IIM Ahmedabad launches India’s first Blended MBA in Business Analytics & AI

The Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA), one of India’s leading business schools, has launched the country’s first-of-its-kind two-year Blended MBA Programme in Business Analytics and Artificial Intelligence (AI).

 The degree-granting programme is designed for professionals and entrepreneurs looking to combine managerial acumen with advanced data and AI capabilities.

The announcement was made at the IIMA campus on Thursday in the presence of Professor Bharat Bhasker, Director, IIMA; Professor Diptesh Ghosh, Dean (Programmes); and Prof Anindya Chakrabarti, Chairperson of the new programme.

The Blended MBA marks a major step in IIMA’s efforts to design future-facing management programmes aligned with global standards and evolving industry needs. Delivered in a hybrid format, the course combines live online sessions with periodic on-campus modules, enabling professionals to learn without interrupting their careers.

 “Analytics and AI are no longer peripheral enablers — they are at the core of how enterprises compete, innovate and create stakeholder value,” said Professor Bhasker. “With this first-of-its-kind offering, we are creating a rigorous pathway for ambitious managers and entrepreneurs to acquire high-impact skills and lead digital transitions responsibly and at scale.”

The programme aims to fill the growing demand for leaders who can blend strategic management with technical fluency in data and AI. According to a 2024 BCG–NASSCOM report, India ranks first globally in AI skill penetration, with the demand for AI-ready professionals expected to exceed one million by 2026.

“This blended MBA develops leaders who solve cross-functional problems with data, AI and sound managerial judgment,” said Professor Ghosh, Dean (Programmes). “Our endeavour is to nurture an analytically strong, strategically oriented workforce.”

The two-year programme integrates business management with advanced analytics and AI through case-based learning, capstone projects, and action-learning modules. It offers over 20 electives, including Predictive and Prescriptive Analytics, Product Management, Human–AI Collaboration, AI Ethics and Policy, and Gen AI. Learners will also have access to IIMA’s library, computing facilities, and databases.

Participants who complete the first year will have the option to exit with a Post Graduate Diploma. Those completing both years will earn the MBA degree and join IIMA’s globally respected alumni network.

Applicants must hold a Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent qualification such as CA/CS/ICWA/CMA) with at least 50% marks and relevant work experience — three years after a three-year degree or two years after a four-year degree. Admission will be based on a valid CAT, GMAT, or GRE score, or through IIMA’s own admission test scheduled for December 14, 2025.