The top three Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) have recorded declines in the QS Global Full-Time MBA Rankings 2027, although all three continue to feature among the world's top 100 MBA programmes.

IIM Bangalore remains the highest-ranked Indian business school, securing the 64th position, down from 52nd in the previous edition. IIM Ahmedabad has moved to 70th, compared with 58th last year.

IIM Calcutta recorded the largest drop among the three institutions, falling to 95th from 64th.

According to QS, Indian business schools faced stronger competition from international institutions in areas including Return on Investment, Entrepreneurship & Alumni Outcomes, and Diversity. However, Indian institutions also recorded progress in thought leadership, with 10 Indian entries improving their performance on this measure.

The global rankings continue to be led by US business schools. MIT Sloan School of Management has taken the number one position for the first time, followed by Harvard Business School. The United States occupies the top four positions in the 2027 global ranking.

The QS Global Full-Time MBA Rankings assess business schools across several indicators designed to measure factors such as employability, return on investment, entrepreneurship, thought leadership and diversity.

For Indian MBA aspirants, the latest rankings provide a snapshot of how leading IIM programmes are positioned globally and highlight the areas where business schools are competing with institutions worldwide.