Mumbai, April 17, 2026: BITS School of Management (BITSoM), established under the aegis of BITS Pilani, an Institution of Eminence, today held its 4th Annual Convocation Ceremony, marking a landmark moment for 157 graduates of the Class of 2026. The ceremony brought together faculty, industry leaders, and families to celebrate the academic achievements, global recognition, and leadership potential of the graduating cohort. The event was graced by Shri Smriti Irani who addressed the graduating students as Chief Guest.
Apply to any top 250 B Schools from one window. Shortlist, save. CLICK
The Class of 2026 reflected BITSoM’s continued commitment to fostering a diverse and inclusive learning community, with 51% women among its graduating students — underscoring the institution’s focus on broad-based representation in business leadership.
Mapping India’s ‘Pricey’ MBA Destinations – Top 10 Private B Schools based on Fees
Addressing the graduating cohort, Shri Kumar Mangalam Birla, Chancellor, BITS Pilani, said: “Class of 2026, we’re moving into an age of abundance, an overwhelming abundance of information, tools, and capability. In a world where everyone has access to intelligence, the advantage will come from something else entirely, who has momentum. It takes three qualities: courage, versatility, and empathy. Courage creates momentum; it gets you moving even before the path is clear. