- Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad launches a two-year hybrid degree that fuses strategic leadership with AI prowess
- 90-seat intake aligned with the National Education Policy; flexible format designed for professionals and entrepreneurs
- “This course aligns with NEP’s vision,” affirms Director Prof. Bharat Bhasker
- Programme fee approx. ₹ 20 lakh; scholarships & need-based assistance available for eligible candidates
NE EDUCATION BUREAU
AHMEDABAD, NOV 6
The Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA), India’s premier management institute, on Thursday unveiled its cutting-edge two-year Blended MBA Programme in Business Analytics & AI, marking a significant milestone in professional education. The programme is designed to empower working professionals and entrepreneurs to build leadership, strategic insight and deep analytical-AI capabilities.
Addressing the launch event, Prof. Bharat Bhasker, Director of IIMA, remarked: “Analytics and AI are no longer peripheral enablers — they are at the core of how enterprises compete, innovate and create stakeholder value. … 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.”
Echoing this, Prof. Diptesh Ghosh, Dean (Programmes), said: “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 with data, AI and sound managerial judgement. Learners build multidisciplinary capability, translate analytics into outcomes and progress confidently in tech-driven contexts.”
Additionally, Prof. Anindya Chakrabarti, Chairperson of the Blended MBA: Business Analytics & AI, explained: “This two-year blended MBA unites IIM Ahmedabad’s general-management rigour with advanced technical depth in analytics and AI. … Participants learn to convert analysis into superior decisions and to rethink how they design and implement business solutions for impact.”
Crucially, the programme aligns with the government’s educational reforms:
“This course aligns with NEP (National Education Policy). Students can take a break after first year and join the course later to complete it,” said Prof. Bhasker, emphasising IIMA’s commitment to modernising India’s higher-education landscape.
Key Highlights
- Intake: 90 students — ensuring selective cohort and high-quality peer-learning.
- Duration & Mode: Two years (with flexible scheduling), delivered in a blended format combining live remote learning and on-campus modules at IIMA.
- Eligibility: Bachelor’s degree or equivalent (in any discipline) with a minimum of 50% aggregate; working professionals/entrepreneurs with required experience; valid CAT/GMAT/GRE or IIMA’s custom admission test.
- Curriculum: Core management disciplines plus 20 + electives including Predictive & Prescriptive Analytics, Product Management, Human-AI Collaboration & Change Management, Gen AI & Agentic AI, Supply Chain Digitisation, AI Ethics & Policy.
- Support & Access: Learners receive remote access to IIMA’s world-class learning infrastructure (Vikram Sarabhai Library, advanced computing labs, peer network) and will join IIMA’s global alumni network.
- Fee & Financial Aid: The programme fee is approximately ₹ 20 lakh for the full two years (travel/accommodation for on-campus modules may be extra). Scholarships and need-based assistance are available to eligible candidates, including under-income family schemes and reserved category support.
Why This Programme Stands Out
In a market where the Indian data-analytics ecosystem is projected to soar (USD 21.3 billion by 2030 at a CAGR of 35.8%), IIMA’s new blended MBA bridges the divide between management theory and AI-first business practice. Graduates will be equipped to operate at the intersection of strategy, analytics and emerging technology — the convergence where tomorrow’s corporate battles will be fought.
Moreover, with the programme’s selective 90-seat intake and leadership narrative, IIMA is setting the stage for aspirants who not only want to keep pace with technology but to lead the change.
“This course curriculum will be constantly updated to keep pace with emerging technology and the needs of the industry and business,” affirmed Prof. Ghosh, underscoring IIMA’s commitment to agility and relevance.
If you are a mid-career professional or entrepreneur aiming to leap into analytics-driven leadership and AI-enabled business transformation, this IIMA blended MBA offers one of India’s most powerful launchpads.
