IIM Indore Welcomes New Batches for the Academic Year 2026–27

IIM Indore Welcomes New Batches for the Academic Year 2026–27

634 participants join PGP, PGP-HRM, IPM-IV, and DPM as IIM Indore begins another year of excellence

Indian Institute of Management Indore welcomed its new batches for the academic year 2026–27, inducting a total of 634 participants across its flagship Post Graduate Programme in Management (PGP), Post Graduate Programme in Human Resource Management (PGP-HRM), Integrated Programme in Management – Fourth Year (IPM-IV), and the Doctoral Programme in Management (DPM).

Prof. Himanshu Rai, Director, IIM Indore, inaugurated the batch. Chief Guest Lt. Gen. Ajay Chandpuria, Commandant, Army War College, Mhow, was also present on this occasion.

In his inaugural address, Prof. Himanshu Rai, Director, IIM Indore, encouraged the incoming participants to strive for excellence, drive innovation, and thrive with compassion and equanimity. He urged students to remain humble, embrace continuous learning, and develop a positive mindset while staying true to their aspirations rather than societal expectations. Stressing the importance of adaptability in an ever-evolving world, he advised them to focus on what they can control and build resilience through lifelong learning. He also emphasized responsible leadership and sustainability, encouraging students to become socially conscious leaders who create value for society. “You are not here merely to earn a degree, but to discover yourselves and the difference you can make,” he remarked, urging them to pursue excellence with purpose, integrity, and empathy.

Chief Guest Lt. Gen. Ajay Chandpuria, Commandant, Army War College, Mhow, encouraged the incoming participants to dream big, develop a clear vision, and prepare themselves to lead in an increasingly dynamic world. Emphasizing that India’s future rests in the hands of its youth, he urged students to cultivate integrity, moral courage, adaptability, empathy, and decisiveness: the qualities that define exemplary leadership. Drawing lessons from military leadership, he highlighted that true leaders inspire trust, lead by example, and place people before outcomes. “A leader is someone who knows the way, shows the way, and most importantly, goes the way,” he remarked, urging students to become responsible professionals committed to nation-building and lifelong learning.

Prof. Sayantan Banerjee, Chair, PGP, welcomed the new batch and encouraged participants to embrace the IIM Indore experience with curiosity, humility, and integrity. He urged them to learn from the institute’s diverse community, lead with responsibility, and remember that true management education is about developing judgment, empathy, and ethical leadership alongside academic excellence.

Diversity and Excellence Define the 2026 Batch

The PGP 2026–28 batch reflects IIM Indore’s continued commitment to diversity, inclusion, and academic excellence. Women constitute 54.4% of the cohort, marking yet another year in which female participants outnumber their male counterparts in the institute’s flagship management programme. Academic diversity remains a defining strength of the batch, with 54% of participants coming from non-engineering backgrounds and 46% from engineering disciplines. While Engineering and Technology (126), Management Studies (67), Commerce (66), Computer Science (55), and Economics (31) form the largest academic streams, the cohort also includes students from Architecture, Medicine, Journalism, Psychology, Agriculture, Law, Fashion Design, Veterinary Science, and several other disciplines, creating a truly interdisciplinary learning environment. The batch also brings together a healthy mix of fresh graduates and experienced professionals, with 43% of participants having prior work experience. Geographically, the cohort represents the breadth of India, with Maharashtra contributing the highest number of participants (93), followed by Uttar Pradesh (64) and Delhi (49). Notably, Madhya Pradesh is represented by 26 participants, reflecting the institute’s continued connection with its home state.

The PGP-HRM 2026–28 batch also showcases strong academic and geographic diversity. Women constitute 95.35% of the cohort, while 88% of participants have non-engineering backgrounds, reflecting the programme’s multidisciplinary character. Students represent a wide range of undergraduate disciplines, including Management Studies (8), Commerce (7), Economics (5), Science (3), Engineering and Technology (3), Psychology (2), Political Science (2), Literature (2), and several others. A distinguishing feature of this year’s cohort is its significant professional experience: 72% of participants bring prior work experience, enriching classroom discussions with practical industry insights. The batch draws participants from 18 states, with the highest representation from Uttar Pradesh (7), followed by Maharashtra (5) and Madhya Pradesh (4), reaffirming the programme’s growing national footprint and diverse student community.

Recognizing Academic Excellence and Social Impact

The inauguration ceremony also celebrated the achievements of outstanding students.

Certificates of Academic Excellence were awarded to the top performers from the combined PGP-I and IPM-IV batch, as well as to deserving participants from PGP-HRM, in recognition of their exceptional academic performance.

The institute also felicitated students for their exemplary work under the Rural Engagement Programme (REP) 2025, recognizing the groups whose village reports demonstrated outstanding research, analysis, and community engagement.

The induction programme concluded with a series of orientation sessions on academic regulations, hostel and student affairs, financial assistance, library resources, digital infrastructure, and institutional support systems.

Participants were also introduced to the vibrant campus culture through Dronotsav, the annual faculty football match, marking an energetic beginning to their journey at IIM Indore.

With a diverse cohort, distinguished faculty, and a shared commitment to excellence, the academic year 2026–27 begins with the promise of nurturing responsible, innovative, and future-ready leaders.