August 12, 2025

India’s elite business schools are cooking up a fresh recipe for success! Today, more than half of MBA students at top IIMs are coming from non-engineering backgrounds. This means folks from commerce, humanities, and arts are taking center stage, breaking the old trend where engineers ruled the roost. At IIM-Indore, the 2025-27 flagship MBA batch boasts just over 55% students from non-engineering streams. The numbers are just as spicy at IIM-Lucknow with nearly 53%, and IIM-Ahmedabad proudly has about half their batch as non-engineers. This big change has happened quickly, over just a few years. Why this sudden switch? Experts point to changing wishes from companies. It's not just about tech or engineering now. Firms want people who can think critically, create fresh ideas, communicate beautifully, and handle emotions smartly. These skills are gold in today’s corporate world. IIM-Indore director Himanshu Rai shares, "At IIM-Indore, representation of non-engineers has risen steadily over five years." He adds a fascinating detail: "In the 2025-27 postgraduate programme, there are 179 women and 91 men from non-engineering streams, outnumbering engineers." Earlier batches had smaller shares of non-engineers, starting at about 41% in 2021-23 and moving up steadily. At IIM-Ahmedabad, the change has been rapid and impressive. Director Bharat Bhasker explains, "The institute began introducing academic categories about a decade ago to ensure diversity." He also points out, "An increase in applications from non-engineers has led to a healthy balance in classrooms." IIM-Lucknow’s story is equally exciting. Out of 507 MBA students in their 2025-27 batch, 268 hail from non-engineering fields. Director MP Gupta notes, "Commerce-related courses have attracted the most students." This upbeat trend shows a major makeover in India’s business education. Top B-schools are rolling with the punches, crafting leaders not just with tech skills but with a rich mix of talents. After all, the future of business is bright when diverse minds come together!

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Tags: Iims, Mba students, Non-engineering, Business schools, Corporate demand, Diversity in education,