IIT Delhi Leads India in QS World University Rankings Sustainability 2026
On November 18, 2025, the QS World University Rankings for Sustainability 2026 were released, showcasing the performance of universities worldwide in addressing sustainability challenges. The Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi (IIT Delhi) emerged as the top institution in India, although it slipped to rank 205 from last year’s 171. This year, no Indian university made it into the top 200 globally.
Top Indian Institutions in the QS Sustainability Rankings
IIT Delhi was followed by IIT Bombay, which ranked 236, a slight drop from 235 last year. IIT Kharagpur also saw a decline, landing at 236, down from 202. Notably, among the top 10 Indian institutions, six are IITs, indicating a strong representation from these prestigious engineering colleges.
Ranking Overview
| 2026 Rank | 2025 Rank | Institution | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 205 | 171 | Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IITD) | New Delhi |
| 236 | 235 | Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IITB) | Mumbai |
| 236 | 202 | Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur (IIT-KGP) | Kharagpur |
| 241 | 299 | University of Delhi | New Delhi |
| 305 | 277 | Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IITM) | Chennai |
| 310 | 245 | Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IITK) | Kanpur |
| 352 | 396 | Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT) | Vellore |
| 352 | 561 | Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee (IITR) | Roorkee |
| 462 | 376 | Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bangalore | Bangalore |
| 467 | 401 | Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) | Manipal |
Performance Insights
This year, India had a total of 103 universities featured in the QS Sustainability rankings, with 32 improving their rankings, 15 maintaining the same rank, and 30 dropping. The rankings reflect the growing emphasis on sustainability in higher education.
Indicators of Success
According to the QS data, IIT Delhi and IIT Kharagpur achieved notable rankings in the Employability and Outcomes category, placing 93rd and 96th respectively. The University of Delhi also made significant improvements, rising 27 places in the Knowledge Exchange category to rank 94th.
Key Indicators and Rankings
- Social Impact: IIT Delhi ranked 38th
- Equality: Manipal Academy of Higher Education ranked 441st
- Knowledge Exchange: University of Delhi ranked 94th
- Employability & Outcomes: IIT Delhi ranked 93rd
- Environmental Impact: IIT Bombay ranked 100th
Global Rankings Highlights
Globally, Sweden’s Lund University achieved the top spot for the first time in the history of the QS Sustainability rankings, climbing from third place last year. The University of Toronto, which held the top position for the previous two years, dropped to second. UCL in the UK climbed to third place, demonstrating the competitive nature of global higher education.
Top Global Institutions
| 2026 Rank | 2025 Rank | Institution | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | Lund University | Sweden |
| 2 | 1 | University of Toronto | Canada |
| 3 | 5 | UCL | UK |
| 4 | 7 | The University of Edinburgh | UK |
| 5 | 5 | University of British Columbia | Canada |
Conclusion
The QS World University Rankings for Sustainability highlight the critical role of higher education institutions in addressing global sustainability challenges. While Indian universities, particularly the IITs, have shown resilience and improvement in specific areas, there remains a significant opportunity for growth and recognition on the global stage. As India continues to pursue its sustainability goals, the contributions of these institutions will be
