New Delhi, Delhi, 26th of March 2026 : In a significant stride toward realizing the vision of a Viksit Bharat, Indian agricultural institutions have registered their maiden entry in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026. This achievement gains profound importance in light of the emphasis laid by the Prime Minister of India during the Chief Secretaries’ conference in December 2025, where he underscored the critical need to develop skilled human capital.
Responding to this national priority, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), under the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, has been tirelessly working to strengthen a world-class, multidisciplinary, and research-intensive education ecosystem within the National Agricultural Research Education and Extension System (NAREES). The latest QS rankings, released on March 25 by UK-based analysts QS Quacquarelli Symonds, reflect the success of these concerted efforts. The 2026 edition evaluated over 21,000 academic programs from more than 1,900 universities globally based on parameters such as academic reputation, employer reputation, research citations, and international collaboration.
For the first time, two ICAR institutions have earned a place on this prestigious global platform. ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Bareilly, has secured a place in the 51-100 ranking band, emerging as the only Indian university featured among the top 100 in the Veterinary Science category. Meanwhile, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, has debuted in the 151–200 band in the Agriculture & Forestry category, joining an elite group of Indian institutions.
Overall, the Agriculture & Forestry category saw 10 Indian universities listed among 475 globally. Alongside IARI, the 151-200 band features Banaras Hindu University, University of Delhi, and IIT Kharagpur, while Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) features in the 201-250 band. Notably, Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, has also made its maiden entry in the 301-350 band.
Dr M.L. Jat, Secretary, DARE and Director General, ICAR says that the debut of ICAR’s Deemed Universities is a testament to their sustained multidimensional contributions to basic and applied science in agri-food and health systems. Their success is particularly noteworthy given the competitive global landscape of agricultural sciences, where institutions are judged not only on research excellence but also on societal impact. The strong performance of ICAR-IARI and IVRI underscores their integrated approach, combining fundamental research, translational science, and field-level outreach, alongside their vital contributions to national programs on crop and livestock improvement and climate-resilient agriculture. A robust alumni network and enduring stakeholder trust have further bolstered their visibility on the world map.
As India marches toward Viksit Bharat, the global recognition of ICAR’s premier institutions signals a new era where the nation’s agricultural higher education is not just keeping pace with the world, but setting the benchmark for excellence in science, innovation, and human capital development.
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