Green grades, rising ranks: Over 100 Indian universities enter QS sustainability; IIT Delhi tops India at 205

Updated: November 19, 2025 05:32

Image Source: The hindu

India features 103 institutions in the QS World University Rankings: Sustainability 2026, placing it fourth globally by count. IIT Delhi leads domestically at rank 205, followed by IIT Bombay (235) and IIT Kharagpur (236). While India improved on environmental education and employability, equality and education impact indicators lag behind global peers.

India’s sustainability snapshot

India now has 103 universities in the QS Sustainability rankings, one of only four systems worldwide with more than 100 featured institutions. IIT Delhi is India’s highest-ranked at 205, with IIT Bombay and IIT Kharagpur next in line, underscoring IITs’ dominance in sustainability metrics this cycle.

Global leaderboard context

Globally, Sweden’s Lund University claims the No. 1 spot, with the University of Toronto second and UCL third. India’s volume of entries reflects expanding sustainability engagement across campuses, even as no Indian institution breaks the global top 200 in this edition.

Where India is improving—and where it lags

Indian universities showed gains in environmental education and employability indicators, but scored relatively lower on equality and the impact of education. The distribution of performance suggests breadth of participation with uneven depth across social sustainability metrics compared to leading systems in the U.K., Canada, Sweden, Australia, and the U.S..

Key highlights

Highest-ranked in India:

IIT Delhi at 205; IIT Bombay at 235; IIT Kharagpur at 236—marking a consolidated IIT presence in the national top tier.

Scale of participation:

103 Indian institutions featured, with 26 new entries this year—placing India among the few countries crossing the 100 mark.

Mixed performance trend:

While 32 improved rankings, 15 remained stable and 30 declined, highlighting competitive churn and benchmarking shifts.

Top global performers:

Lund University leads globally, followed by University of Toronto and UCL, signaling European and North American dominance.

Indicator spread:

Environmental education and employability improved in India; equality and education impact remain areas for targeted policy and program upgrades.

What this means for students and universities

For students: Enhanced focus on sustainability curricula and employability signals better skills alignment with green jobs and impact sectors.

For universities: Closing social sustainability gaps—equity, access, and measurable education impact—will be crucial to climb into the global top 200. Strategic partnerships, transparent reporting, and community programs can accelerate progress.

Sources: The Hindu, The Pioneer, Free Press Journal

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