Hans News Service Bengaluru

IIM Bangalore has received a landmark philanthropic commitment from the Tata Trusts to develop its new School of Undergraduate Studies in Bengaluru. The grant will support the institute’s academic vision, campus infrastructure and long-term plans for excellence in undergraduate education. Located roughly 27 kilometres from the main IIMB campus, the new school reflects the institute’s aim to bring the same level of academic rigour and global standards it applies to its postgraduate and executive programmes to the undergraduate level.

The school will begin operations this August with two four-year full-time residential programmes. One is a BSc Honours in Economics with a minor in Data Science, while the other is a BSc Honours in Data Science with a minor in Economics. Each programme will admit 40 students, creating a total initial cohort of 80. The curriculum blends data science, economics and business studies within an interdisciplinary approach that prepares graduates for data-driven professional environments through focused learning, close mentorship and personalised academic support. The endowment will fund the creation of high-quality academic and residential facilities. It will also enable the formation of new research clusters that bring together fields such as artificial intelligence, data science, algorithmic design, Indian Knowledge Systems and applied business learning. This support will further help IIM Bangalore attract and retain faculty members from a wide range of academic backgrounds.

The Tata Trusts view such investments in knowledge and the people who advance it as among the most enduring contributions philanthropy can make. Their long tradition of backing institutions that combine academic excellence with a connection to India’s development goals aligns with the design of these undergraduate programmes centred on data, economics and evidence-based thinking. Noel Tata, Chairman of the Tata Trusts, noted that the organisation has for over a century backed some of India’s most important institutions, including the Tata Memorial Hospital and the Indian Institute of Science. He described the current support as following the same approach of shaping institutions at an early stage so that philanthropic capital influences not only physical structures but also the overall character and ambitions of the organisation.

Dr. Devi Shetty, Chairperson of the Board of Governors at IIM Bangalore, welcomed the endowment and said that transformative support of this kind is essential for placing institutes of national importance on a path to global leadership. He emphasised the institute’s commitment to developing undergraduate talent and building a pipeline of thinkers equipped for a data-driven world. Siddharth Sharma, CEO of the Tata Trusts, stated that the organisation looks to support initiatives that combine ambitious vision with practical grounding. He said backing IIM Bangalore as it extends its tradition of excellence into undergraduate education reflects their belief that investing in knowledge and in the people who will shape India’s future ranks among the most meaningful contributions possible.

Professor U Dinesh Kumar, Director-in-Charge of IIM Bangalore, explained that the programmes are designed not only to build technical skills but also to help students ask better questions, handle complexity and lead with evidence. He added that the Tata Trusts’ support enables deeper investment in faculty, research infrastructure and the overall campus environment, creating a state-of-the-art learning ecosystem aligned with India’s developmental priorities and global capabilities.