IIM Nagpur Welcomes 328 Students to Its MBA and PhD Programs in a Grand Inaugural Ceremony
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Nagpur, July 6, 2025 – The Indian Institute of Management Nagpur (IIM Nagpur) inaugurated its 11th MBA cohort and 5th PhD batch at the MIHAN campus, marking a significant milestone in the institute’s academic calendar. A total of 328 students were formally inducted into the institution’s prestigious postgraduate and doctoral programs.
This year, the MBA cohort includes 323 students—100 women and 223 men—hailing from 23 states and union territories. Students from regions as diverse as Nagaland, Ladakh, Jammu & Kashmir, Kerala, and Delhi form what many described as a “miniature India.” Among them, 203 bring prior work experience, while 120 are fresh graduates.
Academically, the group spans multiple disciplines: 204 hold engineering degrees, 90 come from commerce and arts backgrounds, 17 from the sciences, and 15 possess medical qualifications. In addition to the MBA class, five students have been admitted into IIM Nagpur’s full-time doctoral program.
The inauguration began with the ceremonial lighting of the lamp and a Saraswati Vandana. Professor Prakash Awasthy, MBA Program Chairperson, welcomed the incoming class and called the day a transformative beginning. Professor Sujeet Kumar Sharma stressed the school’s dedication to research and academic rigor, while Dean of Academics, Professor Prashant Gupta, encouraged students to embrace lifelong learning.
Director Dr. Bhimaraya Metri lauded the institution’s rapid growth and research-driven faculty. He noted IIM Nagpur’s key location at India’s geographical center and its role in shaping future-ready leaders through experiential learning, industry engagement, and public policy work. Dr. Metri also highlighted strategic partnerships with 43 major organizations and initiatives in sectors such as AI, agriculture, and healthcare.
Guest of Honour K. S. Cheema, Chairman and Managing Director of KS Cheema Group of Companies, spoke on leadership values. “Let your success be defined by your character, not just your credentials,” he said, urging students to act with ethics, purpose, and humanity.
Chief Guest Anurag Sharma, Managing Director of Shree Baidyanath Ayurved Bhawan, inspired the audience by placing their journey in a national context. He reminded students that by 2047, the centenary of India’s independence, they would be in positions of leadership. He emphasized the need for integrity, technology adoption, and health, calling on students to serve as global representatives of Indian culture and civilization.
During the ceremony, merit certificates were awarded to outstanding second-year students. IIM Nagpur reaffirmed its commitment to inclusive education by announcing 21 scholarships for this academic session, including a new rural merit-based award sponsored by the KS Cheema Group.
The event concluded with a formal vote of thanks delivered by Professor Satish Kumar, Chairperson of the PhD Programmes, who expressed gratitude to the dignitaries for their guidance and encouragement to the students.
