QS Asia Rankings 2027: Why 71% of Indian Universities Lost Ground

India has expanded its presence in the QS World University Rankings: Asia 2027, but the latest results have brought an uncomfortable reality for the country's higher education sector. A total of 325 Indian universities feature in this year's regional rankings, making India the second most represented higher education system in Asia after mainland China.

Yet, around 71 per cent of Indian institutions with comparable rankings have slipped from their previous positions. Even several leading IITs and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) have lost ground.

At first glance, the growing number of Indian universities in the rankings looks like a major achievement. But the decline in positions raises questions about international reputation, research influence and the ability of Indian institutions to compete with universities across Asia.

The results also show that research output remains an area of strength for India. So, the bigger question is not simply why universities have fallen, but what they need to improve to convert their growing presence into stronger international standing.

India's representation has increased from 294 institutions in the previous edition to 325 in 2027, including 34 new entrants. However, the ranking movement tells a different story. According to the reported figures, 71 per cent of Indian universities with comparable rankings moved down, 18 per cent improved and 11 per cent maintained their positions.

The decline is particularly noticeable among the country's leading institutions. IIT Delhi remains India's highest-ranked university in Asia, but it has fallen from 59th to 66th place. IISc Bengaluru moved from 64th to 79th, while IIT Bombay slipped from 71st to 83rd. IIT Madras dropped from 70th to 85th, and IIT Kharagpur moved from 77th to 90th.

IIT Kanpur also lost 20 positions, falling from 77th to 97th. The University of Delhi slipped from 95th to 106th, moving outside Asia's top 100. Another notable fall came from UPES, which dropped from 163rd to 183rd.

There were some encouraging performances as well. Lovely Professional University climbed from 187th to 154th, while Symbiosis International improved from 200th to 175th. Jamia Millia Islamia moved up from 197th to 183rd, and Manipal Academy of Higher Education advanced from 206th to 195th. Chandigarh University also improved its position, rising from 109th to 104th.

India's performance in research output offers a more positive picture. The country has 27 universities among Asia's top 50 for Papers per Faculty, including five in the top 10. This indicates that Indian institutions are producing a considerable volume of research relative to their academic staff strength. However, research influence, measured through citations, remains a challenge.

The QS assessment also points towards weaknesses in academic reputation, employer reputation and internationalisation. These areas include how universities are viewed by academics and employers, as well as their ability to attract international students and encourage cross-border academic exchange.

Importantly, a fall in ranking does not automatically mean that an institution's quality has declined. QS has clarified that rankings are relative: a university may improve its overall score but still lose places if competing institutions make faster progress. In fact, around two-thirds of Indian universities that moved down reportedly improved their overall scores.

The 2027 results therefore present a mixed report card for Indian higher education. India is expanding its university representation and showing strength in research productivity, but improving global reputation, research impact and international collaboration will be essential if its institutions want to compete more effectively across Asia.

QS World University Rankings-Asia 2027: Click Here
QS India's Performance in University Rankings: Click Here