IIM Jammu and Administration of UT of Ladakh sign MoU to establish IIM Jammu Leh Campus, Ladakh

• Four-Year BBA (Hons.) Programme to Commence at IIM Jammu–Leh Campus, Ladakh, in Academic Year 2026–27
• Partnership to advance management education, entrepreneurship, innovation, research, and capacity building in the Union Territory

JAMMU: The Indian Institute of Management Jammu and the Administration of the Union Territory of Ladakh today on 25^th Sept 2026 signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at Lok Niwas, Leh, Ladakh to establish the IIM JammuLeh Campus, Ladakh marking a defining step towards bringing opportunity of quality management education closer to the youth of Ladakh and strengthening the region’s ecosystem for entrepreneurship, innovation, research, skill development, and human capital development.

The MoU was signed in the august presence of Shri Vinai Kumar Saxena, Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor, UT of Ladakh; Padma Shri Dr. Milind P. Kamble, Chairman, Board of Governors, IIM Jammu; and Shri Ashish Kundra, IAS, Chief Secretary, Administration of the Union Territory of Ladakh. The MoU was signed by Prof. B.S. Sahay, Director, IIM Jammu, and Ms. Bhanu Prabha, IAS, Secretary, Higher Education, Administration of UT of Ladakh.

The partnership establishes a long-term framework for collaboration in higher education, entrepreneurship, innovation, incubation, capacity building, executive education, research, consultancy, and institutional development. The MoU signing was graced by Prof. Jabir Ali, Dean, Faculty and Research; Prof. Nitin Upadhyay, Dean, Academics; Shri Bhupinder Singh Kang, CAO, IIM Jammu, along with senior officials from IIM Jammu and the Administration of UT of Ladakh.

As part of the initial academic offering, IIM Jammu will introduce a four-year BBA (Hons.) programme at IIM Jammu Leh Campus, Ladakh with a proposed initial intake of 60 students for the academic year 2026-27.The proposed IIM JammuLeh Campus, Ladakh is envisaged as more than an academic centre, with a broader ecosystem spanning entrepreneurship, business acceleration, innovation and incubation, executive education, skill development, research and consultancy. The collaboration also provides for career counselling, faculty development, institutional mentoring and customised capacity-building programmes for government officials and other stakeholders.

Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor, UT of Ladakh, Shri Vinai Kumar Saxena stated that the establishment of the IIM Jammu Leh Campus, Ladakh marks an important milestone in strengthening the higher education ecosystem of the Union Territory and creating new academic, professional, and entrepreneurial opportunities. He noted that the four-year BBA (Hons.) programme, with an initial intake of 60 students, has already received an encouraging response, reflecting the growing aspirations for quality management education.

He mentioned that the significance of the initiative extends beyond the initial academic programme, with the IIM JammuLeh Campus, Ladakh having the potential to emerge as a centre for knowledge, innovation, entrepreneurship and professional development. He noted that the presence of IIM Jammu, along with IIT Jammu, can create a strong ecosystem connecting management, technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship, while strengthening collaboration among academia, government and industry.

He emphasised that bringing quality management education closer to students in Ladakh can help reduce the financial and personal challenges faced by families when students move outside the Union Territory for specialised education. He mentioned that the initiative will create wider opportunities for eligible and selected aspirants while strengthening human capital and professional capabilities in the region. He further noted that the IIM Jammu Leh Campus, Ladakh can support entrepreneurship, incubation, business acceleration, research, faculty development, executive education, institutional mentoring and capacity building.

He highlighted the potential for research and innovation around Ladakh’s distinctive developmental and environmental context, including sustainable tourism, renewable energy, water security, climate resilience, waste management and local livelihoods.He expressed confidence that the IIM Jammu Leh Campus, Ladakh will evolve into a national academic destination, bringing together students, faculty, entrepreneurs, industry leaders and policymakers from across India and creating opportunities to connect local knowledge with national expertise. He stated that the initiative reflects the vision of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji for Viksit Bharat@2047, and will help nurture talent, foster enterprise, transform local challenges into opportunities for innovation and contribute to the sustainable development of Ladakh and nation building.

Padma Shri Dr. Milind P. Kamble, Chairman, Board of Governors, IIM Jammu, stated that the establishment of the IIM JammuLeh Campus marks an important milestone in IIM Jammu’s journey and an opportunity to create a national academic destination in one of India’s most distinctive geographies. Referring to IIM Jammu’s growth from 47 students at its inception in 2016 to around 1,400 students today, he noted that academic rigor,quality, and meaningful engagement with government, industry, healthcare, entrepreneurship, and emerging technologies have remained central to the institute's growth.

He recalled IIM Jammu’s earlier engagement with the Administration of the Union Territory of Ladakhthrough initiatives such as the Mahatma Gandhi National Fellowship and Small Business Development Units, noting that these engagements created a foundation of familiarity, partnership, and mutual understanding. He stated that the present MoU gives this relationship a stronger and more enduring institutional form.

He emphasized that the IIM JammuLeh Campus, Ladakh, is envisioned as a national academic destination that can attract faculty from across India and abroad, along with industry leaders, entrepreneurs, civil servants, and policymakers, for teaching, research, learning, and exchange of ideas. He noted that the IIM Jammu Leh Campus, Ladakh can provide a platform where students from across India come together, local knowledge meets national expertise, and the unique context of Ladakh becomes an opportunity for research, innovation and problem-solving.

He further stated that the IIM Jammu Leh Campus, Ladakh, is envisaged not merely as an expansion of the institute but as a long-term contribution to nation building, an institution that respects its location while engaging with the wider world and promotes excellence, inclusion, innovation, enterprise, and service to the nation.

