QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026: India records biggest global surge
India recorded the highest surge in university entries globally in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026, with 99 institutions now ranked. The update, released by the ranking authority, shows strong gains in STEM fields and selective wins in business studies.
Article last updated: Mar 26, 2026
QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026: Key numbers
The headline figures are clear. Engineering and Technology entries grew 65% over the last five years, and six Indian institutions placed in the global top 100 for Computer Science. IIT Bombay features across 30 different subject rankings, making it India’s most represented institution.
For you, this means more visible options if you plan to study STEM or Computer Science in India; those subjects now show wider international recognition.
QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026: Top Indian performers
IIT Bombay leads by breadth, while IIT Kharagpur and the University of Delhi follow closely in subject count. IIT Bombay and IIT Delhi also secured places inside the global top 50 in several engineering disciplines. On the management side, IIM Ahmedabad debuted at 21 in global Marketing rankings.
| Institute | Notable subject rank (QS by Subject 2026) |
|---|---|
| IIT Delhi | 36 — Electrical & Electronics Engineering |
| IIT Bombay | =44 — Electrical & Electronics Engineering (featured in 30 subjects) |
| IIT Madras | =29 — Petroleum Engineering |
| IIT Kharagpur | 28 — Petroleum Engineering |
| IIM Ahmedabad | 21 — Business & Management Studies |
| IIM Bangalore | 29 — Business & Management Studies |
| IIM Calcutta | 47 — Business & Management Studies |
What disciplines drove the rise
STEM disciplines dominate the improvement. Engineering, Technology and Computer Science show the biggest gains in both entries and higher placements. Arts and Humanities saw declines in entries and relative rankings, according to the published subject lists.
What the rankings do and don’t show
The QS release highlights participation and subject-level placements but does not publish full methodology breakdowns for every institutional metric in this summary. Detailed indicator scores, state-wise distribution, and a complete list of all 99 Indian institutions were not included in the summary figures.
FAQs
Q: How many Indian institutions are ranked in QS by Subject 2026? A: 99 Indian institutions are ranked.
Q: Which Indian institution appears across the most subjects? A: IIT Bombay appears in 30 different subject rankings.
Q: Which IITs made the global top 50 in engineering? A: IIT Bombay and IIT Delhi secured places in the global top 50 for various engineering disciplines.
Q: How much have Engineering and Technology entries grown? A: Entries in Engineering and Technology grew by 65% over the last five years.
Q: Did any Indian business school enter the global top 25 in Marketing? A: Yes, IIM Ahmedabad debuted at 21 in global Marketing rankings.
Q: Are detailed QS indicator scores provided here? A: No. The detailed methodology and indicator-level scores were not provided in the summary figures referenced.
Q: How many Indian institutions are in the global top 100 for Computer Science? A: Six Indian institutions placed in the global top 100 for Computer Science.
Q: Where can I find the full subject-wise list for all Indian institutions? A: The full list and detailed scores are available from the official QS publication and its subject-by-subject release.