Indian Institutions In QS Rankings Rise To 52 As NIRF Participation Nearly Doubles Since 2021: Govt

The number of Indian institutions featured in the QS World University Rankings has risen significantly since the launch of the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) in 2015, increasing from 11 institutions in QS WUR 2015 to 52 in QS WUR 2027, the Lok Sabha was informed on Monday.

In a written reply, Minister of State for Education Sukanta Majumdar said the NIRF was introduced by the Centre in 2015 to annually rank higher education institutions and universities in India, with the objective of fostering healthy competition and encouraging institutions to improve their performance, reported PTI.

The India Rankings under NIRF assess institutions on five broad parameters: teaching, learning and resources; research and professional practices;

graduation outcomes; outreach and inclusivity; and peer perception.

Participation in the NIRF rankings has also expanded considerably. The number of applications rose from 6,272 in 2021 to 14,163 in 2025, while the number of unique participating institutions increased from 4,030 to 7,692 during the same period.

Majumdar noted that the growth in the number of Indian institutions appearing in the QS World University Rankings—from 11 in 2015 to 52 in 2027—reflects the progress made since the introduction of NIRF.

He said several initiatives have been institutionalised across Centrally Funded Institutions to enhance the quality of education. The Centre also provides financial assistance to state governments under the Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) and Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (PM-USHA). Support is provided through initiatives focused on enhancing quality and excellence in selected state universities, providing infrastructure grants, and establishing Multidisciplinary Education and Research Universities (MERUs).

The minister further highlighted the World Class Institutions Scheme, also known as the Institutions of Eminence (IoE) Scheme, launched in 2017. The scheme seeks to develop a distinct category of institutions with greater academic, administrative and financial autonomy, enabling them to emerge as world-class academic and research institutions within a reasonable timeframe.

Majumdar also said that the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 places strong emphasis on improving the overall quality of higher education through initiatives such as promoting multidisciplinary education, developing critical thinking and analytical skills, encouraging research and innovation, strengthening infrastructure, and improving the quality of teacher training.