Context:

London-based QS (Quacquarelli Symonds) recently released its QS World University Rankings for Sustainability 2026. In this edition, India secured the fourth-highest representation worldwide with 103 universities, behind only the United States, China, and the United Kingdom.

About QS Sustainability Rankings:

This ranking was launched in 2023 and evaluates universities across three broad dimensions:

1. Environmental Sustainability

• • Environmental Education
  • Environmental Research
  • Environmental Impact

2. Social Sustainability

• • Equality
  • Employability & Outcomes
  • Health & Wellbeing
  • Knowledge Exchange

3. Governance and Institutional Strategy

·        Good governance

About the Findings:

Institutions from the U.K., Canada, Sweden, and the U.S. dominated the top 15.

• • Lund University (Sweden) ranked 1st globally.
  • Universities from the Western hemisphere continue to lead due to deep institutionalization of sustainability research, funding, and policy integration.

India’s Performance:

1. Large Representation

With 103 institutions, India stands out as a major higher education system participating in sustainability metrics. India also had 26 debut entrants, the second most after China.

2. Top Indian Performer: IIT Delhi

• • Ranked 205th, IIT Delhi emerged as India’s best-performing institution.
  • Although this is its highest performance since the inception of the sustainability rankings, its relative position dropped, as the total number of institutions increased from 1,700 last year to nearly 2,000 now.

3. Distribution of Performance

Among India’s 103 universities:

• • 30 declined in rank
  • 32 improved
  • 15 remained stable

This mixed trend indicates both progress and systemic challenges.

4. India’s 12 Universities in the Global Top 500

This matches the tally of countries such as China and the Netherlands, showcasing India’s growing competitiveness.

Revelations of Rankings for India:

• • India excels in environmental sustainability, reflecting national emphasis on climate awareness, SDGs, and renewable energy goals.
  • Strong performance in knowledge exchange aligns with India’s growing research ecosystem and outreach initiatives.
  • Lower scores in equality and social impact highlight systemic challenges in inclusion, diversity, and institutional accessibility.
  • The increasing number of Indian debut entries shows an expanding higher education system that is becoming more engaged with global sustainability metrics.

Conclusion:

India’s performance in the QS Sustainability Rankings 2026 reflects both progress and transition. With 103 institutions included and notable strengths in environmental sustainability and employability, India demonstrates growing global relevance in sustainable development education.