Delhi University Ranking 2026: NIRF, QS, Outlook, The Week, Times Higher Education

Delhi University holds strong positions across major ranking bodies. In the NIRF 2025 rankings, it secured 5th place in the University category, 15th overall, and 12th in Research Institutions. In QS World University Rankings 2026, it is ranked 328. Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2026 places it in the 601–800 band. In Outlook-ICARE Rankings 2025, DU ranks 3rd among Central Universities. India Today Best Universities 2025 ranks it 1st among General Government Universities. In The Week-Hansa Research Best Universities Survey 2023, it ranked 3rd among multidisciplinary universities.

DU NIRF Ranking 2025

NIRF, managed by the Ministry of Education, Government of India, provides annual rankings across categories like University, Overall, and Research. Delhi University has shown consistent performance, improving from 6th to 5th in the University category between 2024 and 2025.

This improvement highlights advancements in research productivity, faculty quality, and student success metrics. Additionally, it maintained a solid 15th rank in the Overall category and rose to 12th in Research Institutions, placing it ahead of many specialized research entities and affirming its growing emphasis on high-impact scholarly work. DU's affiliated colleges also dominate the College category, with multiple units occupying the top spots nationally, further reinforcing the university's ecosystem of excellence.

DU QS World University Rankings 2026

In the QS World University Rankings 2026, DU is positioned at 328, maintaining stability from its 2025 rank of 328 after a significant jump from 407 in 2024. This places DU among the top Indian public universities and highlights its strong performance in employer reputation and academic surveys, making it an attractive destination for both domestic and international students seeking a comprehensive multidisciplinary education.

DU Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2026

Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings evaluate institutions based on 18 carefully calibrated performance indicators grouped into five areas: Teaching (learning environment), Research Environment, Research Quality, Industry Engagement, and International Outlook. These metrics provide a balanced view of institutional strengths in knowledge creation, dissemination, and global connectivity.

For 2026, Delhi University is ranked in the 601–800 band globally, marking a competitive position among over 2,000 ranked universities worldwide. This band placement reflects solid scores in teaching (around 42.9), research quality (45.8), and industry collaboration (53.6), though challenges remain in international outlook and research environment metrics compared to top global peers. DU's inclusion in this range positions it as a leading Indian public university with growing international relevance.

DU Outlook-ICARE Rankings 2025

Outlook-ICARE ranks Indian institutions, with a focus on central universities. Delhi University improved from 4th to 3rd among Central Universities between 2024 and 2025.

Delhi University has historically performed well in Outlook-ICARE assessments, particularly among central universities, where it has secured top positions in recent cycles (e.g., strong showings in 2024 editions). While specific 2025 central university rankings may vary slightly by parameter focus, DU's consistent presence in the upper echelons underscores its reputation as a premier multidisciplinary public institution with robust faculty resources and student-centric initiatives.

DU India Today Best Universities Rankings 2025

India Today ranks universities in categories like General (Government). Delhi University rose to 1st in General (Govt) in 2025 from 2nd in 2024.

In the 2025 edition, Delhi University achieved the 1st rank in the General (Government) Universities category, marking a significant milestone by overtaking long-time leader Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU). This top position is attributed to DU's rising research publications, strong placement records, increasing student enrollments, and enhanced academic ecosystem, positioning it as a benchmark for public higher education in India.

DU The Week Ranking 2023

The Week ranks multidisciplinary universities. Delhi University was ranked 3rd in 2023; more recent data for 2025 focuses on its colleges rather than the university overall.

DU Ranking FAQs

Q1. What is the NIRF ranking of Delhi University in 2025?

Delhi University achieved its best performance in the NIRF 2025 rankings released by the Ministry of Education, Government of India. It secured 5th rank in the University category (score: 67.38), 15th rank in the Overall category (score: 66.19), and performed strongly in Research Institutions (around 11th-12th based on parameters). This marks an improvement from 6th in the University category in 2024, driven by high scores in Graduation Outcomes (96.94), Outreach & Inclusivity, and Perception.

Q2. What is Delhi University's QS World University Ranking in 2026?

In the QS World University Rankings 2026, the University of Delhi is ranked 328 globally (tied position), with an overall score of 42.6. This reflects steady performance in key indicators like Academic Reputation, Employer Reputation, and Citations per Faculty. DU has shown consistent improvement in recent years, jumping from =407 in 2024 to =328 in 2025 and maintaining it in 2026.

Q3. What is Delhi University's rank in India Today Best Universities 2025?

In the India Today Best Universities Rankings 2025, Delhi University topped the General (Government) Universities category, securing the 1st position. This rise (from 2nd in 2024) highlights DU's strengths in research output, placements, infrastructure, academic environment, and perceptual feedback from stakeholders, overtaking institutions like Jawaharlal Nehru University in this category.

Q4. Which ranking body considers Delhi University the best or top-ranked in India?

Among major national rankings, India Today 2025 ranks DU 1st in General (Government) Universities. In NIRF 2025, it holds 5th in the University category (behind IISc, JNU, etc.). DU's colleges often lead in NIRF College rankings (e.g., Hindu College at 1st, Miranda House at 2nd in 2025), making the DU ecosystem one of the strongest in India.

Q5. Has Delhi University ranking improved recently?

Yes, DU has shown consistent upward trends:

• NIRF University: 6th (2024) → 5th (2025)
• QS World: =407 (2024) → 328 (2025 & 2026)
• India Today General (Govt): 2nd (2024) → 1st (2025) These improvements stem from enhanced research productivity, strong graduation outcomes, employer perception, and alignment with national education policies.