IIM Ahmedabad Launches India’s First Two-Year Blended MBA Programme in Business Analytics & AI

Graduates to Join IIMA’s Global Alumni Network; Programme Builds Cross-Functional, AI-Driven Leadership Competencies

• IIM Ahmedabad Unveils Future-Ready MBA Programme for Data-Driven Leaders
• Blended MBA from IIMA to Build Cross-Functional, AI-Enabled Business Competence
•  IIM Ahmedabad Sets Benchmark with Innovative MBA Merging Strategy, Analytics and AI

Bilkul Online | By Rafat Quadri

Ahmedabad | 07 Nov 2025

The Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA), India’s premier management institution, has unveiled the country’s first-of-its-kind two-year Blended MBA Programme in Business Analytics & Artificial Intelligence (AI). The launch event, held on November 6, 2025, at the IIMA campus, marked a milestone in management education, introducing a degree-granting MBA that blends analytical, AI-driven capabilities with leadership, strategy, and managerial acumen—tailored for professionals and entrepreneurs seeking to lead in a data-first business world.

The programme underscores IIMA’s leadership in designing globally benchmarked, future-focused management programmes aligned with the evolving demands of industry.

The announcement of admissions and curriculum details was made in the presence of Prof. Bharat Bhasker, Director, IIMA, Prof. Diptesh Ghosh, Dean (Programmes), IIMA and Prof. Anindya Chakrabarti, Chairperson, Blended MBA: Business Analytics & AI, IIMA. The speakers collectively highlighted the increasing demand for management leaders capable of integrating strategic insight with advanced data analytics and AI frameworks to deliver measurable business impact.

As enterprises increasingly adopt data-led decision-making and embed AI across their value chains, the demand for skilled professionals continues to surge. India’s data analytics market is projected to touch USD 21,286.4 million by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 35.8% between 2025 and 2030. The 2024 BCG–NASSCOM Report further positions India as a global leader in AI talent, ranking first in AI skill penetration, with demand for AI-ready professionals expected to exceed one million by 2026. This growth is being powered by the explosion of enterprise data and the rapid integration of AI/ML into big data systems, tools, and business applications. Addressing these opportunities, IIMA’s new programme is designed to upskill professionals across functions including marketing, finance, operations, supply chain, logistics, legal, IT, and HR.

 

Prof. Bharat Bhasker, Director, IIMA, said, “Analytics and AI are no longer peripheral enablers—they are central to how enterprises compete, innovate, and create stakeholder value. This has created an urgent need for professionals who can bridge managerial expertise with deep techno-analytical fluency. With this first-of-its-kind offering from IIM Ahmedabad, we are creating a rigorous pathway for ambitious managers and entrepreneurs to acquire high-impact skills, master AI-enabled business models, and lead digital transitions responsibly and at scale. It will play a pivotal role in shaping innovation, competitiveness, and responsible AI-led transformation across sectors.”

Prof. Diptesh Ghosh, Dean (Programmes), IIMA, added, “At IIM Ahmedabad, we design programmes that address real, contemporary challenges and the volatility of business. This blended MBA develops leaders who solve cross-functional problems using data, AI, and sound managerial judgment. Learners build multidisciplinary capability, translate analytics into outcomes, and progress confidently in tech-driven contexts. Our endeavour is an analytically strong, strategically oriented workforce.”

Prof. Anindya Chakrabarti, Chairperson, Blended MBA: Business Analytics & AI, elaborated on the programme’s architecture, saying, “This two-year blended MBA unites IIM Ahmedabad’s general-management rigour with advanced technical depth in analytics and AI. We teach learners to frame problems in data-first terms, apply sophisticated toolkits, and lead responsible AI adoption across sectors. Participants learn to convert analysis into superior decisions and rethink how they design and implement business solutions for impact.”

The Blended MBA Programme combines live, Direct-to-Device learning with curated in-person modules at the IIMA campus, ensuring deep faculty engagement and peer interaction. Spanning two years and six terms, the curriculum merges business management, analytics, and AI through case-based discussions, action-learning projects, and capstone engagements.

Participants can choose from 20 electives covering areas such as Predictive and Prescriptive Analytics, Product Management, Finance and Risk Management, Human–AI Collaboration and Change Management, AI Ethics, Policy & Regulation, Supply Chain Digitisation, Generative AI, and Agentic AI. Through IIMA’s distinctive case method, learners will engage with real-world strategic, operational, and governance challenges—applying analytical methods in authentic business contexts.

Enrolled participants will enjoy remote access to IIMA’s state-of-the-art resources, including the Vikram Sarabhai Library, advanced computing infrastructure, and a comprehensive suite of research databases. A flexible exit option after the first year awards a Post Graduate Diploma, while successful completion of the full two-year programme confers an MBA degree and entry into IIMA’s globally-renowned alumni network.

Eligibility Criteria:

Applicants must hold a Bachelor’s degree/CA/CS/ICWA/CMA or equivalent in any discipline with at least 50% aggregate marks or equivalent CGPA from a recognised university. Working professionals and entrepreneurs should have a minimum of three years’ full-time experience post a three-year degree (10+2+3+3) or two years’ experience post a four-year degree (10+2+4+2) as of March 31, 2026.

Candidates can submit a valid CAT/GMAT/GRE score obtained within the last five years (GMAT Classic/Focus and GRE accepted; test dates not earlier than January 1, 2021) or appear for Round-1 IIMA Admission Test for BPGP: BA & AI, scheduled on December 14, 2025.

(Rafat Quadri can be contacted at editorbilkul@gmail.com)

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