QS World University Rankings: DU continues to be top public varsity in India, sees overall rise in score
Delhi University (DU) maintained its position as the top public university in the country in the QS World University Rankings 2026 released on Wednesday, even as it recorded notable improvements in several key indicators, including employment outcomes, research performance, and international collaboration. While it retained its overall ranking (328), DU topped Indian institutions in terms of employment outcomes.
The varsity also saw a 26% improvement in its total score, rising from 33.8 last year to 42.6 this year. Among Indian institutions, DU was placed seventh overall, the varsity said on Thursday.
Vice-Chancellor Yogesh Singh on Thursday said the improvement reflects the university's 'strengthening academic profile, expanding global research collaboration, and enhanced graduate outcomes.' 'The marked improvement in our overall score —from 33.8 to 42.6—underscores the University of Delhi's rising academic excellence and expanding global reputation. With the global rank at 328, this score enhancement reflects the growing depth, quality, and impact of our institutional efforts. Our faculty, researchers, and students are at the forefront of this transformation, consistently delivering innovation, high-impact research, and international engagement,' he said.
In the latest QS rankings, Indian representation in the global rankings has grown significantly, with 54 universities making it to the list — a five-fold rise from 11 in 2015.
According to the QS rankings, India is now the fourth most represented country globally, after the United States, the United Kingdom, and China.
With a global rank of 123, the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi led the Indian institutions, climbing from 150 last year. The list includes seven IITs, the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore, at 219, and Anna University at 465 (both saw a drop in ranks), and DU, which maintained its position at 328.
In terms of employment outcomes, the varsity was ranked 30th globally — a jump of 14 places compared to the previous year. The indicator measures how successful a university is in preparing its graduates for the job market. The weightage of this indicator, however, is only 5%.
Beyond employment outcomes, DU also improved in other critical areas measured by the QS rankings. Its position in the International Research Network rose from 406 to 294, indicating stronger global research partnerships.
The university's citations per faculty rank (weightage 20%) also improved, climbing 85 spots from 488 to 403, suggesting a wider reach and influence of its research output. In terms of academic reputation, an indicator which carries the highest weightage of 30%, DU was ranked 248th globally, while it secured 297th position as far as the sustainability indicator is concerned.
DU also pointed to improvements in its research productivity. It reported a 13% increase in research publications and a 24% increase in citations year-on-year. These gains, the university said, reflect its focused efforts on producing 'high-quality, high-impact research aligned with global benchmarks.'
The QS World University Rankings' latest edition evaluated 2,250 institutions across 105 countries based on several indicators, including academic reputation, employer reputation, faculty-student ratio, international student and faculty ratios, research citations, international research networks, and sustainability performance. The varsity ranked sixth among Indian institutions in both academic reputation and sustainability.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
21 minutes ago
- Time of India
Fly back via Jordan: Embassy to students stranded in Israel
1 2 3 4 5 6 Kolkata: The news that the Indian govt is likely to start operating rescue flights for the evacuees from Israel soon has come as a breather for Bengal students stranded in the war-torn country. The Indian embassy in Israel has advised them, especially those at universities in central Israel, to to register themselves and move out of the country through Jordan. "The students will have to travel to the Israel-Jordan border. From there, they will have to reach the airport and fly out from there," said Akash Panja, who is pursuing research in medicinal chemistry at Ariel University, Israel. While Panja and his wife have decided to stay back and wait for the situation to improve, students who faced the war-like situation for the first time are looking at ways to move out. Abir Mukhopadhyay, a research scholar from Asansol, is stranded in Rehovot. He is pursuing his post-doctoral research at the Weizmann Institute of Science. Earlier this week, when Iran dropped missiles in Rehovot, it destroyed a number of laboratories, including those catering to cardiac regeneration and cancer research. "We are glued to the television now and following the developments there. We want him back in India now. We are talking to him multiple times during the day. He told us that the MEA is reaching out to students for evacuation," said Subhashis Mukhopadhyay, father of Abir. "We have sent a letter to the Indian govt, and Nabanna is also intervening to expedite the process," he said. "I am confused with the developments. I will take some time to decide if I am ready to take the journey," said Aniruddha Bera, a research fellow at Tel Aviv University. Aniruddha's father, Asim Bera, a retired teacher, said, "We are worried, but there's nothing we can do in this situation. We have to wait until the Indian govt rescues them." Divya Mukhopadhyay, a researcher from Khardah, is pursuing post-doctoral research in plant pathology at the University of Jerusalem. The missiles struck areas barely 1.5 km from his residence. Despite the threat, he has decided to wait, hoping for the situation to improve. "Shops are open, and people are managing. He was working from home, as per Israel govt advisories. He will watch the situation for a few more days," said his uncle, Subhamay Mukhopadhyay.
