By Yajati Rout

Copyright pragativadi

The launch, held at the institute’s lush Sambalpur campus, marks the fulfilment of an ambitious announcement made in May 2025 and aligns seamlessly with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020’s vision for multidisciplinary, industry-aligned learning.

Drawing inspiration from elite global institutions like MIT, Stanford, Harvard, and Carnegie Mellon University—which offer similar B.S. programmes—these four-year degrees are designed to cultivate ethical innovators and policy architects. With a total of 178 students from over 20 Indian states, including Bihar, Odisha, Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, and even the remote Lakshadweep islands, the inaugural cohort boasts remarkable diversity and academic prowess. The Data Science & AI programme welcomed 88 students (69 male, 19 female), while Management & Public Policy enrolled 90 (51 male, 39 female), striking an encouraging gender balance.

Admissions reflect the programmes’ rigour and prestige. Entry to the Data Science & AI track was secured via JEE (Main) 2025 scores, with the highest admitted rank at an impressive 44,645. For Management & Public Policy, CUET (UG) 2025 propelled the top performers, who notched percentiles as high as 99.80. The cohort’s scholastic strength shines through with average Class 12 scores of 90.5% for AI aspirants and 88.2% for policy enthusiasts.

The star-studded inauguration ceremony was graced by Ratnesh Jha, Executive Director of the UN Global Compact Network India, as the chief guest, alongside guests of honour Amit Sareen, Managing Director at Accenture, and Anjan A, Vice President at North Trust. Prof. Mahadeo Jaiswal, Director of IIM Sambalpur, led the proceedings, joined by faculty, students, and a lineup of industry luminaries as keynote speakers: Vivek Agarwal (Country Director, Tony Blair Institute), Harpreet Singh (Head of Counterparty Credit Risk, BFSI Sector), Gangadhar Yasam (Head of IT Strategy, Ford Motor Company), Divay Pranav (Business Strategy & Partnerships, Hyundai Motors), and Arpit Bajpai (Co-Founder, Neurosensum).

In his impassioned inaugural address, Prof. Jaiswal declared, “This is a historic step for IIM Sambalpur. By launching these B.S. programmes, we are investing in young minds who will become leaders in technology, policy, and society. These programmes will not only prepare students with academic excellence but also instil in them the values of integrity, innovation, and responsibility towards nation-building.” Anchored in the institute’s core ethos of integrity and innovation, the curriculum emphasises data analysis, critical reasoning, and evidence-based decision-making, fostering cross-functional skills to tackle societal and industrial challenges with compassion and a global perspective.

Prof. Jaiswal further urged the freshmen to cultivate four essential intelligences for holistic development: IQ for intellectual sharpness, EQ for emotional mastery, PQ for physical vitality through naturopathy and fitness, and SQ for spiritual reflection on life’s deeper purpose. He hailed the degrees as “pioneering,” predicting their adoption by other top management institutes.

Echoing these sentiments, Chief Guest Ratnesh Jha congratulated the institute on its stellar NIRF 2025 rankings, which saw a 16—position climb this year, and lauded the launch as a beacon of creativity. “IIM Sambalpur continues to be a hub of creativity and inspiration, opening new avenues for the younger generation,” Jha said. “The four-year B.S. Programme holds immense potential to transform students into accomplished professionals, well-prepared to contribute meaningfully to the nation.” He stressed balancing academic pursuits with spiritual and physical well-being, introducing the “four Cs” as vital for complete fulfilment—though he playfully noted that missing even one could leave progress feeling “incomplete and less fulfilling.”

The B.S. in Management and Public Policy zeroes in on India’s sustainability goals, ESG frameworks, and grassroots development, equipping students to bridge policy-practice divides as change-makers. Meanwhile, the B.S. in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, co-crafted with industry titans, bolsters digital prowess and ethical AI adoption, enhancing global competitiveness while upholding innovation with integrity.

What sets IIM Sambalpur apart? It’s the first IIM to admit students to its AI programme via IIT JEE Main and to its policy track through CUET—both gateways managed by the National Testing Agency—democratizing access to elite education.

Prof. Soumya Guha Deb, Dean (Ranking & Accreditation), spotlighted the institute’s accreditation strides that fueled this NIRF leap, crediting strategic initiatives and unwavering commitment. The programmes were introduced by Prof. Diwahar S Nadar and Prof. Rohit Gupta, with Prof. Diptiranjan Mahapatra, Dean (Academics), delivering the welcome address and Prof. Nadar proposing the vote of thanks.

As confetti settled and applause faded, the event signalled more than a programme launch—it heralded IIM Sambalpur’s bold pivot toward shaping responsible leaders who blend academic rigour with social impact. In an era demanding tech-savvy policymakers and ethical AI stewards, these 178 pioneers are poised to script India’s next chapter of progress.