IIM Jammu inaugurates holistic orientation programme 2026, welcomes new academic cohorts with vision of excellence, leadership, and nation building

JAMMU: The Indian Institute of Management Jammu commenced its five-day Holistic Orientation Programme 2026 with great enthusiasm, formally welcoming the 7th Batch of Ph.D., 11th Batch of MBA, 5th Batch of MBA (Healthcare), and the inaugural Batch of MBA (AI & BA) to the Institute. The thoughtfully curated orientation programme aims to facilitate a smooth transition into academic life while introducing students to IIM Jammu's culture of excellence, innovation, leadership, and holistic development.

The inaugural ceremony began with a sapling plantation by the Chief Guest Shri Rajendra Singh Pawar, Chairman and Co-founder, NIIT Limited and Shri Anil K. Agarwal, President, Cosmos Group India, attended as the Guest of Honour., symbolizing the Institute's commitment towards sustainability, environmental stewardship, and nurturing future leaders. This was followed by the arrival of dignitaries followed by campus tour, the ceremonial lighting of the lamp, and the rendition of Saraswati Vandana, invoking wisdom, knowledge, and prosperity for the new academic year.

The inaugural session was graced by Shri Rajendra Singh Pawar, Chairman and Co-founder, NIIT Limited, as the Chief Guest, while Shri Anil K. Agarwal, President, Cosmos Group India, attended as the Guest of Honour. Dr. Milind Kamble, Chairman, Board of Governors, IIM Jammu, and Founder & Chairman, Dalit Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DICCI), delivered the presidential address. Prof. B.S. Sahay, Director, IIM Jammu presided over the inaugural ceremony. Prof. Jabir Ali, Dean, Faculty and Research, Prof. Nitin Upadhyay, Dean Academics; Dr. Sarbjit Singh, Chairperson (Admissions) and Lt. Gen (Dr). Sunil Kant, Chairperson, MBA Healthcare.

Delivering the Chief Guest Address at the Holistic Orientation Programme 2026, Shri Rajendra Singh Pawar, Chairman & Co-founder, NIIT Group Limited, encouraged the incoming students to embrace leadership, innovation, and lifelong learning in the AI-driven knowledge economy.Congratulating the new cohorts, he appreciated IIM Jammu's growing academic stature and reflected on the Institute's motto, "साविद्यायाविमुक्तये (Sa Vidhya Ya Vimuktaye)", urging students to view education as a journey towards intellectual freedom, critical thinking, and meaningful societal contribution.

Highlighting the transformative impact of Artificial Intelligence, he emphasized that while AI can democratize knowledge, it is curiosity, creativity, communication, and the ability to build meaningful relationships that will define future leaders. He encouraged students to adopt an entrepreneurial mindset, experiment fearlessly, solve meaningful problems, and combine innovation with empathy, ethics, and purpose to create lasting impact.Concluding his address, he inspired the students to leverage IIM Jammu's vibrant academic ecosystem and emerge as ethical, innovative, and purpose-driven leaders contributing to the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047.

Addressing the gathering as the Guest of Honor during the Holistic Orientation Programme 2026, Shri Anil K. Agarwal, President, Cosmos Group India, congratulated the incoming students and encouraged them to make the most of the transformative opportunities at IIM Jammu. Describing the institute as a "temple of higher learning," he appreciated its world-class infrastructure and academic environment while commending the visionary leadership of Prof. B. S. Sahay, Director, IIM Jammu, in the Institute's remarkable growth and global recognition.Encouraging students to look beyond the classroom, he emphasized the importance of continuous learning, industry engagement, meaningful relationships, and staying abreast of emerging business trends.

Highlighting the impact of Artificial Intelligence, he urged students to complement technological advancements with critical thinking, ethical judgment, and responsible leadership.Concluding, his address, he inspired the new cohorts to leverage every opportunity at IIM Jammu and contribute meaningfully towards the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047.

During the inaugural ceremony of the Holistic Orientation Programme 2026, Dr. Milind Kamble, Chairman, Board of Governors, IIM Jammu, and Founder & Chairman, DICCI, delivered the Presidential Address through a message in absentia, warmly welcoming the incoming students to the IIM Jammu family.Highlighting IIM Jammu's remarkable growth as a premier management institution, he appreciated the visionary leadership of Prof. B. S. Sahay, Director, IIM Jammu, and the Institute's commitment to academic excellence, innovation, and societal impact.

Encouraging students to look beyond personal success, he urged them to embrace ethical leadership, innovation, inclusivity, and social responsibility while contributing to the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047. He also encouraged the new cohorts to remain curious, embrace lifelong learning, and create a lasting positive impact on society.Concluding his address, he wished the students a rewarding journey at IIM Jammu, inspiring them to emerge as future-ready, socially responsible, and purpose-driven leader.

Welcoming the incoming students to the Holistic Orientation Programme 2026, Prof. B. S. Sahay, Director, IIM Jammu, congratulated the new cohorts and described their journey at IIM Jammu as a transformative phase in shaping responsible, ethical, and future-ready leaders. He welcomed Chief Guest Shri Rajendra Singh Pawar, Chairman & Co-founder, NIIT Limited, and Guest of Honor Shri Anil K. Agarwal, President, Cosmos Group India, while conveying the best wishes of Dr.

Milind Kamble, Chairman, Board of Governors, IIM Jammu, who could not attend the programme due to health reasons. Aligning his address with the vision of Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji for Viksit Bharat @2047, he highlighted India's rapid progress in innovation, entrepreneurship, digital transformation, and global engagement. He also reflected on IIM Jammu's decade-long journey, marked by two prestigious international accreditations, academic excellence, and a vibrant, inclusive learning ecosystem.

