Rourkela: The National Institute of Technology (NIT) Rourkela has achieved another notable milestone in the Times Higher Education (THE) Asia University Rankings 2026, securing the 186th position among 929 universities across 36 countries and territories in Asia.
The institute has shown steady improvement, advancing from its 191st rank in the previous year. This upward movement reflects its consistent progress in academics, research output, and institutional development on the regional stage.
Among Indian institutions, NIT Rourkela has been ranked 8th overall and has emerged as the highest-ranked National Institute of Technology (NIT) in the country. Significantly, it is the only NIT to feature within the top 200 universities in Asia in this edition of the rankings.
Welcoming the achievement, Director of NIT Rourkela, Prof. K. Umamaheshwar Rao, said, “We are pleased to witness our consistent progress in the Times Higher Education Asia University Rankings this year. This achievement strengthens the institute’s growing reputation for academic excellence, impactful research, and global engagement. I appreciate the dedicated efforts of the accreditation and ranking team for their focused approach in submitting the data. As the highest-ranked NIT and the only one in the top 200, this milestone inspires us to further enhance our academic ecosystem, expand research partnerships, and continue striving for excellence at the global level.”
The THE Asia University Rankings assess institutions based on 18 performance indicators across key parameters, including teaching, research, knowledge transfer, and international outlook.
