IIM Bangalore inaugurates 23rd cohort

IIM Bangalore inaugurated the 23rd cohort of the Programme in Public Policy and Management (PGPPM), welcoming 30 participants from both government and non-government backgrounds.

IIM Bangalore inaugurated the 23rd cohort of the PGPPM

IIM Bangalore 23rd Cohort inauguration took place on August 19, 2026. The Cohort program also welcomed the chief guest, faculty, programme representatives, along with the participants. This ceremony marked the beginning of the 14-month master’s program learning journey of the participants, which will take place in hybrid mode. This year's batch has a great combination of experienced people from different sectors, such as healthcare administration, banking, finance, statistical fields, revenue services, and more.

Chief Guest address

Dr. Anjana Dube, Chief Policy Officer, Centre for Public Policy, IIM Bangalore, introduced the Chief Guest, Dr. Sweta C Saxena, former Director, Gender, Poverty and Social Policy Division, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, and asked the participants to try to learn as much as they can from her wise words. Dr. Sweta C Saxena delivered the keynote titled ‘The Pathway from Economic Growth to Human Resilience through the Instrumentality of Public Policy’. Here, she highlighted the role of public policy in economic growth and inclusive development. 

She also reflected on how her research at UNESCAP has shaped the "pro-Planet, pro-People, pro-Profit" and "Lifestyle for Environment (LiFE)”. Dr. Sweta also talked about her field experience in South Sudan, where she worked to stabilise the country’s economy amid an oil revenue dispute in the country. She told the students that they should always be ready for whatever comes in their way and be professionally able to resolve it by using their mental ability and skills.

Core messages from the faculty

• Prof. Arnab Mukherji, Chairperson, PGPPM welcomed the 23rd cohort and reflected on the programme’s cross-cultural evolution.

• Prof. U Dinesh Kumar, Director-in-charge, IIM Bangalore, highlighted the transformative potential of AI in public service delivery and governance.

• Prof. Gopal Naik, Chairperson, Centre for Public Policy (CPP), emphasized the contributions of the institute to public policy education.

The ceremony concluded with a vote of thanks by Archana Srivastava, PGPPM Office. She acknowledged the faculty’s contribution to making the program a success, along with the entire IIM Bangalore team, who helped organise the 23rd PGPPM cohort’s induction.