Encouraging students to embrace academic rigor, discipline, diversity, and innovation, he urged them to make the campus their second home and leverage the Institute's entrepreneurial ecosystem to transform ideas into impact.Concluding his address, he inspired the new cohorts to become ethical leaders, innovators, and nation-builders, committed to creating meaningful societal impact and contributing to the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047.

As part of the Holistic Orientation Programme 2026, Prof. Jabir Ali, Dean, Faculty & Research, IIM Jammu, welcomed the incoming students and encouraged them to pursue excellence through purposeful learning, innovation, and holistic development. Highlighting the Institute's research ecosystem, Centres of Excellence, and entrepreneurial initiatives, he urged students to actively participate in classrooms, embrace every learning opportunity, and contribute meaningfully to society.

Addressing the new cohorts, Prof. Nitin Upadhyay, Dean Academics, IIM Jammu, reflected on the Institute's remarkable journey since 2016 and emphasized that admission to IIM Jammu marks the beginning of a transformative journey built on discipline, perseverance, and continuous learning. Encouraging students to cultivate curiosity, critical thinking, and sound judgment, he observed that while Artificial Intelligence can generate answers, it is human judgment that distinguishes exceptional leaders. He concluded by inspiring students to become professionals whose judgment earns trust, curiosity drives innovation, and learning creates lasting impact.

The programme commenced with a presentation on the profile of the incoming students by Dr. Sarbjit Singh, Chairperson (Admissions). He presented an overview of the diverse academic, professional, and geographical backgrounds of the new cohorts, highlighting the Institute's growing diversity and its commitment to creating a vibrant learning ecosystem. The inaugural ceremony culminated with the vote of thanks by Lt. Gen (Dr). Sunil Kant, Chairperson, MBA Healthcare followed by national song and national anthem.

Delivering an inspiring session on "Role of Management Graduates in Making Viksit Bharat @2047," Dr. Vinay Sahasrabuddhe, Member, Governing Body, Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) urged the incoming students to view management education not merely as a pathway to professional success, but as a lifelong commitment to ethical leadership, nation-building, and societal transformation. Emphasizing the importance of curiosity, attentive listening, reflection, and continuous learning, he encouraged students to cultivate intellectual humility and a strong sense of purpose throughout their academic journey.Reflecting on India's aspiration of becoming Viksit Bharat @2047, he highlighted the pivotal role of management graduates in driving innovation, inclusive growth, institutional excellence, and responsible governance.

A defining highlight of his address was his insightful reflection on the five crises confronting contemporary society, Identity, Purpose, Authenticity, Ownership, and Relationships. He urged students to navigate these challenges with courage, self-awareness, moral clarity, and integrity, emphasizing that true leadership lies in creating positive societal impact through values-driven action.Concluding his address, he called upon the future managers to combine competence with character, ambition with humility, and innovation with inclusivity, inspiring them to become responsible leaders committed to creating sustainable value for society and contributing meaningfully to the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047.

The afternoon featured an insightful industry interaction by as part of the Holistic Orientation Programme 2026, Mr. Prashant Govil, Managing Director, Accenture on the evolving landscape of Artificial Intelligence. Highlighting AI's growing autonomy and transformative impact across industries, he encouraged students to embrace AI as an enabler of innovation, adaptability, and responsible leadership, urging them to continuously upskill and prepare for an AI-driven future.The final technical session of the day was delivered by Mr. Pawan Sachdeva, Senior Managing Director, Carelon Global Solutions India. He shared valuable insights on leadership, organizational excellence, adaptability, and emerging opportunities in the global business ecosystem, encouraging students to embrace change and cultivate a future-ready mindset.

The day commenced with a rejuvenating session on "Maximize Happiness and Mindfulness" conducted by renowned Yoga Guru Shri Sahil Mehra. The session encouraged students to embrace mindfulness, physical well-being, and emotional resilience as essential pillars for achieving academic excellence and personal growth throughout their management journey. Before the formal inauguration, faculty members and the incoming students participated in an interactive self-introduction session. The interaction fostered an atmosphere of openness, allowing the new cohorts to connect with the faculty while taking the first step towards building a collaborative learning community.

Following the inaugural ceremony, Prof. Nitin Upadhyay, Dean Academics, conducted an engaging session on "Academic Rigor and Code of Conduct." He familiarized students with the Institute's academic expectations, evaluation framework, classroom ethics, and professional standards, emphasizing that discipline and integrity are fundamental to academic excellenceThe next session on "Academic Regulations, Academic Discipline and Student Handbook" was delivered by Shri Arup Bhattacharya, Chief Program Officer Academics.

He provided a comprehensive overview of the Institute's academic regulations, examination policies, programme structure, and student support mechanisms, enabling students to understand the academic ecosystem from the very beginning.Thereafter, Dr. Muqbil Burhan, Chairperson, Centre for Entrepreneurship & Innovation, addressed the students on "Entrepreneurship & Incubation at IIM Jammu." He introduced the Institute's thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem, incubation initiatives, mentoring support, and innovation platforms, motivating students to develop entrepreneurial mindsets and transform ideas into impactful ventures.

The day concluded on a vibrant note with "Rang Tarang 2026," where students celebrated India's rich cultural diversity through music, dance, and artistic performances, fostering camaraderie and a sense of belonging among the new cohorts. The programme concluded with the Director's Dinner, providing an informal platform for interaction between the Institute leadership, faculty members, and students, further strengthening the spirit of the IIM Jammu family.

The Holistic Orientation Programme will continue over the next four days with sessions on student affairs, mentorship, international relations, entrepreneurship, corporate leadership, placements, academic support systems, experiential learning, and cultural engagement, equipping the students with the knowledge, values, and confidence to embark on their transformative journey at IIM Jammu.