Archive · 6 Oct 2026
IIM Ahmedabad’s Bharat Bhasker Says MBA Must Develop Judgement
IIM Ahmedabad’s director, Bharat Bhasker, says business schools must keep changing as work changes.
He says students should be prepared not just for today’s jobs, but for the future.
Artificial intelligence can provide lots of information and help solve problems.
Because of that, he believes managers will need good judgement: the ability to decide what to do.
He says MBA courses should use AI to help students solve whole problems, not just add a few AI classes.
IIM Ahmedabad has started an MBA in business analytics and AI.
Its students in Dubai temporarily studied in India when conflict created uncertainty.
The institute plans to offer a weekend MBA in Dubai for people who cannot leave their jobs.
IIM Ahmedabad retained the top position in the BT-MDRA Best B-schools Survey 2026-27.
Director Bharat Bhasker says the school prepares graduates for future leadership by continually adapting its MBA.
He argues that AI makes judgement and problem-solving more important than simply acquiring knowledge.
IIM Ahmedabad brought its Dubai-based batch to India amid regional uncertainty in February and March; students returned in April.
The institute is launching a two-year weekend MBA in Dubai and has introduced an MBA in business analytics and AI.
- Who
- Bharat Bhasker, Director of IIM Ahmedabad.
- What
- He discussed the future of MBA education, AI, leadership skills, and IIM Ahmedabad’s programmes.
- When
- The interview refers to the 2026-27 survey; Bhasker took charge in March 2023.
- Where
- IIM Ahmedabad and its Dubai programme.
- Why
- Bhasker says management education must adapt to AI and changing industry needs, with greater emphasis on judgement and problem-solving.
Bhasker’s view
Alternative approach discussed
How to add AI to management education
Bhasker’s view
Bhasker says AI should enable problem-solving across management education, rather than be limited to add-on courses.
Alternative approach discussed
He describes a common approach at other institutions as adding standalone courses such as AI for managers or AI for marketing.
MBA demand and changing interests
Bhasker’s view
Bhasker says the overall CAT-taking population has decreased, partly as interest shifts from management towards technology.
Alternative approach discussed
He says interest among the top 20 institutes has not fallen significantly, and that candidates genuinely suited to management remain interested.
- Survey ranking
- IIM Ahmedabad again ranked first in the BT-MDRA Best B-schools Survey 2026-27.
- Director
- Professor Bharat Bhasker took charge in March 2023.
- MBA outlook
- Bhasker says the MBA will remain relevant, but its content must continue to change.
- AI and management
- He says management education should focus more on problem-solving and judgement, with AI as an enabling technology.
- Dubai cohort
- Students were brought from Dubai to India for two months amid uncertainty in February and March, then returned in April.
- Dubai programme
- IIM Ahmedabad is launching a two-year weekend MBA programme in Dubai.
- Class mix
- Bhasker said IIM Ahmedabad had around 50% non-engineers last year, up by 10 to 12 percentage points.