India’s QS-ranked institutions rise from 11 to 52 since NIRF launch

The number of Indian institutions featured in the QS World University Rankings has climbed from 11 in 2015 to 52 in 2027, the government told the Lok Sabha on Monday, highlighting the expansion of India's presence in global university rankings since the launch of the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF).

Minister of State for Education Sukanta Majumdar said the NIRF was introduced in 2015 to rank higher education institutions and universities in India annually and encourage competition among them.

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The framework evaluates institutions across five broad parameters: teaching, learning and resources; research and professional practices; graduation outcomes; outreach and inclusivity; and peer perception.

NIRF participation expands

The number of applications for NIRF rankings more than doubled from 6,272 in 2021 to 14,163 in 2025, according to the minister.

The number of unique institutions participating in the rankings also increased from 4,030 in 2021 to 7,692 in 2025, reflecting a broader participation in the national ranking exercise.

Majumdar said the growth in NIRF participation has coincided with a rise in the number of Indian institutions appearing in the QS World University Rankings, from 11 in QS WUR 2015 to 52 in QS WUR 2027.

“Since the launch of NIRF, there has been an increase in the number of institutions appearing in the QS World University Rankings,” he said in a written reply.

Centre’s push for higher education

The government said several initiatives have been institutionalised across Centrally Funded Institutions to improve the quality of higher education.

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Financial assistance is also provided to states through Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) and the Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (PM-USHA).

Under these schemes, support is provided for improving quality and excellence in select state universities, upgrading university infrastructure and establishing Multidisciplinary Education and Research Universities (MERUs).

The Centre has also been pursuing the Institutions of Eminence (IoE) scheme, launched in 2017 to create a distinct category of higher education institutions with greater academic, administrative and financial autonomy.

The objective is to enable selected institutions to develop into world-class academic and research centres, the minister said.

NEP 2020 and higher education reforms

The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 also places emphasis on improving the quality of higher education through a range of measures, including multidisciplinary learning, stronger critical and analytical thinking, research and innovation, better infrastructure and improved teacher training.

The government’s latest data comes as Indian universities seek to strengthen their global standing while expanding research capabilities, improving academic outcomes and increasing their visibility in international rankings.

(With inputs from PTI)