IIM-Bangalore Surpasses IIM Ahmedabad, Secures 28th Rank in FT Master’s in Management Rankings 2025

A Historic Moment for Indian Management Education

The Financial Times (FT) Master’s in Management (MiM) Rankings 2025 have brought a wave of recognition for India’s management education ecosystem. In a remarkable achievement, the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIMB) secured the 28th spot globally, emerging as the top-ranked Indian business school in the prestigious global rankings. The achievement is particularly significant as IIMB outperformed its long-standing peer, the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA), which has traditionally dominated both national and international rankings.

How Indian B-Schools Performed in 2025

IIM Bangalore’s leap to the 28th position is a strong improvement compared to last year’s 41st rank. On the other hand, IIM Ahmedabad was ranked 34th this year, despite being placed as India’s No. 1 management institute in the NIRF 2025 rankings.

Other Indian institutions also made their presence felt on the global list, underlining the growing global recognition of Indian management education:

• SP Jain Institute of Management & Research (SPJIMR), Mumbai – 35th
• IIM Calcutta – 41st
• IIM Lucknow – 57th
• XLRI – Xavier School of Management, Jamshedpur – 58th
• IIM Kozhikode – 69th
• Management Development Institute (MDI), Gurgaon – 72nd
• IIM Indore – 81st
• IIM Udaipur – 98th
• International Management Institute (IMI), Delhi – 99th

With 11 Indian business schools featuring in the top 100, India has cemented its place as one of the leading global hubs for management education.

Top 10 Business Schools Globally

The 2025 rankings also showcased interesting global trends. Notably, no U.S. business school made it to the top 10, a sharp departure from earlier years. Instead, institutions from Europe and Asia dominated, particularly from France and China.

Here are the world’s top 10 business schools in the FT MiM Rankings 2025:

1. University of St Gallen (Switzerland)
2. HEC Paris (France)
3. INSEAD (France/Singapore)
4. Tsinghua University School of Economics and Management (China)
5. Nova School of Business and Economics (Portugal)
6. Shanghai Jiao Tong University: Antai (China)
7. ESCP Business School (France)
8. Tongji University School of Economics and Management (China)
9. Stockholm School of Economics (Sweden)
10. London Business School (UK)

With four French and four Chinese institutions in the top 10, the dominance of these two countries reflects shifting trends in global management education.

IIM Bangalore’s Perspective

In response to the achievement, Professor U. Dinesh Kumar, Director In-charge of IIMB, expressed pride in the institution’s recognition. He stated:

“IIMB benchmarks its curriculum and impact through research against the best in the world to ensure that its students play a decisive role in addressing complex global challenges. The FT MiM ranking reaffirms our promise of delivering a transformational experience that leaves a lasting impact on students, practitioners, industries, and society.”

This statement underscores IIM Bangalore’s focus on academic excellence, impactful research, and global relevance, which collectively contributed to its improved ranking.

FT Ranking Highlights: A Year-on-Year Comparison

The 2025 rankings mark a notable improvement for several Indian B-schools compared to their 2024 positions. Last year, SPJIMR led the Indian cohort at the 35th spot, while IIM Ahmedabad was at 39th, IIM Bangalore at 41st, and IIM Lucknow at 55th.

• IIM Bangalore moved up 13 places (41 → 28)
• IIM Ahmedabad climbed five places (39 → 34)
• SPJIMR retained its 35th position
• IIM Calcutta secured 41st place, consistent with its international standing
   

This upward movement highlights the increasing global recognition of Indian B-schools, particularly for their ability to adapt curricula, strengthen industry linkages, and focus on research with global impact.

Why the Rankings Matter

The FT Master’s in Management Rankings are among the most respected global indicators of quality in management education. They evaluate institutions across multiple parameters, including:

• Diversity of students and faculty
• Global mobility of graduates
• Quality of academic research
• International career opportunities for alumni
• Value for money of the program

For Indian institutions, a strong performance in these rankings not only boosts global visibility but also enhances their ability to attract international students, faculty, and partnerships.

Global Trends: Europe and Asia Take the Lead

A striking observation in this year’s list is the absence of U.S. business schools from the top 10. Instead, Europe and Asia have emerged as the dominant regions.

• France continues to be a powerhouse of management education, with institutions like HEC Paris, INSEAD, and ESCP consistently ranked among the best.
• China’s rise is particularly noteworthy, with institutions like Tsinghua, Shanghai Jiao Tong, and Tongji University making it to the top 10, reflecting the country’s investments in higher education and research.

For India, this global trend represents both a challenge and an opportunity. While Chinese institutions are scaling global heights rapidly, Indian B-schools are also climbing steadily, with IIMB’s 28th rank being the best-ever performance by an Indian institute so far.

The Road Ahead for Indian B-Schools

The strong showing of Indian management schools in the FT MiM Rankings 2025 is a testimony to their growing international competitiveness. However, experts believe that sustained focus will be required in areas such as:

• Global research collaborations
• Enhanced faculty diversity
• International student intake
• Stronger alumni networks abroad

As Indian B-schools continue to expand their footprint, the goal will be not just to feature in the top 100, but to consistently break into the top 20 globally.

Conclusion

The 28th global rank for IIM Bangalore is a defining moment in India’s management education journey. Surpassing IIM Ahmedabad, long regarded as the country’s premier institute, underscores the competitive spirit among Indian B-schools to achieve excellence on the world stage.