IIT Delhi Achieves 171st Position In QS Sustainability Rankings For 2025

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi has made a significant leap forward in sustainability, securing the 171st position globally in the QS Sustainability Rankings for 2025, marking an impressive climb of 255 places. This achievement underscores the institution's commitment to environmental and sustainability goals. With 78 Indian universities making it to the rankings this year, the country has shown a robust presence, highlighted by notable improvements and new entries. Specifically, IIT-Delhi and IIT-Kanpur have distinguished themselves by entering the top 100 for their contribution to environmental impact, demonstrating India's growing influence in the realm of sustainable development.

Ben Sowter, Vice President of QS, a London-based organization, lauded the performance of Indian institutions. He highlighted that out of the 78 Indian universities listed in the 2025 QS Sustainability rankings, 34 have advanced from their previous positions, while eight have retained their spots. Sowter praised this as a remarkable achievement for India's higher education sector, illustrating a strong drive towards sustainability initiatives among Indian universities. "This is an excellent achievement for the Indian higher education ecosystem and shows that Indian universities are forging ahead with their sustainability initiatives," stated Sowter, emphasizing the progressive strides Indian institutions are making in the field of sustainability.

The 2025 QS Sustainability rankings not only showcased the progress of Indian universities but also shed light on areas for potential improvement within the Social Impact category. According to Sowter, Indian universities have the opportunity to enhance their scores across various indicators, including Health and Wellbeing, Impact of Education, and Equality, where no Indian institution ranks within the top 350. However, he noted that India performed better in the Knowledge Exchange and Employability and Outcomes lenses. "Within the Social Impact category, Indian universities can look to improve their indicator scores in the Health and Wellbeing, Impact of Education and Equality lenses, where no institutions from the country feature in the top 350. Universities from India scored better in the Knowledge Exchange and Employability and Outcomes lenses," Sowter added.

This year, the University of Toronto claimed the top spot in the QS Sustainability Rankings, surpassing ETH Zurich and followed closely by Lund University in Sweden and the University of California, Berkeley (UCB), which both secured joint third place. Compared to the previous edition, the 2025 rankings have grown significantly, featuring over 1,740 universities from 107 countries and territories. This expansion from the 1,397 institutions across 95 locations in the last rankings demonstrates the increasing global focus on sustainability within higher education.

Furthermore, the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bengaluru has achieved remarkable success by ranking among the top 50 globally for environment education. This distinction not only highlights IISc Bengaluru's excellence in this field but also underscores the broader achievements of Indian universities in promoting sustainability and environmental awareness.

In conclusion, the latest QS Sustainability Rankings reveal India's advancing position in the global educational landscape, with its universities making substantial progress in sustainability and environmental impact. As Indian institutions continue to climb the global rankings, they underscore the country's commitment to contributing positively to sustainability goals and environmental education.