How IIMs and top B-schools in India are redesigning MBA courses for the AI era

Indian business schools are revamping their MBA programs to equip students for an AI-driven workforce, integrating the technology into foundational subjects and launching dedicated courses in generative AI, data analytics, and responsible AI. Meanwhile, BITS Pilani has unveiled a revamped undergraduate curriculum emphasizing academic flexibility, research integration, and student welfare.

Employers now demand graduates proficient in utilizing AI tools, according to a Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) survey. The Global Perspectives Survey Report 2026, based on feedback from 22 deans and academic leaders, highlights AI, evolving employer expectations, and changing demand for MBA programs as significant challenges for Indian business schools.

BITs Pilani Group Vice Chancellor V Ramgopal Rao stated that the revised curriculum addresses AI's influence on education and rising concerns about students' mental health. With AI enhancing knowledge accessibility, the focus is on cultivating students' confidence and abilities to conceive and implement ideas independently. Business schools are incorporating AI into core subjects like marketing, finance, and human resources, alongside introducing specialized courses in generative AI, data analytics, and responsible AI.

Instructors at Jaipuria School of Business, for instance, include a 30-hour course on emerging technologies and AI for business leaders in the first-year curriculum, with AI also forming a core component of the Business Analytics specialization.

Director Tapan Kumar Nayak highlighted that the central challenge of business education—developing sound judgment under uncertainty—is now complicated by generative AI. He advocated for a stronger emphasis on accountable AI, including modules on AI safety and sovereignty. Additionally, he proposed that incoming students be introduced to tools like ChatGPT and Claude, along with AI-based simulations, to foster a shared understanding of emerging technologies.

At Great Lakes Institute of Management, Gurugram, AI is being integrated across disciplines rather than confined to a specialized subject or elective. Director Raj Krishnan Shankar explained that the institute is adopting an AI-first approach, embedding the technology into learning processes across various management subjects. BML Munjal University in Haryana follows a similar strategy, integrating AI into management learning to provide students with practical experience in working with AI rather than studying it as a purely technical subject.

As AI permeates routine business operations, management education is broadening to encompass technology utilization, analytical skills, and responsible decision-making. The challenge for business schools is to ensure graduates can both use AI tools effectively and assess their outputs, making informed decisions about when and how to rely on them.