India Misses Top 200 in QS Sustainability Rankings 2026: A Deep Dive into Performance, Challenges, and Global Competition

India’s higher education sector has made rapid strides in research, innovation, and global visibility, yet the latest QS World University Rankings: Sustainability 2026 reveals a notable setback. For the first time since the launch of the sustainability-specific ranking system, no Indian institution has secured a position in the global top 200, signalling intensified global competition and highlighting the need for stronger sustainability-linked initiatives across academic, research, and governance domains.

In the 2026 edition released on Tuesday, India’s top performer, IIT Delhi, slipped from rank 171 to 205. IIT Bombay followed at 236, marginally down from last year’s 235, while IIT Kharagpur also dropped significantly from 202 to 236. Of the top 10 Indian institutions, seven recorded a decline, underscoring structural gaps in sustainability impact compared to rapidly advancing global peers.

Global Rankings: Who Leads the Sustainability Race?

The 2026 results reaffirm that global universities are accelerating their sustainability commitments far more aggressively. Lund University (Sweden) claimed the top spot, moving up from last year’s equal-third place. It was followed by:

• University of Toronto (Canada) at rank 2
• UCL (UK) at rank 3
• University of Edinburgh (UK) at rank 4
• University of British Columbia (Canada) at rank 5

A surprising jump was seen for the London School of Economics (LSE), rising from rank 39 to rank 6. Elite institutions like Imperial College London, UNSW Sydney, McGill University, University of Manchester, ETH Zurich, UC Berkeley, Stanford University, University of Oxford, and University of Sydney filled the top 15.

The consistent presence of these universities reflects strong investments in climate action, sustainability-focused research, operational impact, and alumni influence in global sustainability sectors.

Why Did Indian Institutions Fall Behind? A Detailed Breakdown

The QS Sustainability Rankings assess universities across three major lenses:

1. Environmental Impact
2. Social Impact
3. Governance

Each lens comprises multiple indicators evaluating:

• Environmental research output
• Impact on UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
• Equality and access
• Knowledge exchange
• Employability outcomes
• Environmental education
• Climate action commitments
• Alumni influence in sustainability

Declines Across Key Indicators

Among the top Indian institutions, significant drops were recorded:

• IIT Delhi: 205 (from 171)
   
• IIT Bombay: 236 (from 235)
   
• IIT Kharagpur: 236 (from 202)
   
• IIT Madras: 305 (from 277)
   
• IIT Kanpur: 310 (from 245)
   
• IISc Bengaluru: 462 (from 376)

QS experts noted that environmental sustainability indicators, particularly those measuring “alumni impact” and “expert perception of climate policy commitment,” are areas where Indian institutions lag behind their global counterparts.

What Hurt India’s Performance?

According to QS:

• More than 250 new global universities entered the rankings this year, intensifying competition.
   
• Many global universities have rapidly improved their sustainability-linked operations and research.
   
• The ranking is comparative, meaning a drop does not necessarily reflect declining performance, but that international peers have advanced faster.

How Indian Institutions Performed Across Major Lenses

A closer look at India’s standing in different sustainability indicators:

1. Social Impact (45% weight)

• Down: 47%
   
• Up: 28%
   
• Top Indian Institution: IIT Delhi (Rank 382)

2. Equality (12% weight)

• Down: 50%
   
• Up: 39%
   
• Top Institution: Manipal Academy of Higher Education (Rank 441)

3. Knowledge Exchange (10% weight)

• Down: 50%
   
• Up: 39%
   
• Top Institution: University of Delhi (Rank 94)

4. Impact of Education (7% weight)

• Down: 74%
   
• Up: 16%
   
• Top Institution: University of Delhi (Rank 785)

5. Employability & Outcomes (11% weight)

• Down: 51%
   
• Up: 38%
   
• Top Institution: IIT Delhi (Rank 93)

6. Health & Well-being (5% weight)

• Down: 65%
   
• Up: 24%
   
• Top Institution: IIT Roorkee (Rank 537)

Environmental Impact Indicators (45% weight)

1. Environmental Sustainability (15% weight)

• Down: 59%
   
• Up: 30%
   
• Top Institution: IIT Kharagpur (Rank 49) — one of India’s strongest areas.

2. Environmental Education (17% weight)

• Down: 42%
   
• Up: 48%
   
• Top Institution: IISc Bengaluru (Rank 42)

3. Environmental Research (13% weight)

• Down: 62%
   
• Up: 27%
   
• Top Institution: IIT Kharagpur (Rank 291)

4. Governance (10% weight)

• Down: 53%
   
• Up: 23%
   
• Top Institution: University of Delhi (Rank 187)

Despite a few areas of growth, India’s decline in critical indicators such as environmental research output and sustainability impact demonstrates the gap between Indian institutions and leading global universities.

India’s Presence in the Rankings: Mixed Signals

A total of 103 Indian institutions featured in the QS Sustainability Rankings 2026, reflecting strong national participation. However:

• 32 improved their rankings
• 15 remained unchanged
• 30 dropped from last year’s positions

Though participation is expanding, improvement percentages indicate that Indian universities face increasing difficulty maintaining global competitiveness—particularly in sustainability-linked academic ecosystems.

Why Sustainability Rankings Matter

The QS Sustainability Rankings go beyond academic reputation. They reflect:

• How effectively universities drive positive environmental change
• Institutional commitment to social responsibility
• Real-world impact of alumni in sustainability sectors
• Strength of climate policies and governance frameworks
• Contribution to achieving UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

In a global landscape where climate action and ethical governance are becoming defining measures of institutional excellence, universities failing to demonstrate progress risk losing ground internationally.

Conclusion: A Wake-Up Call for India’s Higher Education System

India’s absence from the top 200 in the QS Sustainability Rankings 2026 is not merely a standings issue—it is a reflection of the urgent need to:

• Strengthen sustainability-focused research output
• Build climate-responsible campuses
• Boost alumni engagement in environmental sectors
• Improve global perception of institutional climate commitments
• Expand governance and social impact initiatives
• Enhance global collaborations in sustainability research

While competition has intensified, the rankings present a critical opportunity for Indian universities to refocus on sustainable development as a core institutional mission. With 32 institutions improving this year, the foundation is strong—now, strategic investments and long-term sustainability frameworks are essential to elevate India’s position in the global academic landscape.