The Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bangalore has risen to the 201-250 rank band in the latest Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2026, retaining its position as the top Indian university. India has also seen a notable rise, now boasting the second-highest number of universities ranked globally, behind only the United States. Among India’s ranked institutions, IISc stands out as the only university to secure a spot in the top 250. In The World University Rankings 2026, Chennai-based Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences is ranked 351-400. Last year, it was in the 401-500 band. While Jamia Millia Islamia (Delhi) and Shoolini University of Biotechnology and Management Sciences (Bajhol, Himachal Pradesh) have been ranked among the 401-500 category, Banaras Hindu University, Indian Institute of Technology Indore, KIIT University (Bhubaneswar), Lovely Professional University (Phagwara, Punjab), Mahatma Gandhi University (Kottayam, Kerala), and UPES (Dehradun) are ranked 501-600. In the 601-800 belt, over 15 Indian institutes have got positions – Aligarh Muslim University, Amity University (Noida), Bharathiar University (Coimbatore), Central University of Punjab (Bhatinda), Chitkara University (Chandigarh), Graphic Era University (Dehradun), IIT Patna, IIIT Hyderabad, Malaviya National Institute of Technology (Jaipur), Manipal Academy of Higher Education, NIT Rourkela, Panjab University (Chandigarh), Sharda University (Greater Noida), Symbiosis International University (Pune), Thapar Institute of Engineering Technology (Patiala), University of Delhi, and VIT University (Vellore). The UK-based Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2026 feature 2,191 institutions from 115 countries and territories. Beyond 100, THE World University Rankings 2026 does not assign individual ranks but places institutions in rank bands instead. The University of Oxford retains its position as the world’s top university for a record 10th consecutive year. Meanwhile, Tsinghua University remains in 12th place for the third consecutive year, and Peking University has moved up one spot, now ranking 13th for the second year in a row. The National University of Singapore (NUS) also fails to improve on its 17th-place standing from last year. China maintains 13 universities in the top 200, holding steady for the third consecutive year. Oxford’s dominance at number one is attributed to its strong research environment, while Princeton has made a significant leap, rising to a joint third-place finish – its best-ever ranking. China now boasts five universities in the top 40, up from three the previous year, although the overall standings of the top universities remain largely unchanged. Hong Kong, on the other hand, sees a record six universities in the top 200 as a result of improvements in teaching metrics, a statement in the THE World University Rankings 2026 says.
