Indian business schools gain global recognition, shine in the QS Global MBA Rankings 2026

Indian business schools performed exceptionally well in the QS Global MBA, Business Master's, and Online MBA Rankings 2026, with 14 institutions appearing.

Indian business schools have strengthened their position globally. Several prestigious Indian institutions performed exceptionally well in the QS Global MBA, Business Master's, and Online MBA Rankings 2026, released on Wednesday. Three Indian institutions appeared among the top 100 MBA schools globally, while three others made their mark in the online MBA league table for the first time.

IIM-Bangalore retained its top position nationally and moved up one spot to 52nd in the global rankings. The institution had achieved its highest ranking in 2020, reaching 44th. Notably, IIM-Bangalore achieved its best Employability Score ever this year, ranking 29th in the world.

Who ranked which?

IIM-Ahmedabad rose to 58th in the rankings, while IIM-Calcutta remained at 64th. IIM-Indore also improved its position, entering the 151-200 bracket, its best performance since it first appeared on the list in 2022. In total, 14 Indian institutions have appeared on the Global MBA charts. This year, the Woxsen School of Business ranked joint 26th in Diversity, topping the category in Asia.

India has also expanded its presence in the QS Business Master's Rankings. A total of 37 programs were listed this year, including 10 new admissions. IIM-Bangalore (7th), IIM-Ahmedabad (11th), and IIM-Calcutta (12th) are among the top 15 institutions globally for Master's in Management, reflecting India's growing strength in this particular field.

Similarly, IIM-Lucknow (30th), IIM-Kozhikode (48th), and IIM-Indore (50th) also made it to the top 50. However, none of the country's admissions in the finance field made it to the top 200. Another significant milestone in this ranking was that TAPMI, which made its first appearance this year, ranked 22nd in return on investment. This demonstrates that Indian business schools are not only improving the quality of education but also enhancing students' careers and their ability to deliver returns on investment.

What Experts Say?

Experts believe that the global recognition of Indian business schools is steadily increasing. Although some challenges remain in terms of employability and return on investment, this ranking proves the strength of the Indian education system for students and researchers.