QS World University Rankings 2026

The 16th annual edition of the QS World University Rankings by Subject was released on March 25.
These rankings are published by the London-based global higher education consultancy Quacquarelli Symonds.

This year, 120 new Indian institutions were included in the rankings, placing India fourth globally (after the United States, China, and the United Kingdom).

Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode (IIM-K) achieved a major global milestone by entering the Top 100 of the prestigious QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026 for the first time.

The rankings are released across five broad streams covering multiple subjects.

• A total of 27 Indian universities feature in the Top 50 across subjects, including 4 IITs, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), and Birla Institute of Technology and Science Pilani.
• For the first time, in the Marketing stream, Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad has secured a place.
• Indian Institute of Technology Delhi has the highest representation, with 6 subjects in the Top 50.
• In Computer Science, 6 Indian institutions are included this year, compared to only 2 last year.

India ranks fourth globally in terms of the number of institutions featured in QS rankings.

• India recorded 120 new entries, while the United States leads with 287 entries.
• China has 181 institutions, and the United Kingdom has 159 entries.
• India has shown a 44% improvement this year (compared to 2024, when 27 universities were included).

QS Rankings benchmark over 21,000 university programs across 55 subjects and faculty areas in 1,900 universities from more than 100 countries.

Top Indian Universities in QS Rankings

1. Indian Institute of Technology Delhi
2. Indian Institute of Technology Bombay
3. Indian Institute of Technology Madras
4. Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur
5. Indian Institute of Science Bangalore

Institutions such as IIT Bombay, IIT Kharagpur, IIT Madras, JNU, and BITS Pilani are included in the Top 50 in various subjects.

Evaluation Criteria in QS Rankings

QS rankings evaluate universities based on several parameters:

• Academic Reputation
• Overall Score
• Employer Reputation
• Employment Outcomes

Assessment Framework

QS follows a structured approach, grouping various parameters as follows:

• Lens: A group of indicators linked by a common theme (such as research or employability).
• Five Key Lenses:
  1. Research and Discovery
  2. Employability and Outcomes
  3. Global Engagement
  4. Learning Experience
  5. Sustainability
• Indicator: Specific areas of performance (e.g., Citations per Faculty, Employer Reputation).
• Metric: Detailed calculations within each indicator used to generate precise scores.

Key Highlights

• India recorded 120 new entries, ranking fourth globally.
• India also holds the fourth position in terms of total number of institutions.
• 6 Indian institutions in Computer Science are in the Top 100, all showing improvement from last year.
• Indian Institute of Technology ISM Dhanbad and Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad secured the highest global rank (21) for India.
• IIT-ISM Dhanbad retained its strong position in Mineral and Mining Engineering.
• IIM Ahmedabad ranked among the Top 25 globally in Business & Management Studies and Marketing.

Topic Related Videos ⬇️

World Happiness Report 2026 Released

The United Nations has released the World Happiness Report 2026. This report—prepared in collaboration with the University of Oxford Wellbeing Research Centre and the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network—is primarily based on data from the Gallup World Poll.

• Finland has secured the top position for the 9th consecutive time, making it the happiest country in the world.
• In the list of 147 countries, India ranks 116th, while Pakistan ranks 104th.
• In 2025, India was ranked 118th, while Pakistan was at 109th.
• Despite being involved in conflict for over two and a half years, Israel ranks 8th among the happiest countries.
• Afghanistan ranks at the bottom, making it the least happy country, followed by Sierra Leone and Malawi.
• In the rankings, the United States is 23rd, Canada 25th, and the United Kingdom 29th.
• Countries like Finland rank high due to strong economic conditions, equitable distribution of resources, robust welfare systems, and a high standard of living.
• According to the report, excessive use of social media is negatively affecting the happiness and mental well-being of youth in many countries.

Top 10 Happiest Countries

1. Finland
2. Iceland
3. Denmark
4. Costa Rica
5. Sweden
6. Norway
7. Netherlands
8. Israel
9. Luxembourg
10. Switzerland

Key Parameters Used to Measure Happiness

The report uses six main parameters to assess a country’s happiness:

1. GDP per Capita: Reflects economic strength and per capita income.
2. Social Support: The sense of having support from family or friends during times of need.
3. Healthy Life Expectancy: The average period people live in good physical and mental health.
4. Freedom to Make Life Choices: Personal freedom to make decisions about one’s life.
5. Generosity: The tendency of people to donate or help others in society.
6. Perception of Corruption: The perceived level of corruption in government or businesses, which negatively impacts happiness.

Topic Related Videos ⬇️