NEW DELHI: India currently hosts 72,218 international students from approximately 200 countries , Minister of State for Education Sukanta Majumdar informed the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday. The minister detailed government initiatives aimed at strengthening engagement with foreign universities and students.
Majumdar highlighted efforts to boost India’s global academic standing. He stated that the Centre is taking various steps to increase collaboration and attract more foreign students to Indian institutions.
Institution of Eminence Scheme and Funding
The Ministry of Education launched the World Class Institutions scheme to elevate Indian higher education. This initiative grants ‘Institution of Eminence’ (IoE) status to selected institutions. The scheme’s goal is to enable these institutions to become world-class centers for teaching and research. So far, 12 institutions have received IoE notification.
These 12 institutions comprise 8 from the public category and 4 from the private category . Only public institutions receive direct funding under this scheme. Since its inception, an amount of Rs 6,198.99 crore has been sanctioned specifically for the eight public sector IoE institutions.
IoE Institutions Overview
| Category | Number of Institutions | Funds Sanctioned (Public Only) |
|---|---|---|
| Total IoE Institutions | 12 | Not Applicable |
| Public Category IoE | 8 | Rs 6,198.99 crore |
| Private Category IoE | 4 | No direct funding |
Improved Global Ranking Performance
Indian higher education institutions have significantly improved their performance in international rankings. According to Minister Majumdar, **54 Indian institutions** featured in the QS World University Rankings (QS WUR) 2026. This represents India’s highest-ever representation in these global rankings.
This marks a substantial increase from previous years. In 2014-15, only **11 Indian institutions** were ranked in the QS WUR. The number of Indian Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in the QS WUR has doubled in the last five years, climbing from **27 in 2021** to **54 in the latest 2026 rankings**.
National Education Policy 2020 Impact
The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 plays a central role in improving the quality of higher education in India. The policy focuses on a range of strategic initiatives. These include enhancing infrastructure quality within HEIs. Strengthening the research and innovation ecosystem is another key objective. The policy also promotes stronger industry-academia linkages.
The Ministry stated that government initiatives, guided by NEP 2020, have directly contributed to these improvements. Indian HEIs now show better performance in international assessments, including the QS WUR. The policy aims to foster an environment conducive to academic excellence and global competitiveness.