- Bilkul Online
- Ahmedabad | 17 June 2026
414 students have joined the PGP 2026-28 batch and 44 have joined the PGP-FABM 2026-2028 batch
The PGP batch has a 30.92% female student strength; the PGP-FABM batch consists of 38.64% female students
The Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA) welcomed 458 highly meritorious students into two of its flagship programmes, the Two-Year Full Time Post Graduate Programme in Management (PGP) and the Two-Year Full Time Post Graduate Programme in Food and Agribusiness Management (PGP-FABM), on June 17, 2026. Hailing from diverse educational backgrounds, domains, and age groups, 414 students joined the PGP while 44 students were inducted into the PGP-FABM.
The inauguration ceremony was held in the presence of leadership and faculty members who welcomed the incoming batches and gave them a glimpse into both programmes.
Delivering the inaugural address, Prof. Bharat Bhasker, Director, IIMA, shared how IIMA, its scholarly faculty members, and illustrious alumni from the past six decades have been drivers of growth in every stage of the Indian economy, be it the manufacturing disruptions of the 60s & 70s, the liberalisation and internet economies era, and even during the global slowdown of 2008. He said, “You all have stepped into an Institution which has created numerous leaders and change-makers, who have been able to tackle new situations and challenges, and every time they have not only succeeded but also steered the country out of difficult times. Your journey towards such leadership requires you to be resilient. And the rigorous process of learning at IIMA is designed to build that resilience in you, irrespective of the change in technology or economic environment, and create opportunities not only for yourself but society as a whole.”
Encouraging the incoming students to learn the art of collaboration, Prof. Bhasker said, “Learn to be a team player and have cooperative competition where knowledge is shared. Success comes to those who build partnerships of complementary abilities together. IIMA has also been providing an ecosystem and environment where our students remain at the top of technological advancements. With the establishment of the School of AI, we aim to nurture people who can lead the AI transformation of this country and put India at the top.”
Prof. Diptesh Ghosh, Dean (Programmes), IIMA, gave the new cohorts a glimpse into IIMA’s programmes and motivated them for the journey ahead. He said that the programmes will require them to learn new subjects at a quick pace and experience a unique style of participatory learning. “You all have been accepted into two of the most competitive programmes in the world. Enjoy the ride, work hard, play fair, and strive to make the most of the opportunities you get at this Institute.”, he added.
Welcoming the students and offering them words of wisdom, Prof. Karthik Sriram, Chairperson, Admissions, IIMA, said, “Throughout your journey into this programme, you may receive advice from the people around you on what to do, which elective to choose, which companies to strive for, and so on. However, I would advise you to take these two years to understand and identify yourself, your interests, strengths, and aspirations. This understanding will help you pursue endeavours and opportunities that are meaningful to you.”
Prof. Ankur Sinha, Chairperson, PGP, IIMA, said that as the incoming Class of 2026 begins its journey at IIM Ahmedabad, students should embrace this transformational phase with humility, integrity, curiosity, and respect for diverse perspectives. He emphasised that while the IIMA brand opens doors to extraordinary opportunities, ethical conduct and honesty remain fundamental to long-term success. Encouraging students to leverage technology and AI responsibly, he noted that learning—not merely task completion—must remain the priority. He assured students of the institute’s unwavering support for their academic, personal, and mental well-being, while urging them to actively participate in campus life and make the most of their time at IIMA.
Prof. Prashant Das, Acting Chairperson, PGP-FABM, IIMA, urged students to build on the programme’s legacy of excellence, saying, “As we witness infusion of AI in everything we do, it is important for you to foster managerial thinking, a risk-taking spirit, and an entrepreneurial mindset to transform India’s agricultural and allied sectors.” He noted that food and agribusiness is undergoing transformative change while strengthening its relevance in the age of AI, creating unprecedented opportunities, and highlighted the programme’s continued efforts to further strengthen academic and professional standards.
The students were also addressed by Prof. Viswanath Pingali, Chairperson, Placements; Prof. Balagopal Gopalakrishnan, Chairperson, Student Housing, Activities, and Welfare; Prof. Rajat Sharma, Chairperson, Sports and Recreation Activities (SARA); and Ms. Shikhali Gohil, Elected Batch Representative, Students Legislative Council (SLC) 2026-27, who gave them a glimpse of the different facets of IIMA life while urging them to make the most of their time at the Institute.
Diversity and Inclusivity:
IIMA firmly believes in the importance of converging different domains, expertise, and lived experiences in shaping the outlook of future graduates, who will not only leave the Institute with a wealth of transformative knowledge, but also distinct lessons from their peers. Hence, each incoming batch includes individuals from a wide range of academic disciplines, professional experiences, age groups, genders, and socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds. The course curriculum for both the PGP and PGP-FABM is designed to combine meaningful classroom lessons and discussions with peer interaction and learning.
The PGP batch of 2026-28 comprises 60.87% students from an engineering background and 39.13% from non-engineering backgrounds. The batch has a female population of 30.92% and a male population of 69.08%. The average work experience in the batch is 24 months, and approximately 77% of the batch holds prior work experience.
All students of the PGP-FABM batch of 2026-28 possess an academic background in agriculture or allied sectors, with a 38.64% female student population and 61.36% male student population. The average work experience in the batch is 16 months, and about 34% of the batch holds prior work experience. The average age of students remains 23 in both programmes.
A total of 17 differently abled students have joined the PGP Class of 2026-2028. The Institute has always advocated the concept of inclusive education and has set up an EOO (Equal Opportunity Office) that collaborates with these students to understand their special needs and provides several facilities, including Apple iPads, automotive wheelchairs, specialised software, high-resolution cameras for laptops, and any other specific requirements they may have during their student life on campus.
IIMA’s PGP is a rigorous and in-depth programme that shapes future graduates into competent professional managers who can work across multiple sectors as leaders and innovators. The PGP-FABM is a leading agri-business programme that equips future graduates with the knowledge and managerial skills to lead in the food, agri-business, rural, developmental, and allied sectors.
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