IIM Bangalore marked a significant milestone on August 31, 2026, by welcoming its first-ever batch of undergraduate students. A total of 80 students have joined the new BSc (Hons) programmes in Data Sciences and Economics for the 2026-30 academic year, signaling the institution's entry into undergraduate education.
The inaugural cohort was officially inducted at a ceremony held at the IIM Bangalore – Dorabji Tata School of Undergraduate Studies. These 80 students were chosen from a highly competitive pool of nearly 12,000 applicants, with 453 candidates initially shortlisted for interviews.
Diverse Student Profile and Academic Backgrounds
The first batch is evenly split, with 40 students enrolled in Data Sciences and 40 in Economics. The cohort comprises students from 20 different states across India, reflecting a wide geographical representation. Maharashtra leads with 18 students, followed by Karnataka with 13 and Uttar Pradesh with 10.
Academically, the batch is diverse: 39 students come from a Commerce background, 39 from Science, and two from Arts and Humanities. The majority, 51 students, completed their schooling under the CBSE board, while 23 are from State boards, four from the IB curriculum, and one each from NIOS and ICSE. More than half of the students achieved over 90% in their Class 12 examinations, and 44 scored above 90 marks in Mathematics.
Scholarships and Leadership Vision
A quarter of the founding batch, 25%, are receiving full or partial scholarships. Dr. Devi Prasad Shetty, Chairperson of the Board of Governors at IIM Bangalore and Chairman and Founder of Narayana Health, highlighted this commitment to access during the inauguration.
Shetty emphasized the launch as a pivotal moment for India's education system, aiming to prepare students for the Fourth Industrial Revolution. He articulated a vision to cultivate "bilingual minds" capable of navigating between business and public policy, as well as economics and science. Shetty also linked the new school to the Tata legacy of institution-building, referencing other significant national institutions.
Shaping the Future Institution
Siddharth Sharma, CEO of Tata Trusts, addressed the students, urging them to embrace the unique opportunity to shape the culture of the nascent institution. Drawing on his extensive experience, Sharma advised the students to prioritize honesty, integrity, hard work, and continuous learning, while also emphasizing personal development and the importance of relaxation.
Sharma projected significant growth for the school, with the founding cohort of 80 students expected to expand to approximately 2,400 students supported by 150 faculty by 2034. He stressed that scale was secondary to the Tata Group's core objective of doing what is right for India and preparing students for a world transformed by artificial intelligence and rapid technological change.
Addressing India's Higher Education Challenges
U. Dinesh Kumar, Director-in-charge of IIM Bangalore, acknowledged the contributions of various individuals and institutions, including the Government of Karnataka, which provided over 100 acres for the upcoming campus. Kumar also highlighted a broader challenge in India's higher education system, noting that only about 46% of undergraduate students find employment post-graduation.
Kumar shared his vision for the school, drawing inspiration from the ancient Nalanda University, which translates to "giver of the lotus of knowledge." He encouraged students to engage in a collaborative process of knowledge creation with faculty, embodying IIM Bangalore’s motto to study, enlighten, and co-create knowledge.
Abhejit Agrawal, Head of Sustainability and CSR at Axis Bank and an IIM Calcutta alumnus, encouraged the students to leverage their professors and the campus fully, reminding them, with a quote from Shakespeare, to make the most of their four years.