The Indian Institute of Foreign Trade has secured the first position in the Times B School Ranking 2026, reaffirming its status as one of India’s leading institutions in management education with a specialised focus on international trade and global business. The achievement highlights IIFT’s sustained academic excellence, strong global orientation and growing relevance in shaping leadership for India’s expanding role in world trade.
Congratulating the Institute on the top ranking, Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Shri Piyush Goyal said the recognition reflects IIFT’s consistent efforts in empowering students with the skills, vision and strategic capabilities required to lead in an increasingly interconnected global economy. He said the Institute is playing a critical role in nurturing future-ready professionals who can strengthen India’s presence and competitiveness in international trade.
Commerce Secretary and Chancellor of IIFT Shri Rajesh Agrawal expressed satisfaction over the Institute’s performance, stating that the ranking underscores IIFT’s strong academic foundation, its expanding global footprint and its commitment to excellence. He noted that the Institute aligns closely with India’s aspiration to emerge as a global powerhouse in trade and commerce and contributes to the vision of Viksit Bharat by producing globally competent management professionals attuned to national economic, trade and strategic priorities.
Vice Chancellor of IIFT Prof. Rakesh Mohan Joshi thanked Union Minister Shri Piyush Goyal and Chancellor Shri Rajesh Agrawal for their vision and continued support. He reaffirmed the Institute’s commitment to achieving global benchmarks in management education in the field of international business by strengthening academic rigour, policy relevance, industry engagement and international outreach. He said IIFT would continue to integrate contemporary global realities into its teaching, research and institutional practices to evolve as a world-class centre of excellence.
Established in 1963, the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade is a Deemed-to-be University under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India. As a premier institution dedicated to international trade and business, IIFT offers flagship MBA programmes, executive education and doctoral research, contributing significantly to India’s capabilities in global commerce and trade policy. The Institute operates campuses at Delhi, Kolkata, Kakinada and GIFT City, and is in the process of setting up its first offshore campus in Dubai, further strengthening its global academic presence.
