Shillong, April 3: Indian Institute of Management Shillong (IIM Shillong) celebrated its 17th Annual Convocation on April 2, 2026, marking a significant milestone in the institute’s academic calendar. A total of 469 students were conferred degrees, including 395 from the Post Graduate Programme (PGP) 2024–26 batch, 54 from the Post Graduate Programme for Executives (PGPEx) 2025–26 batch, and 15 from the Post Graduate Programme for Working Executives (PGPWE) 2024–26 batch. Additionally, five scholars were awarded Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees.
The ceremony was graced by Anoop Mehta as the Chief Guest and Vijay Kedia as the Guest of Honour.
In his virtual welcome address, Shishir Kumar Bajoria congratulated the graduating students, describing them as torchbearers of a Viksit Bharat. He highlighted India’s transformation through key national initiatives such as Atmanirbhar Bharat, Digital India, and Skill India, while emphasizing the importance of adaptability, experiential learning, and societal responsibility in a rapidly evolving global landscape.
Addressing the gathering, Anoop Mehta reflected on the dynamic and evolving nature of industries, particularly with the rise of artificial intelligence. Drawing from his own journey, he encouraged graduates to embrace challenges, remain resilient, and focus on continuous self-improvement, likening success to a diamond shaped under pressure.
Guest of Honour Vijay Kedia praised IIM Shillong’s emergence as a leading institution in management education within a short span. He stressed that the coming decade will reward adaptability and direction over degrees, with artificial intelligence reshaping global competition. He urged graduates to actively contribute to India’s growth story, particularly in sectors such as technology, energy, and digital platforms.
Presenting the institute’s annual report, Naliniprava Tripathy highlighted key achievements during the academic year 2025–26. These included the signing of seven MoUs with international universities, taking the total number of global collaborations to 37, progress toward AACSB and EQUIS accreditations, and IIM Shillong’s debut in the QS Global Rankings. She also noted the launch of a five-year Integrated Programme in Management (IPM) aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the successful hosting of international conferences. Looking ahead, she announced plans to host the 11th Pan-IIM World Management Conference in 2026.
The convocation concluded with a formal pledge led by Rohit Joshi, along with programme chairs, reaffirming the graduates’ commitment to ethical practice, excellence, and societal contribution.
Recognition of Academic Excellence
Among the awardees, Ms. Priya Agarwal secured the Chairman’s Gold Medal and Shri Rathindranath Datta Gold Medal for the highest CGPA in the PGP 2024–26 batch. Mr. Divyan Aggarwal received the Director’s Gold Medal and Prof. Ashoke K. Dutta Gold Medal for being the Best All-Rounder. The Institute Silver Medal for the second highest CGPA was awarded to Ms. Nityaa Gudur, Mr. Ranit Das, and Mr. Yashraj Ashish Kanitkar, while Mr. Ajay MP received the Institute Gold Medal for positive contribution to campus life.
In the PGPEx 2025–26 batch, Mr. Rixon Xavier Thaikattil was awarded the Chairman’s Gold Medal for highest CGPA, while Mr. Bishal Ram received the Director’s Gold Medal for Best All-Rounder. In the PGPWE 2024–26 batch, Mr. Prithwijit Dasgupta was awarded the Chairman’s Gold Medal for highest CGPA.
The ceremony marked the culmination of years of rigorous academic pursuit, as graduates now step into professional roles equipped to navigate and contribute to an increasingly complex and dynamic global environment.
