Delhi ranked world’s most affordable student city in QS 2026 rankings, beating global cities with a score of 96.5. Learn how Indian metros are climbing QS charts and what it means for exam aspirants.
🌍 Delhi Crowned the World’s Most Affordable Student City (QS 2026)
In the QS Best Student Cities 2026 rankings, released mid‑July 2025, Delhi achieved a remarkable milestone: it was named the most affordable student city in the world, with an impressive affordability score of 96.5 / 100
📈 India’s Metro Surge
India’s four major metros—Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, and Chennai—all climbed the QS leaderboard.
- Mumbai re-entered the global top 100, rising 15 places to rank 98th.
- Delhi moved up 7 spots to 104th.
- Bengaluru soared 22 positions to 108th, while Chennai climbed 12 to 128th
🎓 Affordability and Employer Outcomes
Beyond Delhi’s cost advantage, Indian metros showed strong performance in employer activity:
- Delhi and Mumbai made it to the global top 50 in this category.
- Bengaluru jumped 41 places to 59th, and Chennai rose 29 places—indicating students from these cities enjoy growing job market recognition
🏛 Academic Strength
Traditional academic institutions likely reinforced these rankings:
- Delhi hosts premier universities like DU and IIT Delhi.
- Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Chennai feature top-tier institutes including IIT Bombay, IISc, and IIT Madras
🌐 Global Context
Globally, the top five student cities are Seoul, Tokyo, London, Munich, and Melbourne Delhi’s affordability distinction underscores India’s growing edge as a value-driven, education-friendly destination.
Why This News Matters for Exam Aspirants
🏅 Strategic Relevance
Government exam aspirants—be it for IBPS, RRB, SCC, defence, or civil services—are expected to stay informed about national and global education trends. This ranking highlights India’s progress in affordability and employability—key indicators of national education success.
💰 Economic Implications
Delhi’s affordability score reflects low tuition, reasonable living costs, and an affordable student lifestyle. Such insights enhance understanding of macro-economic indicators, cost-of-living indices, and education budgets, which often form question banks in exams like IBPS and SSC.
👥 Policy & Governance
The alignment of Delhi’s performance with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which emphasizes internationalisation and employability, is crucial in the context of civil services, PSCs, and education-officer roles. It demonstrates how policy measures translate into quantifiable global outcomes.
🌍 International Positioning
Delhi’s global ranking supports the narrative of India’s growing presence in global education — relevant for current-affairs sections in UPSC, State PSC, and banking exams, which focus on India’s image and soft power.
Historical Context: The Surge of Indian Education in QS Rankings 📚
NEP 2020 – A Turning Point
Launched in 2020, NEP aimed to revamp India’s education landscape by promoting international standards, multidisciplinary approaches, and better industry alignment.
Growth in QS Rankings
From 2020‑2025, the number of Indian universities featured in QS World Rankings surged by approximately 390%, reflecting enhanced global engagement, research quality, and improved living conditions
City-Level Gains
Since 2024, Delhi rose from 117 to 104, Mumbai from 131 to 98, Bengaluru from 130 to 108, and Chennai from 140 to 128—signalling steady improvements
A Shift Toward Asia
Importantly, Asia-Pacific cities now outnumber Europe in QS’s top‑20, with Seoul capturing the number‑1 spot, reinforcing regional academic competitiveness
Key Takeaways from “Delhi becomes world’s most affordable student city”
| S. No. | Key Takeaway |
|---|---|
| 1 | Delhi secured the highest affordability score (96.5/100) in the QS Best Student Cities 2026. |
| 2 | Four Indian metros entered QS top 150: Mumbai (98), Delhi (104), Bengaluru (108), Chennai (128). |
| 3 | Delhi and Mumbai ranked in global top 50 for employer activity—indicating strong graduate prospects. |
| 4 | Since NEP 2020, India’s presence in QS university rankings rose by nearly 390%. |
| 5 | Asia‑Pacific (incl. India) continues to gain traction globally—Seoul, Tokyo, Mumbai, Delhi featured among top student cities. |
✅ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q10: Is the QS ranking only for international students?
Ans: No, the QS ranking considers factors affecting both domestic and international students, including quality of life, academic excellence, and career opportunities.
Q1: What is the QS Best Student Cities Ranking?
Ans: The QS Best Student Cities Ranking is an annual list published by QS (Quacquarelli Symonds), evaluating global cities based on factors such as affordability, student mix, desirability, employer activity, and university rankings.
Q2: Why was Delhi ranked the most affordable city for students in 2026?
Ans: Delhi earned a high affordability score of 96.5 out of 100 due to its low cost of living, economical housing, and affordable tuition fees in comparison to global counterparts.
Q3: Which other Indian cities featured in the QS 2026 rankings?
Ans: Mumbai (98th), Delhi (104th), Bengaluru (108th), and Chennai (128th) featured in the QS Best Student Cities 2026 list.
Q4: What does a high score in ’employer activity’ mean in the QS rankings?
Ans: It indicates strong employment prospects for graduates, with local universities producing job-ready candidates who are highly valued by employers.
Q5: How does this ranking relate to India’s National Education Policy (NEP) 2020?
Ans: The NEP 2020 aimed to internationalize Indian education and improve employability, both of which are reflected in the improved rankings and global perception of Indian cities.
Q6: Which cities topped the global QS 2026 list overall?
Ans: The top cities globally were Seoul, Tokyo, London, Munich, and Melbourne.
Q7: How often is the QS Best Student Cities list updated?
Ans: The list is updated annually by QS, usually around mid-year.
Q8: Which Indian university cities saw the biggest improvement in ranking?
Ans: Bengaluru saw the highest jump, climbing 22 ranks to reach the 108th position.
Q9: What are the key indicators used by QS to rank cities?
Ans: Indicators include affordability, student mix, desirability, employer activity, and the number and performance of universities.
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