IIT Delhi leads India in QS sustainability rankings 2026 at rank 205

India strengthened its presence in the QS World University Rankings for Sustainability 2026, with the latest list released showing 103 domestic institutions included, the fourth-highest count after the United States, China, and the United Kingdom.

The rankings, compiled by London-based QS Quacquarelli Symonds, evaluate universities on environmental and social sustainability using indicators that measure environmental research, sustainability teaching, equality, employability, governance, knowledge exchange, and health and wellbeing.

Lund University in Sweden secured the top global position, while universities from the UK, Canada, Sweden, and the US filled most spots in the top 15.

Nearly 2,000 institutions from more than 100 locations were evaluated in this year’s edition.

Among the Indian institutions featured, the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi achieved the highest placement at 205.

QS reported that India had 12 universities in the top 500, matching countries like China and the Netherlands.

The firm also noted strong debut participation this year, with China recording 46 first-time entries, India 26, France 19, and Turkey 18.

Although IIT Delhi reached its best performance in the sustainability rankings since they began in 2023, its relative standing declined compared with last year, when around 1,700 universities were evaluated.

Nine of India’s top 15 institutions listed this year dropped in position compared with the previous cycle, including Jadavpur University, IIT Kanpur, IIT Madras, and the Indian Institute of Science.

Out of the 103 Indian universities ranked, 30 recorded declines, 32 improved, and 15 maintained the same position.

At the indicator level, IIT Delhi and IIT Kharagpur appeared in the global top 100 for Employability and Outcomes, ranked 93rd and 96th, respectively.

The University of Delhi entered the top 100 for Knowledge Exchange at 94, while IIT Bombay reached 100th place in Environmental Impact.

QS said environmental education was an area where nearly half of India’s listed universities reported progress.

Nine institutions scored above 84 in this category, including IIT Delhi, IIT Bombay, IIT Madras, IIT Kanpur, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Banaras Hindu University, and the Indian Institute of Science.

However, Indian universities performed less strongly on social impact indicators such as equality and impact of education.

IISc earned a score of 96 in environmental education, its strongest area, but received 51.6 for equality and 52.5 for impact of education.

Equality scores among the 16 IITs ranged from 21.5 at IIT Ropar to 69.8 at IIT Kanpur.

“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.

“The role of higher education in the fight against climate change is highlighted in these rankings. India’s role in sustainable development can neither be understated. With its ambitious renewable energy goals and commitment to SDGs, particularly around development in the Global South, it will require strong research capabilities and green skills,” she said.

“It is key that Indian universities continue to be supported to provide both the talent and the innovation required for a sustainable future,” she added.