IIM Ahmedabad Launches Krishnamurthy Tandon School of Artificial Intelligence with ₹100 Crore Endowment

The Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA) has taken a significant leap toward positioning itself as a global hub for artificial intelligence (AI) research and application. On Thursday, the institute signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Ms. Chandrika Krishnamurthy Tandon and Mr. Ranjan Tandon to establish the Krishnamurthy Tandon School of Artificial Intelligence at IIMA.

The MoU signing ceremony took place in New Delhi, with Union Minister for Education Dharmendra Pradhan in attendance, while Ambassador Vinay Kwatra joined virtually from the United States. The new School will be funded 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.

A Milestone in India’s AI Journey

Speaking on the occasion, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan highlighted that the MoU represents a concrete step toward making India a global AI leader, ahead of the India–AI Impact Summit 2026. He emphasized that artificial intelligence is not just a technological tool but a key enabler for people, progress, and the planet.

“The leadership of India in AI will be driven not only by technology but by robust institutions and human capital,” Pradhan said. He also appreciated the philanthropic contribution of the Tandon family, noting that it strengthens the tradition of alumni giving back to their alma mater.

According to the Minister, the new School is expected to:

• Boost India’s AI capabilities at the national and global level.
• Democratize access to AI, making advanced knowledge available to diverse segments of society.
• Generate global employment opportunities from India’s growing AI ecosystem.
• Leverage AI for social good, addressing challenges in healthcare, education, governance, and more.

Vision and Mission of the Krishnamurthy Tandon School of AI

The Krishnamurthy Tandon School of Artificial Intelligence is envisioned as a pioneering AI school within a management institute, operating at the intersection of technology, management, and public impact. Its objectives are to address India’s complex and large-scale challenges in a responsible and effective manner while maintaining a strong global orientation.

Anchored in IIMA’s legacy of leadership, governance, and institution-building, the School aims to:

• Influence how AI is developed, deployed, and governed for long-term business and societal value.
• Extend IIMA’s mission to advance management education in an AI-driven world.
• Create a hub for business-focused and translational AI, bridging research with real-world applications.

The School will serve as a platform where faculty, industry leaders, policymakers, and global partners collaborate to translate cutting-edge AI research into deployable solutions, tools, and scalable systems across industry, government, and society.

Focus on Application-Led, Case-Based Research

Unlike traditional AI programs focused solely on theory, the Krishnamurthy Tandon School of AI will emphasize application-led research. By leveraging IIMA’s management expertise, the School will integrate case-based learning and real-world problem-solving to produce AI solutions that are scalable, ethical, and socially impactful.

Some of the anticipated focus areas include:

• AI for social and public good, addressing healthcare, education, and infrastructure challenges.
• Development of AI tools for industry optimization, supply chain management, and predictive analytics.
• Policy-focused AI research to guide governance frameworks and responsible AI deployment.
• Training programs to prepare the next generation of AI leaders with both technical and managerial skills.

Through this approach, the School will not only foster academic excellence but also ensure that research has practical applications that directly benefit society and the economy.

A Global and Collaborative Approach

The Krishnamurthy Tandon School of AI will have a strong global orientation, with collaboration opportunities for international faculty, researchers, and institutions. By bringing together expertise from across sectors and geographies, the School aims to create an ecosystem where innovation, research, and policy intersect.

This global approach ensures that the School’s AI solutions are not only locally relevant but also internationally competitive, positioning India as a significant contributor to the global AI landscape.

Leadership and Institutional Support

The establishment of the School reflects IIMA’s continued focus on building world-class institutions. Present at the MoU exchange were senior officials from the Ministry of Education, including:

• Dr. Vineet Joshi, Secretary, Department of Higher Education
• Prof. Bharat Bhasker, Director, IIMA
• Shri Purnendu Banerjee, Joint Secretary (Higher Education)
• Other senior ministry officials

The involvement of high-level government officials underscores the importance of the School in India’s national AI strategy, ensuring institutional support, policy alignment, and collaboration with government initiatives.

Alumni Contribution: Giving Back to Alma Mater

The ₹100 crore endowment by Ms. Chandrika Krishnamurthy Tandon and Mr. Ranjan Tandon highlights the role of alumni philanthropy in shaping higher education in India. Alumni contributions like these strengthen institutions financially and academically, enabling them to undertake long-term, transformative initiatives.

The Tandon family’s endowment will provide the School with resources to:

• Build state-of-the-art infrastructure for AI research and education.
• Attract global faculty and visiting researchers.
• Offer scholarships and financial support for students pursuing AI and management education.
• Organize workshops, conferences, and summits to promote knowledge exchange.

Strategic Significance

The Krishnamurthy Tandon School of AI is expected to play a critical role in India’s AI ecosystem. By bridging technology, management, and societal impact, the School will:

• Develop AI solutions that address India’s unique challenges, including healthcare, agriculture, governance, and infrastructure.
• Train professionals who are capable of leading AI initiatives responsibly and ethically.
• Support India’s ambition to become a global leader in AI research and innovation.
• Encourage entrepreneurship and industry collaboration in emerging AI technologies.

By embedding AI research in a management institute like IIMA, the School ensures that technology and business strategy go hand-in-hand, producing leaders who understand both technical and organizational dimensions of AI deployment.

Conclusion

The establishment of the Krishnamurthy Tandon School of Artificial Intelligence at IIM Ahmedabad marks a milestone in India’s AI journey. With a ₹100 crore endowment and a clear focus on applied, responsible, and globally-oriented AI research, the School is set to become a pioneering hub for education, research, and innovation.

Anchored in IIMA’s strong institutional legacy, the School will prepare students, researchers, and policymakers to harness AI for business, societal, and public impact. By integrating technology, management, and public good, it represents a forward-looking model for AI education in India and globally.

The partnership between IIMA and the Tandon family demonstrates how alumni philanthropy, institutional vision, and government support can come together to create transformative educational initiatives. The School is poised to train the next generation of AI leaders and contribute meaningfully to India’s vision of becoming a global AI powerhouse.