IIM Jammu to hold a five-day holistic orientation programme

• Five-day transformative induction to bring together visionary leaders, industry icons, policymakers and academia to inspire the next generation of managers

JAMMU: The Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Jammu is all set to usher in a new chapter of academic excellence with the commencement of its Five-Day Holistic Orientation Programme 2026 from 13th to 17th July 2026 at its state-of-the-art Jagti Campus. The Institute will formally welcome the 7th Batch of Ph.D., 11th Batch of MBA, 5th Batch of MBA (Healthcare), and the inaugural Batch of MBA (AI & BA) a landmark addition that reflects IIM Jammu's commitment to preparing future-ready leaders for an AI-driven global economy.

The Orientation Programme has been thoughtfully designed as an immersive journey that extends far beyond a traditional induction. Rooted in IIM Jammu's philosophy of "Knowledge, Integrity, Innovation and Nation Building," the programme seeks to nurture intellectually agile, socially responsible, ethically grounded and globally competent leaders capable of driving transformative change in an increasingly dynamic world.

The grand inaugural ceremony on 13th July 2026 will be 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, will join as the Guest of Honour. Padma Shri Dr. Milind Kamble, Chairman, Board of Governors, IIM Jammu, will address the gathering and deliver the presidential address. Prof. B.S. Sahay, Director, IIM Jammu presided over the inaugural ceremony. The ceremony will also feature addresses by Prof. Nitin Upadhyay, Dean Academics, and Prof. Jabir Ali, Dean Faculty & Research, along with respective Chairpersons of academic programmes setting the tone for an enriching week of academic engagement and leadership development.

Over five intensive days, the incoming students will engage with an exceptional line-up of eminent corporate leaders, policymakers, academicians and practitioners whose diverse experiences will expose them to contemporary management challenges, technological disruptions, entrepreneurial opportunities and the evolving expectations of responsible leadership.

Speaking ahead of the Holistic Orientation Programme 2026, Prof. B. S. Sahay, Director, IIM Jammu, reiterated that the Orientation programme marks the beginning of a transformative journey that extends beyond academic learning to nurture leadership, innovation, integrity, and social responsibility. He emphasized that through meaningful interactions with distinguished academicians, industry leaders, policymakers, entrepreneurs, and alumni, students will gain valuable perspectives to prepare for the evolving competitive global landscape.

Welcoming the new cohorts, he encouraged them to embrace the opportunities ahead with curiosity, resilience, and a commitment to excellence, while contributing meaningfully towards the vision of Viksit Bharat@2047. He wished all the incoming students a rewarding and inspiring journey of learning, innovation, and leadership at IIM Jammu

Prof. Nitin Upadhyay, Dean Academics, IIM Jammu, mentioned that the Holistic Orientation Programme has been thoughtfully designed to provide students with a strong academic foundation while familiarizing them with the institute's values, culture, and rigorous learning environment. He noted that the programme seamlessly integrates academic orientation with industry interactions, experiential learning, mentorship, and student engagement, enabling the incoming cohorts to transition confidently into their academic journey. He welcomed the new students and encouraged them to make the most of the opportunities at IIM Jammu by embracing continuous learning, collaboration, innovation, and academic excellence.

The Holistic Orientation Programme 2026 will feature an impressive lineup of eminent leaders from industry, government, public policy, entrepreneurship, and academia, providing students with diverse perspectives on leadership, innovation, technology, entrepreneurship, and nation-building. Distinguished speakers include Dr. Vinay Sahasrabuddhe, President, Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR)who will address students on the role of management graduates in realizing the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047; Mr. Prashant Govil, Managing Director, Accenture; Mr. Pawan Sachdeva, Senior Managing Director and Technology Head, Carelon Global Solutions India; Shri Rajesh Sharma, Deputy General Manager, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL); Mr. Ankit Jhamb, Chief Learning Officer, Grant Thornton Bharat; Shri Sriram Gowtham Rengarajan, Customer Success Manager, Salesforce; Shri Smrutiranjan Das, Management Consulting Analyst, Accenture Strategy; Ms. Meenakshi Srivastava, Lead Analyst, Information Services Group (ISG); Mr. Aakash Agarwal, Manager – Consulting, Deloitte; Mr. Bhavnish Sharma, Commercial Consultant, FedEx; Mr. Aalap Bansal, Partner, KPMG; Mr. Anurag Sharma, Joint President (Primary Aluminium Business), Hindalco Industries Limited; Shri Sachin Kumar Vaishya, IAS, Chief Executive Officer, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board; Mr. B. N. Makesh, Vice President –Marketing, Yashoda Hospitals; Ms. Tapasya Dube, Corporate HR and Talent Acquisition, Alkem Laboratories Ltd.; Mr. Madhur Kumar Jain, Deputy General Manager, L&T Energy Hydrocarbon; Mr. Ishwar Dutt Sharma, Executive Vice President and Head, Talent Academy, Niva Bupa Health Insurance; Mr. Pankaj Sharma, Assistant Vice President, Airtel Payments Bank; Mr. Sunil Goyal, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Sopra Steria India; and Mr. Rajul Kansal, Global Head, Executive Talent Office, HCLTech.

A highlight of this year's Orientation Programme will be the special panel discussion on "Job Seeker to Job Creator: J&K Entrepreneurship Ecosystem," bringing together entrepreneurs from Jammu & Kashmir to inspire students to embrace innovation, enterprise creation and regional economic development.  The panel feature Shri Parveen Pargal, Proprietor, Pargal Food Products; Shri Rajesh Jain, MD, Vardhman Alloys, Shri Annil Suri, Chairman AB Group of Companies & MD Tawi Arc Electrodes Pvt. Ltd.; Shri Ankit Gupta, Director, Annaphar Laboratories; Shri Agam Jain, Managing Member, Natural Fresh Foods and State General Secretary Laghu Udyog Bharti;  and Shri Hasit Singh Sachdeva, Proprietor, R.P Steels,Through these interactions, students will gain first-hand insights into leadership, resilience, responsible business practices and the entrepreneurial ecosystem shaping India's growth story.

The programme has been meticulously curated to familiarise students with every aspect of life at IIM Jammu. Sessions on academic regulations, code of conduct, international collaborations, entrepreneurship and incubation, placements, IT infrastructure, library resources, finance and accounts, administrative services, hostel life, campus discipline, anti-ragging measures and the Prevention of Sexual Harassment (POSH) framework will ensure a smooth transition into the Institute's rigorous academic environment. Experiential learning through case pedagogy, outbound activities, alumni interactions, and IIM Jammu's unique four-tier mentor-mentee framework will further strengthen students' academic and personal development.

Recognising that leadership begins with personal well-being, every day of the Orientation Programme will commence with "Maximize Happiness and Mindfulness" early morning sessions conducted by renowned Yoga Guru Shri Sahil Mehra under the aegis of Anandam – Centre for Happiness. The evenings will come alive with "Rang Tarang 2026,"by renowned Indian Theatre Personality Padma Shri Balwant Thakur celebrating India's rich cultural diversity while fostering friendship, teamwork and a strong sense of belonging among the new cohorts.

As IIM Jammu continues to strengthen its position among India's premier management institutions through academic excellence, global collaborations, cutting-edgeprogrammes and industry relevance, the Holistic Orientation Programme 2026 reflects the institute's unwavering commitment to shaping visionary leaders equipped to address complex global challenges with competence, compassion and character. The Orientation programme promises to lay a strong foundation for an intellectually stimulating, socially conscious and professionally rewarding journey for every member of the incoming cohorts.