Shri Ashish Kundra, IAS, Chief Secretary, UT of Ladakh, stated that the establishment of the IIM Jammu–Leh Campus, Ladakh marks a significant step towards building a stronger and more future-ready higher education ecosystem in the Union Territory. He noted that the partnership will expand access to quality management education while creating opportunities for skill development, entrepreneurship, innovation, research and capacity building.

He emphasized that the IIM JammuLeh Campus, Ladakh will strengthen linkages between academic institutions, government, industry, and emerging enterprises, enabling greater exchange of knowledge, expertise and opportunities. He further stated that the initiative will help develop local talent, connect it with national expertise and wider professional networks, and contribute to strengthening human capital, fostering enterprise and supporting sustainable and inclusive development in Ladakh.

Prof. B.S. Sahay, Director, IIM Jammu, stated that the MoU marks a significant milestone in IIM Jammu’s long-term engagement with the UT of Ladakh and a decisive step towards taking quality management education and institutional expertise closer to the region. He acknowledged the guidance and steadfast support of Shri V. K. Saxena, Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor, UT of Ladakh, and the leadership of Padma Shri Dr. Milind P. Kamble, Chairman, Board of Governors, IIM Jammu, in advancing this important initiative.He reiterated that the IIM Jammu–Leh Campus, Ladakh will commence its academic journey with the four-year BBA (Hons.) programme in the academic year 2026–27, providing aspirants from across the country an opportunity to pursue quality management education in Ladakh.

He noted that the programme has received an encouraging response, reflecting the growing aspirations of students for quality management education and the emerging opportunities offered by the IIM JammuLeh Campus, Ladakh. He added that the IIM JammuLeh Campus, Ladakh will serve as a forward-looking academic and development platform for building human capital, nurturing entrepreneurship and innovation, strengthening institutional capacities, and creating pathways for knowledge-led growth. He further mentioned that the initiative aligns with the vision of Viksit Bharat@2047, empowering young people with knowledge, skills, and opportunities to contribute meaningfully to India’s journey towards a developed and self-reliant nation.

Ms. Bhanu Prabha, IAS, Secretary, Higher Education, Administration of UT of Ladakh, mentioned that the partnership with IIM Jammu reflects the UT Administration’s commitment to strengthening higher education and building a skilled, capable, and future-ready human base in Ladakh. She highlighted the pivotal role and visionary guidance of Shri V. K. Saxena, Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor, UT of Ladakh, in advancing initiatives aimed at expanding educational opportunities and capacity building in the region.

She said the collaboration will bring quality management education closer to Ladakh’s youth while fostering entrepreneurship, innovation, leadership, and skill development, and connecting local talent with wider academic and professional networks. She added that the initiative will help unlock Ladakh’s potential, support sustainable and inclusive development, and empower its youth to become catalysts of regional progress and nation building.

Prof. Jabir Ali, Dean, Faculty and Research, IIM Jammu, highlighted the partnership as an opportunity to build a distinctive knowledge and research ecosystem for Ladakh, rooted in its unique geography, economy, communities, and developmental aspirations. He said that the collaboration can bring together researchers, policymakers, industry, entrepreneurs, and local communities to undertake interdisciplinary, evidence-based research and translate knowledge into solutions with real-world impact.

He added that, under the visionary leadership of Shri V. K. Saxena, Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor, UT of Ladakh, and with the guidance of Padma Shri Dr. Milind P. Kamble, Chairman, Board of Governors, IIM Jammu, and Prof. B.S. Sahay, Director, IIM Jammu, the initiative can catalyze innovation, strengthen local enterprises and livelihoods, inform policy and harness Ladakh’s inherent strengths for sustainable and inclusive development.

Prof. Nitin Upadhyay, Dean, Academics, IIM Jammu, mentioned that the academic vision for the IIM Jammu Leh Campus, Ladakh is to create a future-ready learning ecosystem that blends rigorous management education with experiential, contextual, and locally relevant learning. He further mentioned that, with the vision and guidance of Shri V. K. Saxena, Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor, UT of Ladakh, the leadership of Padma Shri Dr. Milind P. Kamble, Chairman, Board of Governors, IIM Jammu; and the stewardship of Prof. B.S. Sahay, Director, IIM Jammu, the campus will enable students to engage with Ladakh’s distinctive socio-economic landscape and emerging opportunities across tourism, hospitality, entrepreneurship, sustainability, traditional enterprises, technology, and the digital economy. He added that this forward-lookingapproach will foster managerial excellence, local insight, and innovative thinking, enabling students to contribute meaningfully to Ladakh’s sustainable growth and development.

The partnership will also facilitate IIM Jammu’s academic and professional expertise in areas including policy support, monitoring and evaluation, public policy and advocacy, community development, action research, and capacity building for initiatives of the UT Administration. Under the MoU, the UT Administration will facilitate the transit campus infrastructure, including academic and hostel facilities, furnishing, faculty and staff accommodation, and transport. The proposed academic environment is envisaged to be technology-enabled, climate-resilient, and suitable for all-weather operations, with smart classrooms, digital learning, hybrid teaching, and video-conferencing facilities.

A key component of the collaboration is the development of an entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystem in Leh, Ladakh. IIM Jammu will work with the UT Administration and other stakeholders to promote entrepreneurship awareness, mentoring, business development, innovation, and incubation. The MoU also envisages bringing the Centre for Entrepreneurship, Innovation & Skill Development of IIM Jammu to Leh, Ladakh, and exploring business accelerator initiatives for entrepreneurs, start-ups, and small and family-owned enterprises.

The signing of the MoU marks a significant new phase in IIM Jammu’s engagement with Ladakh, establishing a framework that brings together management education, entrepreneurship, innovation, research, and institutional capacity building to create greater opportunities for the youth and contribute to the Union Territory’s long-term development.