India's Performance in QS World University Sustainability Rankings 2026

Nov 18, 2025 Aakanksha Singh

[{"selector":"#anim-60c383bf-e55a-4a39-9137-352120768c0c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1b469130-1c4e-413f-b05b-2f08dda399fa","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-117.26619%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] QS Quacquarelli Symonds, global higher education experts, have released the QS World University Rankings: Sustainability 2026 on November 18, 2025. Dashed Trail Dashed Trail Photo: Pexels

[{"selector":"#anim-8a8873d1-567d-496a-9396-852bd0a2240a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-48b43123-f03e-4964-bfec-720884087d45","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-117.26619%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Lund University in Sweden has taken the top spot for the first time since the ranking was established in 2023. The University of Toronto had been the best in the world in 2024 and 2025, and now drops to second place. Dashed Trail Dashed Trail Photo: Freepik

[{"selector":"#anim-5816b2f1-713b-4598-b06f-3d37aaad69d9","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4a392343-14ef-4968-add8-ce57ab9f7712","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-117.26619%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] India ranks fourth globally in the QS World University Sustainability Rankings 2026, with 103 universities featured, making it one of only four countries to cross the 100-institution mark.​ Dashed Trail Dashed Trail Photo: Freepik

[{"selector":"#anim-4d75243d-7c20-493a-abea-4a1a499e463c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-767d1c91-1601-4ab5-91f4-9e83c435078c","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-117.26619%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] 32 Indian institutions improved their ranks, 15 maintained their positions, and 30 dropped compared to last year. Dashed Trail Dashed Trail Photo: kmc.du.ac.in

[{"selector":"#anim-2a0def9d-e862-49f2-b975-447b93cf9dec","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c758b8e9-17f1-474d-8d1e-6dab50e443d6","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-117.26619%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IITD) is India’s best performer at 205th, and six IITs improved their positions this year. Dashed Trail Dashed Trail Photo: iitd.ac.in

[{"selector":"#anim-74b2c907-e34c-4467-9202-b8b02a9d5de3","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ef73771e-704d-4ad2-a17a-736429661211","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-117.26619%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] India has 26 new entries this year; the second-highest number worldwide after China. Dashed Trail Dashed Trail Photo: iitr.ac.in

[{"selector":"#anim-40ee750b-1228-4105-862a-9aa77cd5af7b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f3160c8f-3c8b-453c-95c3-198394b11bfb","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-117.26619%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Indian institutions excelled in Environmental Impact, Social Impact, and Governance categories, with standout positions in: Knowledge Exchange (University of Delhi, 94th globally) Environmental Sustainability (IIT Kharagpur, 49th) Employability Outcomes (IIT Delhi, 93rd; IIT Kharagpur, 96th) Governance (University of Delhi, up 31 places to 187th) Dashed Trail Dashed Trail Photo: lsr.edu.in

[{"selector":"#anim-e01b1739-a395-427d-aa2b-7be76b9d1552","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c6f63326-6d29-4de5-a728-cce69d0963bd","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-117.26619%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Nine institutions scored above 84 in Environmental Education, demonstrating expertise in Earth and Environmental sciences. Dashed Trail Dashed Trail Photo: Freepik

[{"selector":"#anim-869cfbc6-2a9b-472a-815f-45d255224735","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-17826d04-3bc7-4279-9677-814268e80fae","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-117.26619%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Six IITs improved their placement, showcasing robust advancements in research and employability outcomes. Dashed Trail Dashed Trail Photo: Freepik

[{"selector":"#anim-86aa7f07-2248-43c6-8379-67e77b8bab69","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-bd3bd7ef-bfc6-4496-a0d3-0b4e909a4df7","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-116.10739%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Institutions achieving their highest-ever ranks this year include Vellore Institute of Technology (352), IIT Roorkee (352), Shoolini University (522), Lovely Professional University (544), Panjab University (569), Banaras Hindu University (594), NIT Rourkela (652), IIT BHU Varanasi (672), and UPES (682). Dashed Trail Dashed Trail Photo: Freepik

[{"selector":"#anim-438b1e7e-42b4-4f71-bae4-d986bdbcc7bd","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-19328404-64fa-46b3-a166-82e0363815f6","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-116.10739%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Environmental Education saw significant gains, with nine institutions scoring above 84, demonstrating excellence in Earth and Environment disciplines. Dashed Trail Dashed Trail Photo: Freepik

[{"selector":"#anim-de7f867f-ffb2-4a56-a2f0-73e256784dfb","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b71088ca-2e51-48ae-a0d5-711791e341a8","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-116.77852%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] “Overall, Indian universities excel in knowledge exchange and environmental sustainability. The higher education system also boasts some outstanding individual performances, especially among the IITs and institutions such as the University of Delhi,” said Jessica Turner, CEO of QS. Dashed Trail Dashed Trail Photo: Pexels

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India's Performance in QS World University Sustainability Rankings 2026

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