IIM Ahmedabad Launches India’s First Blended MBA In Business Analytics And AI

The Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA) has launched a two-year Blended MBA Programme in Business Analytics and AI, the first of its kind in India. The programme, announced at the IIMA campus on November 6, 2025, is aimed at professionals and entrepreneurs who want to combine advanced analytical and AI capabilities with leadership and strategic management skills.

The launch underlines IIMA’s commitment to designing future-ready management programmes that meet global standards and address evolving industry needs.

The announcement 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 institute

highlighted the growing need for professionals who can merge managerial decision-making with data and AI frameworks to create large-scale business impact.

India’s analytics and AI ecosystem is expanding rapidly. The country’s data analytics market is expected to reach USD 21,286.4 million by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 35.8% from 2025 to 2030. A 2024 BCG–NASSCOM Report also noted that India ranks first globally in AI skill penetration, with demand for AI-ready professionals likely to exceed one million by 2026.

This surge in demand is being driven by the rapid generation of enterprise data and the integration of AI/ML into business operations. The new IIMA programme aims to upskill professionals working in data-intensive domains such as marketing, finance, operations, supply chain, logistics, legal, IT, and HR.

Commenting on the launch, Prof. Bharat Bhasker, Director, IIMA, said, “Analytics and AI are no longer peripheral enablers, they are at the core of how enterprises compete, innovate and create stakeholder value. This reality 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 with data, AI and sound managerial judgement. 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, said, “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 to rethink how they design and implement business solutions for impact.”

Programme Structure And Curriculum
The Blended MBA will be delivered through a mix of live online sessions and on-campus modules. The two-year programme follows a three-term structure per year and includes three in-person residencies at the IIMA campus.

The curriculum blends management, analytics, and AI through case-based discussions, capstone projects, and action-learning assignments. Learners can choose from 20 electives covering areas such as Predictive and Prescriptive Analytics, Product Management, Finance and Risk Management, Human–AI Collaboration, Change Management, AI Ethics, Policy and Regulation, Supply Chain Digitisation, Generative AI, and Agentic AI.

Participants will have remote access to IIMA’s Vikram Sarabhai Library, advanced computing facilities, and a wide range of databases. Learners who complete the first year have a flexible exit option with a Post Graduate Diploma. Successful graduates will join IIMA’s globally recognised alumni network.

Eligibility And Admissions
Applicants must hold a Bachelor’s degree / CA / CS / ICWA / CMA or equivalent in any discipline with at least 50% marks or equivalent CGPA from a recognised university.

Working professionals and entrepreneurs should have:

• Minimum three years’ full-time experience after a three-year graduation (10+2+3+3), or
• Minimum two years’ full-time experience after a four-year graduation (10+2+4+2) as of March 31, 2026.

Candidates must submit a valid CAT / GMAT / GRE score taken within the previous five years (not earlier than January 1, 2021). Those without test scores can appear for the Round-1 IIMA Admission Test for BPGP: BA & AI, scheduled on December 14, 2025.