NDTV
26 minutes ago
- NDTV
India Kick-Starts Process To Build 5th Generation Stealth Fighter Jet
New Delhi: India has kick-started the process to implement an ambitious project to develop a fifth generation stealth fighter jet to boost its air power. The Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), an entity that operates under the defence ministry, has invited Expression of Interest (EOI) for developing prototypes of the aircraft. Under the project, the government plans to build five prototypes of the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA). India has been working on the ambitious AMCA project to develop the medium weight deep penetration fighter jet with advanced stealth features to bolster its air power capability. AMCA along with the Tejas light combat aircraft are planned to be the mainstays of the Indian Air Force. The ADA said the aim of the EOI is to shortlist Indian companies (owned and controlled by resident Indian citizens) who are technically capable of building the AMCA prototypes. In an official note, it said the applicant may be a single company, joint venture or a consortium of companies. It said reputed Indian companies having experience in the aerospace and defence sector with capability to absorb the design of AMCA will be shortlisted for the project. The shortlisted entity must possess the capability of setting up a manufacturing facility for series production of the aircraft, it said. The duration of the contract for development, prototyping, flight test and certification of AMCA shall not exceed eight years from the effective date of contract, the ADA said.
Time of India
38 minutes ago
- Time of India
Premiumisation drives growth for alcobev companies
Bengaluru: India's alcoholic beverage sector continued to outpace broader consumer categories, driven by strong demand for premium brands, margin stability, and state-level policy reforms, according to new industry and company disclosures. Data from Motilal Oswal shows alcobev companies under coverage posted aggregate revenue growth of 12% year-on-year in the January-March quarter (Q4 FY25), with net profit rising 53%. Premium segment volumes led the momentum, with United Breweries recording 24% growth in its prestige & above (P&A) segment, Radico Khaitan at 17%, and United Spirits at 9%. P&A is an industry term commonly used in India's alcobev sector to refer to premium and higher-priced product portfolios. "The shift towards premiumisation is what is driving the Indian alcohol industry today. While companies historically relied heavily on mass-market brands, most players are now focusing on building premium and luxury brands to improve margins," Anant Iyer, Director General of the Confederation of Indian Alcoholic Beverage Companies (CIABC), told TOI. In the last five years, several Indian companies started investing in their own malt distilleries instead of fully depending on Scotch imports, aiding premiumisation, Iyer added. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Scam Exposed: What They Won't Tell You about zero trust! Expertinspector Click Here Undo R adico Khaitan, which reported 16.8% growth in P&A volumes during the quarter, attributed the trend to evolving consumer preferences and rising affluence. "We expect to continue to deliver 15% plus P&A volume growth for FY26," Amar Sinha, chief operating officer at Radico Khaitan, told TOI. Raw material costs, which pressured margins earlier, have largely stabilised, aiding profitability across the sector. "With raw material prices showing some signs of stabilisation, we remain cautiously optimistic that margin trends will continue to see improvement in the 2025-26 financial year," Sinha added. Iyer pointed to state-level pricing controls as a persistent challenge for the industry. "Excise authorities across most states still control pricing. Unlike essential commodities, alcohol pricing is heavily regulated, limiting the industry's ability to price products freely even as input costs rise," he said. Recent policy changes in Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh have eased some regulatory barriers, improving market access and predictability, according to companies. "The states have been adopting progressive policies aimed at promoting stability and predictability in the regulatory environment, which is likely to encourage ease of doing business," Sinha said. India's luxury whisky segment is also seeing increasing global acceptance. "Indian single malts and luxury whiskies are now selling at price points equal to or even higher than imported Scotch in several markets," Iyer said, noting brands such as Amrut, Rampur, Indri, Gianchand, Doab, and Crazy Cock that are priced between Rs 4,000 and Rs 20,000 a bottle. "Today, brands like Rampur and Indri are selling at $55 to $80 per bottle overseas, often higher than Scotch or Irish Single Malts, which sell at $40 to $50 in the US. " As India negotiates free trade agreements with the UK, EU, US, and others, domestic players have raised concerns about the potential influx of cheaper imports. "Cheap imports could seriously hurt domestic producers of spirits and wines if not handled carefully. We have consistently urged the government to impose a minimum import price to ensure a level playing field," Iyer added. While certain discretionary segments face weaker demand trends, the alcobev sector has remained relatively resilient. "Consumers are showing a growing preference for artisanal, small-batch craft spirits, reflecting a rising appreciation for authenticity, quality, and craftsmanship. Authenticity and storytelling are becoming strong purchase drivers," Sinha said.
