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While a total of 3,898 Indian researchers have been selected this year, the number of Indian researchers featured in the list declined considerably from 6,239 in the 2025 edition.
IISc Bengaluru recorded the highest number of featured researchers among Indian institutions, with 139 scientists. (File Photo)
A total of 3,898 Indian researchers from 1,185 academic and research institutions have been featured in the 2026 edition of the “World’s Top 2% Scientists” list, released by Stanford University in collaboration with global academic publisher Elsevier.
The Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, recorded the highest number of featured researchers among Indian institutions, with 139 scientists. The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi followed with 114, while IIT Kharagpur ranked third with 97, reported Economic Times.
However, the number of Indian researchers featured in the list declined considerably from 6,239 in the 2025 edition.
Top 20 Indian Institutions in the 2026 List
IISc Bengaluru topped the list with 139 researchers, followed by IIT Delhi with 114 and IIT Kharagpur with 97. Other institutions in the top five were IIT Madras, with 81 researchers, and IIT Bombay, with 73.
1 – Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru: 139
2 – IIT Delhi: 114
3 – IIT Kharagpur: 97
4 – IIT Madras: 81
5 – IIT Bombay: 73
6 – IIT Roorkee: 62
7 – IIT Kanpur: 55
8 – Jadavpur University: 48
9 – Banaras Hindu University: 44
10 – Bhabha Atomic Research Centre: 40
11 – University of Delhi: 38
12 – IIT Guwahati: 37
13 – Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR): 35
14 – Vellore Institute of Technology: 35
15 – IIT (BHU) Varanasi: 33
16 – AIIMS, New Delhi: 30
17 – PGIMER, Chandigarh: 29
18 – University of Hyderabad: 27
19 – BITS Pilani: 24
20 – Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata: 24
The list also includes researchers from institutions beyond the older IITs and central universities. The National Institute of Technology (NIT) Rourkela reported that 29 faculty members and one research graduate, Srimanta Patra, were included in the 2026 list. Patra is currently a DST-INSPIRE Faculty member at IIT Guwahati. The researchers represent fields including metallurgical and materials engineering, biotechnology, food process engineering, life sciences and mining.
Of the researchers associated with NIT Rourkela, 19 were recognised in the career-long impact category.
Bhubaneswar-based Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) reported 34 researchers on the list: 33 from KIIT and one from the Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences. Thirteen were included in the career-long impact category.
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Ask News18The Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, led Indian institutions on the 2026 Stanford World’s Top 2% Scientists list with 139 researchers.
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October 09, 2026, 09:17 IST
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