~ This innovative degree-granting MBA programme is offered by the Krishnamurthy Tandon School of AI, IIMA, and is designed for professionals and entrepreneurs who want to equip themselves with advanced analytical and AI-driven capabilities for data- intensive leadership roles and business strategy
~ The 2026-2028 batch of BPGP: BA & AI boasts a diverse student population from sectors such as BFSI, IT, consulting, academic and education, retail and e-commerce, and biotech and healthcare, among others.
~ The cohort consists of 55 male students (77%) and 16 female students (23%), with an average work experience of 7 years and 4 months.
April 16, 2026: Marking a significant milestone at the intersection of forward-looking technology and management strategy, the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA) welcomed the maiden batch of its pioneering two-year Blended MBA Programme in Business Analytics & Artificial Intelligence (BPGP: BA & AI) today. A total of 71 ambitious professionals with an average work experience of seven years and four months have joined the first batch of this innovative degree-granting programme.
The inaugural ceremony was held on the campus in the presence of Professor Satish Deodhar, Dean (Faculty); Professor Diptesh Ghosh, Dean (Programmes); Professor Anindya Chakrabarti, Chairperson, BPGP: BA & AI; faculty members, and senior officials of the Institute.
BPGP: BA & AI is a distinctive, future-facing programme offered by the Krishnamurthy Tandon School of AI, IIMA, a world-class platform deploying the growing power of AI in conjunction with IIMA’s management expertise to benefit businesses and society. This transformative programme is designed for professionals and entrepreneurs seeking to upskill themselves in the rapidly evolving fields of business management and AI. Delivered in a blended mode, the programme combines live, Direct-to-Device learning with curated three in-person immersive modules at IIM Ahmedabad, offering the convenience of online learning and the richness of on-campus engagement. Participants of BPGP: BA & AI will gain in- depth knowledge of business analytics and AI together with the distinctive IIMA case pedagogy framework that fosters leadership and strategic management skills.
Addressing the maiden batch of BPGP: BA & AI, Professor Satish Deodhar, Dean (Faculty), said, “The BPGP: BA & AI offers a unique educational experience in multifaceted ways. It is a pivotal stepping stone for professionals like you, who will not only be balancing the demands of careers and families with this rigorous programme, but also emerge as capable leaders who can lead operations and companies at the intersection of data, management, analytics, and strategic thinking. With its blended mode of learning, this programme offers you value both on and off the IIMA campus.”
In his inaugural address, Professor Diptesh Ghosh, Dean (Programmes), highlighted the edge students would gain over the two years of this programme, saying, “Our aim for this programme is to hone professionals who possess a fundamental understanding of technical know-how, gain functional depth in management, and can apply the data-driven techniques to solve managerial problems. This programme offers a highly forward-thinking view of management, meshing analytics, data techniques, and artificial intelligence with modern business and management requirements. Businesses today may have an abundance of data but might not know how to make the best use of it. That is where you will be stepping in.”
Welcoming the pioneer batch of the programme, Professor Anindya Chakrabarti, Chairperson, BPGP: BA & AI, gave an overview of the programme and acknowledged the significance of the moment, saying, “Today is a special day for the Institute and a defining moment for everyone in this room, as we launch IIMA’s very first technical MBA programme under the Krishnamurthy Tandon School of AI. The BPGP: BA & AI reflects the rapidly evolving landscape of business practices, wherein the integration of business analytics and artificial intelligence is no longer optional, but essential. As the pioneering batch, you will not only be participating in this transformative journey but also shaping the future identity of the programme.”
Faculty members from the Executive Committee of the programme also welcomed the cohort and offered guidance.
The cohort of BPGP: BA & AI 2026-28 comprises 16 (23%) female participants and 55 (77%) male participants. The students come bearing diverse experience across various industries, including BFSI, IT, consulting, academic and education, retail and e-commerce, biotech and healthcare, energy and utilities, aerospace and aviation, transportation and logistics, among others. The highest number of students are from the Banking, Financial Services and Insurance sector (16), followed by IT Products (12), IT & ITeS (11), Consulting (6), and so on.
About IIM Ahmedabad: The Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA) is a premier global management Institute that is at the forefront of promoting excellence in the field of management education. In more than six decades of its existence, the Institute has been acknowledged for its exemplary contributions to scholarship, practice, and policy through its distinctive teaching, high-quality research, nurturing future leaders, supporting industry, government, social enterprise, and creating a progressive impact on society.
IIMA was founded as an innovative initiative by the Government, industry, and international academia in 1961. Since then, it has been consolidating its global footprint and today it has a network with over 80 top international institutions and a presence in Dubai. Its eminent faculty members and around 46,000 alumni, who are at the helm of influential positions in all walks of life also contribute to its global recognition. Over the years, IIMA’s academically superior, market-driven, and socially impactful programmes, have earned a high reputation and acclaim globally. It became the first Indian institution to receive international accreditation from EQUIS. The Institute is also placed first in the Government of India’s National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF), India Rankings 2025. The Institute has been ranked 35th globally in the Financial Times (FT) Executive Education (Open) Rankings 2025. The renowned flagship two-year Post Graduate Programme in Management (PGP) is ranked 34th in the FT Masters in Management Ranking 2025 and the Full-Time One-Year Post Graduate Programme in Management (MBA-PGPX) has been ranked 27th in the FT Global MBA rankings 2026.
IIMA offers consultancy services and more than 200 curated executive education programmes in customised, blended, and open enrolment formats for a diverse audience comprising business leaders, policymakers, industry professionals, academicians, government officials, armed forces personnel, agri-business, and other niche sector specialists and entrepreneurs.
To know more about the Institute, please visit: https://www.iima.ac.in/
For media queries, please contact:
Ms. Shivangi Bhatt | manager-comm@iima.ac.in
Ms. Krishna Barot| pr@iima.ac.in
