The Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Guwahati has officially launched its flagship MBA programme with an inaugural batch of 52 students, marking the start of academic operations at India's 22nd IIM. Students from 18 states have enrolled in the first batch, with classes beginning at the institute's transit campus located in Tech City, Bongora, in Assam's Kamrup district. The institute is currently operating under the academic mentorship of IIM Ahmedabad until its permanent campus becomes operational.
The permanent IIM Guwahati campus is being developed over 574 bighas of land at Morabhita and Dighalkuchi villages in Kamrup district and is expected to be completed within the next three years. Until construction is finished, academic activities will continue from the transit campus, which was established by the Assam government to ensure the institute could begin functioning without delay.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma attended the inauguration of the MBA programme and described the launch as a major milestone for management education in the Northeast. He said the addition of IIM Guwahati to the prestigious Indian Institutes of Management network would create new educational opportunities for students across the region. He also thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan for their support in establishing the institute.
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Highlighting the expansion of management education in India, Sarma said the number of IIMs has increased from 13 in 2014 to 22, making quality management education more accessible across the country. He noted that Prime Minister Modi had inaugurated IIM Guwahati's academic journey on February 14 this year with the launch of its Executive Education programmes, and the institute has now introduced its flagship MBA programme within five months.
The Chief Minister said the establishment of IIM Guwahati as the second IIM in the Northeast reflects the Centre's commitment to expanding institutions of national importance in the region. He also encouraged educational institutions and stakeholders to build a strong academic ecosystem so that, in the coming years, more students from Assam can secure admissions to premier national institutions located in the state.
On the same day, Sarma inaugurated the Digital Design and 3D Printing Centre of Excellence at Tech City, Bongora. Developed under the PM-DeVINE scheme at a cost of Rs 53.84 crore, the facility has been implemented by AMTRON in partnership with the North Eastern Council. It will function as a regional common resource centre with one hub in Guwahati and 10 spoke centres across the Northeast. He also laid the foundation stone for the integrated office building of the Co-District Commissioner at Palashbari.
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