MoU Signed to Establish School of Artificial Intelligence at IIM Ahmedabad

The Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA) on Thursday signed an MoU with Ms. Chandrika Krishnamurthy Tandon and Mr. Ranjan Tandon for setting up the Krishnamurthy Tandon School of Artificial Intelligence at IIM Ahmedabad.

The MoU was exchanged in New Delhi in the presence of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. India’s Ambassador to the United States, Mr. Vinay Kwatra, joined the event virtually. The school will be established through a donation of ₹100 crore by Chandrika Krishnamurthy Tandon, an alumna of IIM Ahmedabad’s PGP Class of 1975 and her husband Ranjan Tandon.

Speaking on the occasion, Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said that the MoU represents a concrete step towards making India a global leader in artificial intelligence under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He described artificial intelligence as a key enabler for people, development and the environment and emphasised that India’s leadership in AI will be driven not only by technology but also by strong institutions and skilled human resources.

The Minister appreciated the philanthropic contribution of the Tandon family and said that the initiative strengthens the tradition of alumni giving back to their alma mater. He added that the new AI school will play an important role in enhancing India’s AI capabilities, democratising access to AI, creating global employment opportunities and using AI for social good.

The Krishnamurthy Tandon School of Artificial Intelligence will be developed as a leading AI school under IIM Ahmedabad. It will work at the intersection of technology, management and public interest. With a global outlook, the institution will focus on the responsible and effective use of artificial intelligence to address India’s complex and large-scale challenges.

Building on IIM Ahmedabad’s strong legacy of leadership, management and institution-building, the school aims to influence the development, deployment and governance of artificial intelligence to create long-term business and social value. This initiative will further strengthen IIMA’s mission of advancing management education in an AI-driven world.

The school is envisioned as a centre for business-focused and applied AI. It will bring together faculty members, industry leaders, policymakers and global partners. Research at the school will be application-oriented and case-based, translating cutting-edge AI research into practical solutions, tools and scalable systems for industry, government and society.

The event was attended by Secretary of the Department of Higher Education Dr. Vineet Joshi, IIM Ahmedabad Director Professor Bharat Bhasker, Joint Secretary (Higher Education) Mr. Purnendu Banerjee and senior officials from the Ministry of Education.