IIT Delhi tops the Indian list in sustainability rankings

The QS Sustainability Rankings 2025 highlight IIT Delhi’s increase as well as the improved performance of Indian colleges that prioritise sustainability and global competitiveness.

The QS Quacquarelli Symonds, worldwide higher education specialists, have published the third edition of the QS World University Rankings: Sustainability 2025. IIT Delhi emerged as India’s top-ranked institution, rising 255 places to 171st globally. It is followed by IIT Kharagpur (202, up 147 places) and IIT Bombay (234, up 69 positions).

The rankings include 78 Indian universities, with nine of the top ten upgrading their places. Notably, 21 Indian universities have made their debut on the 2025 list. IIT Kanpur (global rank 245) and IIT Madras (global rank 277) ranked fourth and fifth among Indian institutes, with 177 and 67 rank advances, respectively. The University of Delhi, which ranks sixth in India, dropped from 220 last year to 299 globally. The Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), and Anna University rank seventh through tenth in India.

Indian universities outperformed in the Environmental Impact category, accounting for 45 percent of the total score. IIT Delhi scored 55th globally, whereas IIT Kanpur and IIT Bombay were 87th and 101st, respectively. In the Social Impact category, Indian institutions have space for improvement in metrics such as health and well-being, equality, and educational impact, as none are ranked among the top 350 globally. IIT Delhi took over Indian colleges in Social Impact (362), Environmental Impact (55) while also ranking high in Employability and Outcomes (116), and Environmental Research (256). MAHE led India in governance and equality, while IISc positioned 32nd globally in environmental education.

QS Vice President Ben Sowter praised Indian universities’ development, citing considerable increases in areas such as Impact of Education and Health and Wellbeing. Institutions such as IIT Kharagpur, IIT Roorkee, and IIT Delhi made significant advances, reflecting the country’s increased emphasis on sustainability in higher education.

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