IIM Ahmedabad signs MoU to establish Krishnamurthy Tandon School of Artificial Intelligence
The Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA) on Thursday exchanged a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Ms. Chandrika Krishnamurthy Tandon and Mr. Ranjan Tandon for the establishment of the Krishnamurthy Tandon School of Artificial Intelligence at the institute.
The MoU was exchanged in the presence of Union Minister for Education Dharmendra Pradhan in New Delhi, while Ambassador Vinay Kwatra joined the event virtually from the United States.
The School will be set up through a ₹100 crore endowment by Ms. Chandrika Krishnamurthy Tandon, an alumna of IIMA’s PGP Class of 1975, and her husband Mr. Ranjan Tandon.
Speaking on the occasion, Pradhan said the MoU, signed in the lead-up to the India–AI Impact Summit 2026, reflects the concrete steps being taken under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to position India as a global AI leader. He described artificial intelligence as a key enabler for people, progress and the planet, and emphasised that India’s AI leadership would be driven not just by technology, but by strong institutions and human capital.
The Minister appreciated the philanthropic contribution of the Tandon family, noting that the initiative strengthens the tradition of alumni giving back to their alma mater. He said the new School would play a critical role in boosting India’s AI capabilities, democratising access to AI, generating global employment opportunities from India, and leveraging AI for social good.
The Krishnamurthy Tandon School of Artificial Intelligence, envisioned as a pioneering AI school within a management institute, will operate at the intersection of technology, management and public impact. With a strong global orientation, it will focus on applying AI to address India’s complex and large-scale challenges in a responsible and effective manner.
Anchored in IIMA’s legacy of leadership, governance and institution-building, the School aims to influence how AI is developed, deployed and governed to create long-term business and societal value. It will serve as an extension of IIMA’s mission to advance management education in an increasingly AI-driven world.
Envisioned as a hub for business-focused and translational AI, the School will bring together faculty, industry leaders, policymakers and global partners. Its research will be application-led and case-based, translating cutting-edge AI research into deployable solutions, tools and scalable systems across industry, government and society.
Secretary, Department of Higher Education Dr. Vineet Joshi, IIMA Director Prof. Bharat Bhasker, Joint Secretary (Higher Education) Shri Purnendu Banerjee, and senior ministry officials were present at the event.
