The recently released QS World University Rankings 2026 offer both a moment of pride and an opportunity for reflection within India’s higher education landscape. With 54 Indian institutions making it to the global list, India has recorded its highest-ever representation, placing fourth in the world in terms of the number of institutions featured. This marks an impressive upward trajectory, particularly for certain public and private institutions that have embraced innovation, internationalization, and academic reform. Notably, private universities have begun making significant inroads into global rankings, proving that excellence is no longer limited to state-funded institutions alone. Chandigarh University, for example, has consistently demonstrated its commitment to global benchmarks, improving its international collaborations, research productivity, and student outcomes. This shift signals an important trend: private universities are no longer peripheral in India’s academic ecosystem; they are emerging as key players in shaping the future of higher education.
However, amid this remarkable progress, the complete absence of any university from Jammu and Kashmir in the QS rankings is both glaring and deeply concerning. What makes this absence even more alarming is the fact that none of the public universities from the region were even eligible to participate in the rankings process this year. At a time when Indian higher education is undergoing global transformation, the universities of Jammu and Kashmir remain largely disconnected from this movement. Their absence is not simply a reflection of exclusion but an indicator of systemic challenges ranging from outdated infrastructure and limited research output to lack of internationalization and poor faculty-student ratios—that continue to plague the region’s higher education system.
The situation is further underscored by the fact that even many of India’s premier institutions, including some IITs and IIMs, struggled to secure high positions in the QS 2026 rankings. This highlights how competitive and demanding global recognition has become. When elite institutes find it difficult to break into the top 100, the path becomes even more challenging for lesser-resourced universities. However, it also reinforces the urgency of upgrading systems, aligning with global academic standards, and undertaking substantial reforms. If top-tier institutions feel the pressure to innovate and compete globally, the universities of Jammu and Kashmir cannot afford to remain stagnant. The longer they remain outside the purview of international assessments, the greater the risk of academic isolation.
This disconnect from global academic standards has real consequences. As universities across the country push toward global excellence, those in Jammu and Kashmir risk falling into obscurity. In the global academic environment, rankings serve not only as symbols of prestige but also as indicators of quality, relevance, and competitiveness. International recognition influences the mobility of students, faculty exchange programs, research collaborations, and even employability of graduates in the global job market. If the region’s institutions continue to remain absent from such platforms, the degrees awarded by them may gradually lose value beyond India. This could have long-term repercussions for students seeking opportunities abroad, including scholarships, admissions to foreign universities, or employment in international organizations.
The time has come to consider a serious restructuring of higher education in Jammu and Kashmir. One of the most promising solutions lies in the introduction and support of quality private universities in the region. Across the country, private institutions have shown that with the right vision, resources, and leadership, they can compete with and even surpass many public universities in terms of global engagement and academic performance. Private universities tend to be more agile, market-responsive, and innovative in curriculum design, infrastructure development, and student support systems. Encouraging such models in Jammu and Kashmir could not only raise the academic standards of the region but also offer students access to a more globally aligned education.
Additionally, there is a strong case for establishing public-private partnerships (PPP) within the existing public university framework. Rather than discarding or privatizing public institutions, PPPs can be leveraged to modernize infrastructure, bring in global faculty, introduce new academic programs, and improve research capacity. With the help of private partners, these universities can adopt modern governance practices, digital platforms, and performance-based assessment systems. This would not only enhance their eligibility for global rankings but also restore faith in the value of their degrees.
It is important to emphasize that the absence of J&K’s universities from the QS rankings should not be accepted as a permanent state of affairs. Rather, it must be seen as a call to action for the government, academia, and civil society alike. The youth of Jammu and Kashmir deserve the same academic opportunities, recognition, and global exposure as their peers elsewhere in India. It is neither equitable nor sustainable to let an entire region remain academically invisible while the rest of the country forges ahead on the path to global excellence.
In an era where higher education is not only about national reputation but also about international relevance, the current state of universities in Jammu and Kashmir cannot be overlooked. The future of the region’s youth depends on the decisions made today. Without meaningful reforms, institutional restructuring, and openness to private and global engagement, the universities of Jammu and Kashmir risk continued academic irrelevance. To prevent this, the region must embrace change, foster innovation, and commit to academic excellence—not just for rankings, but for the futures they shape.

Email:----------------------ashwani.e17761@cumail.in