IIM Ahmedabad opens second batch of blended MBA in analytics and AI

The Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA) has opened admissions for the second batch of its two-year blended MBA programme in Business Analytics and Artificial Intelligence, the institute announced around October 25, 2026. The programme, formally called BPGP: BA & AI, is aimed at working professionals and entrepreneurs and mixes live online classes with three modules on the Ahmedabad campus. Applicants can be selected on a valid CAT, GMAT or GRE score, or through the institute's own admission test for the programme.

For many young graduates, the choice after a first job is stark: quit and spend two years and a large sum on a full-time MBA, or keep working and give up the idea of a top management degree. Blended programmes try to remove that choice. Most of the teaching happens live online, so students can keep their jobs, while a few campus modules give them time with faculty and classmates in person. A programme of this kind from IIMA gives working people a route to an IIM qualification without leaving their careers.

The subject is the other draw. Managers are increasingly asked to read data, judge what an AI tool can and cannot do, and turn analysis into business decisions. A programme that combines management training with business analytics, the use of data to answer business questions, and artificial intelligence is designed for people who want to move from doing technical work to leading it, or from a business role into one that uses data heavily.

Two design features matter for first-jobbers in particular. The first is the choice of entry routes. Candidates who already have a recent CAT, GMAT or GRE score can use it, while others can take IIMA's own test, which lowers the barrier for professionals who have not prepared for a national entrance exam. The second is the exit option. A student who cannot continue into the second year, because of a job change, a move or the cost, does not leave empty-handed but with a postgraduate diploma. That reduces the risk of starting a two-year commitment.

There are limits to keep in mind. A blended programme demands discipline: classes and assignments come on top of a full-time job, and campus modules require time away from work. Applicants should also check the total fee and the payment schedule carefully on the official page, and compare the programme's structure with full-time options before committing.

Short-term: Working professionals and entrepreneurs can now apply for the second batch. Those with a recent CAT, GMAT or GRE score can use it; others will need to prepare for IIMA's admission test.

Long-term: If blended degrees from top institutes keep growing, more young Indians may be able to earn a management qualification without giving up their income, and employers may see more managers trained specifically in data and AI.

Who is affected: Early- and mid-career professionals, especially in technology, consulting, finance and operations; founders of small businesses; employers who sponsor staff for further study; and other business schools that offer or plan similar programmes.

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