Those of us in Marcellus who have been interviewing Indian university graduates over the past 20 years have seen a marked deterioration in the quality of these graduates. Part of the reason for this is the deterioration in the quality of India’s universities. This can also be seen in the declining global rankings of India’s universities. As this article in The Wire says:
“Nine of the top 10 Indian institutions, including seven IITs, have seen a decline in their positions in the QS Asia University Rankings 2026, with universities in China, Malaysia, South Korea, and Singapore outperforming them, the Indian Express reported.
According to the rankings released by QS Quacquarelli Symonds, IIT Delhi remains the country’s top-ranked institution for the second consecutive year but has fallen 15 places to the 59th position, its lowest in recent years.
Among the top 10 Indian institutions, IIT Bombay recorded the steepest fall, dropping 23 ranks to 71st. IIT Bombay had been India’s highest-ranked institution between 2021 and 2024.
Five IITs – Delhi, Madras, Bombay, Kanpur, and Kharagpur – recorded their lowest ranks in recent years. Chandigarh University was the only Indian institution among the top 10 to improve its position, rising from 120 to 109.
Globally, the University of Hong Kong secured the top spot, followed by China’s Peking University in second place and the National University of Singapore and Nanyang Technological University in joint third. Institutions from Hong Kong, Mainland China, Singapore, South Korea, and Malaysia dominate the top 20 positions.
“The 2026 edition of the QS Asia University Rankings reflects a clear eastward concentration of top performance, driven by sustained improvement in East and Southeast Asian higher education systems,” QS told the Indian Express.”
The decline in the quality of India’s universities have even deeper ramifications beyond the deterioration in the quality of India’s graduates. In none of the foundational technologies of our era – AI, EV, biotech and renewables – does India have any intellectual stake. For all of these technologies, the key IP and tech lies with USA and China and India has no choice but to import these technologies. That in turn points to a deterioration in India’s terms of trade with its key trading partners, something that these partners are only too happy to leverage.
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Note: The above material is neither investment research, nor financial advice. Marcellus does not seek payment for or business from this publication in any shape or form. The information provided is intended for educational purposes only. Marcellus Investment Managers is regulated by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) and is also an FME (Non-Retail) with the International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) as a provider of Portfolio Management Services. Additionally, Marcellus is also registered with US Securities and Exchange Commission (“US SEC”) as an Investment Advisor.
