS Asia University Rankings 2026 – Leading IITs Experience a Downward Trajectory
The QS Asia University Rankings for 2026 reveal significant shifts in the positions of India’s premier IITs. While IIT Hyderabad and IIT BHU Varanasi have impressed everyone with their improved rankings, IIT Bombay, IIT Kharagpur, and IIT Delhi have witnessed a shocking decline.
Check the table below for an in-depth comparison of the newly released rankings for 2026 with the rankings of the previous year.
QS Asia University Rankings – Year 2025 v/s Year 2026
| Name of the Institute | Ranking 2025 | Ranking 2026 | Change |
| Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IITD) | 44 | 59 | -15 |
| Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IITM) | 56 | 70 | -14 |
| Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IITB) | 48 | 71 | -23 |
| Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IITK) | 67 | 77 | -10 |
| Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur (IIT-KGP) | 60 | 77 | -17 |
| Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee (IITR) | 108 | 114 | -6 |
| Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IITG) | 104 | 115 | -11 |
| Indian Institute of Technology BHU Varanasi (IIT BHU Varanasi) | 273 | 237 | +36 |
| Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad (IITH) | 320 | 270 | +50 |
| Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar (IITGN) | 302 | 300 | +2 |
QS Rankings for Asian Universities – Understanding the Ups and Downs
Let us now examine what could’ve possibly impacted the rank shifts of the IITs that got featured in this year’s QS Asia University Rankings.
What Went Wrong with Leading IITs in QS Asia University Rankings 2026?
2. Despite being world-class institutions, the faculty/student ratio score for IIT Kharagpur (10.6), IIT Kanpur (16.1), and IIT Bombay (16.1) is lower than desired, suggesting a need for more faculty to maintain quality.
3. While IIT Kharagpur showcases a strong global research network score of 70.1 (second highest after IIT Delhi), their Employment outcomes (47.7) and Academic Reputation (42.5) remains comparatively modest as compared to other IITs.
What Helped IIT Hyderabad and IIT BHU Varanasi Perform Better in QS Asia University Rankings 2026?
1. IIT BHU Varanasi’s high Citations per Faculty (98) score demonstrates the institute’s impactful and widely recognized research impact within the global academic community.
2. IIT Hyderabad’s impressive Papers per Faculty (98.6) score highlights its commitment to fostering a vibrant research ecosystem, showcasing its high research productivity.
QS Rankings for Asian Universities – Essential Parameters that Define Success
QS Rankings for Asian Universities – Ranking Criteria & Weightage
| Indicator | Weightage |
| Academic Reputation | 30% |
| Employer Reputation | 20% |
| Faculty Student Ratio | 10% |
| Citations Per Paper | 10% |
| International Research Network | 10% |
| Staff With a PhD | 5% |
| Papers Per Faculty | 5% |
| Proportion of International Faculty | 2.5% |
| Proportion of International Students | 2.5% |
| Inbound Exchange Students | 2.5% |
| Outbound Exchange Students | 2.5% |
Conclusion
With ten IITs featured in this year’s QS Asia University Rankings — and five securing places within Asia’s top 100 — these institutions continue to represent the backbone of India’s academic and research excellence.
While the rankings highlight the decline in the rankings of IIT Delhi, IIT Madras, and IIT Bombay this year, they also bring attention to rising performers like IIT Hyderabad and IIT BHU Varanasi, which have demonstrated remarkable improvement in their research and publication outputs.
Overall, this year’s results serve as a reminder that while India’s higher education system continues to make its mark in Asia, there is still ample scope for improvement and growth.