IIM Nagpur Holds 10th Convocation Ceremony
The Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Nagpur celebrated its 10th convocation ceremony on Saturday at its Mihan campus, conferring degrees upon 443 students. Among the graduates were two students from France and one Executive PhD scholar. A notable highlight was the executive MBA degree awarded to Nagpur Municipal Commissioner Vipin Itankar and his wife Shalini Itankar.
Executive MBA for Commissioner and Wife
Vipin Itankar and Shalini Itankar completed the two-year executive MBA program designed for working professionals. Shalini remarked, "We were classmates during graduation, and it was nice to go back to the classroom again together." Vipin cited continuous learning as his motivation for pursuing the course.
International Participation
French student Elise Serlooten received her degree in person, while David Aranguren, also from the University of Lille, France, under the International Exchange Programme, received his degree in absentia.
Degree Distribution and Placement Highlights
The convocation saw 347 students from the MBA 2024-26 batch and 95 students from Executive MBA programmes across Nagpur and Pune cohorts receive degrees. Of these, 288 were male and 155 were female. IIM Nagpur received six international job offers this year, with the highest package reaching Rs 73.17 lakh per annum. A total of 250 companies, including multinational corporations, reputed Indian firms, and major public sector undertakings, participated in the placement drive.
Awards and Recognitions
Several students were honored for outstanding academic performance and all-round excellence. Prashant Gupta received the IIM Nagpur Gold Medal and the GH Raisoni Merit Award of Rs 5,00,000 for Best Scholastic Performance in the MBA programme. Somani Shubh was awarded the GH Raisoni Gold Medal for the second highest scholastic performance, and Shivam Chandra received the IIM Nagpur Gold Medal for All-Round Performance. In the Executive MBA category, Yogesh Madhavrao Wadhonkar and Anuroop Ajmera (Pune 2023-25 batch) shared the scholastic achievement award, while Vishnu Kant (Nagpur 2023-25 batch) and Ankita Yadav (Pune 2024-26 batch) were also honored.
Chief Guest Address by Sajjan Jindal
JSW Group Chairman Sajjan Jindal, the chief guest, addressed the graduates, emphasizing that great leadership is built through countless decisions made in smaller settings. He drew a parallel between tennis legend Roger Federer's seemingly effortless backhand and the making of world-class businesses, stating that elegance results from years of deliberate practice. Jindal urged the Class of 2026 to lead with integrity, courage, and love for the country, adding, "India does not need more people who can only see the future. India needs people who can build it."
Guest of Honour's Mantras
Deven J Mehta, Chairman of Sigma Capital Limited and guest of honour, shared four success mantras: integrity, hard work, faith, and courage. He encouraged graduates to contribute to India's growth.
IIM Nagpur Director Bhimaraya Metri, Chairman of the Governing Board CP Gurnani, and other dignitaries were present at the ceremony.
