60% vs 40%: More girls than boys at IIM-Sambalpur’s 9th convocation, a first in any Indian premier management institute

Dharamshala:
The IIM-Sambalpur in Odisha scripted history at its 9th annual convocation by becoming the first IIM where the number of graduating female students surpassed their male counterparts.
Of the 370 students who received their degrees, 60 per cent were women, a first among all Indian Institutes of Management in the country.

The landmark achievement reflects a broader shift in gender dynamics at premier business schools. The convocation saw the graduation of students from five different programmes for the first time: the 9th MBA batch (316 students), 2nd Executive MBA batch (38 students), 1st MBA for Working Professionals batch (10 students), six PhD scholars and PhD for Working Professionals.

The ceremony was attended by several dignitaries, including Dr Pramod Kumar Mishra, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, as chief guest; Padma Shri Arundhati Bhattacharya, Chairperson of the IIM-Sambalpur Board of Governors and CEO of Salesforce India & South Asia; and Ashish Garg, MD, Boston Consulting Group, as the guest of honour.

In his address, Dr Mishra commended the remarkable gender ratio and encouraged the institute to aim even higher. “The 60 per cent female graduation ratio in a premier B-school like IIM Sambalpur is a bold step toward gender inclusivity. Let’s target 80 per cent,” he said.

Highlighting the institute’s growth, Prof Mahadeo Jaiswal, Director, IIM-Sambalpur, said, “This is a proud moment — not only because of our academic progress, but because we’ve broken new ground in gender equality. No other IIM has seen more female graduates than male graduates until now.”

Meritorious students were awarded medals for academic and overall excellence. Among them, Shivani Nagpal, from the MBA for Working Professionals programme, received the Chairman’s Gold Medal, further reinforcing the trend of female academic excellence.

The event also saw an inspiring moment as 80-year-old entrepreneur GM Gupta received his MBA degree, proving that learning knows no age.

Padma Shri Arundhati Bhattacharya encouraged students to challenge themselves daily. “Be your best version every day. That’s the greatest gift you can give to yourself, your parents and your nation,” she said.

Despite a global economic slowdown, IIM-Sambalpur recorded strong placement numbers. Over 250 companies participated in recruitment for the 2023–25 MBA batch. The highest domestic package stood at ₹31.12 LPA, while the highest international offer reached ₹35 LPA.

IIM-Sambalpur is also on track to receive prestigious international accreditations including AACSB, EFMD, and BGA, placing it among an elite group of management institutes in India. The 9th convocation not only marked academic excellence but also symbolised a positive shift in gender balance, a testament to the rising leadership of women in management education.

TNR News Network