UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — India Achieves Record 27 Entries in the Top 50 of QS Subject Rankings 2026
Q1. Which one of the following is the nodal authority in the Government of India for higher-education policy whose Department flagged India's performance in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026?
- A. Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education
- B. Department of Science & Technology, Ministry of Science & Technology
- C. University Grants Commission, an autonomous statutory body
- D. All India Council for Technical Education
Q2. With reference to the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026 and its methodology, consider the following statements:
1. The QS World University Rankings by Subject was first published in 2011, initially covering only five broad subject areas.
2. In the 2026 edition, the five core indicators are applied with identical weightings across all 55 subjects.
3. The 2026 edition evaluated more than 21,000 academic programmes across over 100 countries.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- The QS World University Rankings by Subject was first published in 2011, initially covering only five broad subject areas.
- In the 2026 edition, the five core indicators are applied with identical weightings across all 55 subjects.
- The 2026 edition evaluated more than 21,000 academic programmes across over 100 countries.
- A. 1 and 3 only
- B. 2 and 3 only
- C. 1 and 2 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q3. In the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026, which one of the following was India's highest-ranked subject globally (Rank 21)?
- A. Mineral & Mining Engineering at IIT (ISM) Dhanbad
- B. Computer Science & Information Systems at IIT Delhi
- C. Chemical Engineering at IIT Delhi
- D. Electrical & Electronic Engineering at IIT Bombay
Q4. With reference to India's performance in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026, consider the following statements:
1. IIM Ahmedabad was ranked 21st globally in both Business & Management Studies and Marketing.
2. IIT Delhi was the leading Indian institution, with six entries in the global top 50.
3. IIT (ISM) Dhanbad's Rank-21 in Mineral & Mining Engineering was India's only subject entry in the global top 25.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- IIM Ahmedabad was ranked 21st globally in both Business & Management Studies and Marketing.
- IIT Delhi was the leading Indian institution, with six entries in the global top 50.
- IIT (ISM) Dhanbad's Rank-21 in Mineral & Mining Engineering was India's only subject entry in the global top 25.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 2 and 3 only
- C. 1 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q5. Consider the following statements about India's quantitative performance in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026:
1. India recorded 27 entries in the global top 50.
2. A total of 99 Indian institutions featured in the rankings.
3. Indian institutions contributed 599 subject entries.
4. All 599 of India's subject entries improved year-on-year.
Which of the above is/are correctly identified?
- India recorded 27 entries in the global top 50.
- A total of 99 Indian institutions featured in the rankings.
- Indian institutions contributed 599 subject entries.
- All 599 of India's subject entries improved year-on-year.
- A. 1, 2 and 3 only
- B. 1 and 4 only
- C. 2, 3 and 4 only
- D. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Q6. In the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026, which one of the following emerged as the leading Indian institution by number of subject entries in the global top 50?
- A. IIT Delhi, with six top-50 entries
- B. IIT (ISM) Dhanbad, with its Rank-21 in Mineral & Mining Engineering
- C. IIM Ahmedabad, with two Rank-21 subject entries
- D. Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bengaluru
Q7. The target of raising India's Gross Enrolment Ratio in higher education to 50% by 2035 is set under which one of the following?
- A. National Education Policy 2020
- B. National Policy on Education 1986 (as modified in 1992)
- C. Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009
- D. National Policy on Education 1968
Q8. Under NEP 2020, the Gross Enrolment Ratio in higher education (including vocational education) is targeted to be raised to what level by 2035?
- A. 50%
- B. 26.3%
- C. 40%
- D. 60%
Q9. What is the total estimated outlay of the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) for the five-year period 2023-28?
- A. Rs. 50,000 crore
- B. Rs. 36,000 crore
- C. Rs. 10,000 crore
- D. Rs. 1,00,000 crore
Q10. With reference to the governance structure of the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF), consider the following pairings:
1. Prime Minister — ex-officio President of the Governing Board.
2. Union Minister of Science & Technology — ex-officio Vice-President.
3. Union Minister of Education — ex-officio Vice-President.
4. Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India — ex-officio President of the Governing Board.
Which of the above is/are NOT correctly matched?
- Prime Minister — ex-officio President of the Governing Board.
- Union Minister of Science & Technology — ex-officio Vice-President.
- Union Minister of Education — ex-officio Vice-President.
- Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India — ex-officio President of the Governing Board.
- A. 1 and 2
- B. 3 only
- C. 1, 2 and 3
- D. 4 only
Q11. The 55 subjects assessed in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026 are grouped under how many broad faculty areas?
- A. Five
- B. Four
- C. Six
- D. Fifty-five
Q12. With reference to the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) and how it compares with the QS rankings, consider the following statements:
1. NIRF was launched by the Ministry of Education in 2015.
2. NIRF assigns a 30% weight each to 'Teaching, Learning & Resources' and 'Research & Professional Practice'.
3. Among NIRF's five parameters, 'Perception' carries the highest weight at 50%.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- NIRF was launched by the Ministry of Education in 2015.
- NIRF assigns a 30% weight each to 'Teaching, Learning & Resources' and 'Research & Professional Practice'.
- Among NIRF's five parameters, 'Perception' carries the highest weight at 50%.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 2 and 3 only
- C. 1 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3