The QS World University Rankings Asia 2026 placed The University of Hong Kong (HKU) at the top spot for the first time, surpassing NUS (National University of Singapore). Among Indian institutions, IIT Delhi was the highest-ranked at 59th place, though it slipped four places from the previous year, while IIT Bombay was close behind at 61st. The ranking assessed 857 institutions based on academic reputation, employer reputation, and faculty-student ratio, highlighting the need for increased research investment in India to improve global standing.