Launch of IIM Udaipur’s Bilingual Online BBA Programme
On July 6‑7, 2026, the Indian Institute of Management Udaipur (IIM Udaipur) conducted a virtual inauguration of its newly created Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) programme. The ceremony was attended by students, parents, faculty, alumni and other members of the IIM Udaipur community through an online platform.
The chief guest was Hon’ble Shri Piyush Goyal, Union Minister of Commerce and Industry. His flight from Mumbai was delayed by approximately one and a half hours because of heavy rain; after landing he joined the event from his car, switching on a live video feed so that participants could see and hear him.
In his address, Minister Goyal described the programme as “very unique” and “a good concept”, emphasizing that its bilingual (Hindi‑supported and English) format and fully online delivery would allow management education to reach a much wider audience. He linked the initiative to the historic advocacy of Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee for mother‑tongue instruction and to the broader goal of nation‑building. The Minister praised the IIM brand’s global recognition, noted that IIM Udaipur, founded in 2011, has earned a distinctive place in several reputed rankings, and highlighted successful alumni ventures such as Bombay Shaving Company and CurryiT.
Goyal also spoke on the post‑COVID transformation of education, noting that India now has nearly 100 crore internet users and that the National Education Policy encourages scaling quality education through digital platforms. He affirmed that the programme’s scholarship provision will help make IIM‑level education accessible to talented students irrespective of their circumstances.
The institute’s leadership outlined the structure and quality safeguards of the programme. Prof. Kunal Kamal Kumar, Chairperson of the BBA programme, explained that the curriculum combines faculty‑led online instruction with offline examinations to maintain accountability. The programme offers a Hindi‑supported learning pathway, aiming to remove barriers related to language, geography, time, cost and family responsibilities while maintaining rigorous standards.
Prof. Ashok Banerjee, Director of IIM Udaipur, accepted the Minister’s four suggestions: (1) periodic faculty visits and student gatherings at different locations; (2) enhanced soft‑skill development covering technology, communication, teamwork and cultural exchange; (3) experiential learning through onsite visits to factories, ports and industrial clusters; and (4) adoption of global best practices such as audio‑visual tools, credit transfer under the NEP, partnerships with reputed institutions, joint physical‑virtual programmes and fourth‑year research internships. The Director committed to reporting progress on these suggestions by the end of the calendar year.
Other senior faculty members reinforced the programme’s objectives. Prof. Anirban Adhikary, Dean – Faculty and Research, highlighted IIM Udaipur’s research‑oriented culture and urged the inaugural batch to uphold discipline and high standards. Prof. Vijayta Doshi, Dean – Programs, connected the BBA offering with the institute’s broader portfolio, emphasizing inclusive yet high‑quality management education.
The press release concluded that the bilingual, technology‑enabled BBA programme is intended to produce graduates who can contribute to a “Viksit Bharat”, leveraging the expanding digital ecosystem, free‑trade agreements and renewed focus on manufacturing and innovation.