IIMA welcomes 158 high-calibre professionals to the 20th batch of One-Year MBA-PGPX

Ahmedabad, Gujarat, Apr 17, The Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA) welcomed a total of 158 experienced professionals from diverse sectors to the 20th batch of its One-Year Post Graduate Programme in Management (MBA-PGPX) today.
The inaugural ceremony was held in the presence of Professor Bharat Bhasker, Director, IIMA, Professor Diptesh Ghosh, Dean (Programmes), Professor Amit Karna, Chairperson, MBA-PGPX; faculty members, and other officials of the Institute.
The MBA-PGPX is a highly-acclaimed programme specifically designed for ambitious working professionals seeking to step up their career progression and confidently take on senior leadership responsibilities. The programme is globally recognised and has been consistently ranked number 1 in the career progression category in global rankings.
Addressing the incoming MBA-PGPX batch, Professor Bharat Bhasker, Director, IIMA, said, “We all are witnessing how businesses are transforming, and it is happening at a rapid pace. We are again at a juncture that is as disruptive as the arrival of web technology and IT of the 1990s. Advanced technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI), data analytics, robotics, and so on, are going to play a game-changing role in decision-making. At IIM Ahmedabad, we have designed our curriculum to keep you up-to-date with such industrial shifts and to prepare you for the future.”
Professor Bhasker also urged the students to learn from the experiences of their peers. “A lot of learning will happen from your peers who come from all walks of life with multiple experiences. So, build those bonds, learn from each other, and share knowledge so that you can go up the knowledge pyramid together.”
Welcoming the students, Professor Diptesh Ghosh, Dean (Programmes), IIMA, spoke about the history of the Institute and elaborated on its highly admired case-study-based pedagogy. He said, “IIM Ahmedabad is among the first institutions established in the country to professionalise management education. We maintain a strong focus on real-world applications in our teaching approach. Therefore, many of your classes would be based on real-life managerial situations, which is called the case study method. You will be given real business challenges, and the emphasis will be on analysing the situation and making effective decisions as leaders.”
Introducing students to the programme and its transformative impact, Professor Amit Karna, Chairperson of the MBA-PGPX programme, said, “I am delighted to welcome you for a wonderful transformational journey that lies ahead of you. The world is increasingly valuing MBA programmes pursued after gaining work experience, and that is why PGPX has found a good fit and is aligned with the industry requirements. We are excited that you have made this choice of upskilling yourselves and transforming yourselves into future leaders as you return to the industry after a year.”
With 110 (69.62%) male students and 48 female students (30.38%), the 2025-2026 batch of MBA-PGPX consists of the highest number of female candidates in the programme so far. The batch has an average work experience of 7 years 9 months, and 36.43% of students possess international exposure in terms of work and studies.
The 2025-2026 batch of MBA-PGPX comprises students from diverse sectors, including Advertising/Media, Aerospace and Aviation, Agriculture, Banking, Financial Services and Insurance, Consulting, Defence and Security, Energy and Utilities, FMCG, Food and Food Processing, Infrastructure and Construction, IT & ITeS, IT Products, Legal Services, and Healthcare, among others. The highest number of students come from a background of Manufacturing / Engineering (25), Energy and Utilities (18), Consulting (14), IT Products (12), Retail / Ecommerce (11), Infrastructure and Construction (9), Banking, Financial Services and Insurance (9), IT & ITeS (9), among others.
The Institute has designed a three-day orientation programme to acquaint students with the Institute and its core values and culture.
~IIMA welcomes 158 high-calibre professionals to the 20th batch of One-Year MBA-PGPX
~ With 110 (69.62%) male students and 48 female students (30.38%), this batch consists of the highest number of female candidates in the programme so far
~ Diversity continues to define the MBA-PGPX, with this year’s cohort bringing with it experience from various sectors like Advertising/Media, Aerospace and Aviation, Agriculture, Banking, Financial Services and Insurance, Consulting, Defence and Security, Energy and Utilities, FMCG, Infrastructure and Construction, IT & ITeS, Legal Services, among others
~ The batch has an average work experience of 7 years 9 months, and 36.43% of students possess international exposure in terms of work and studies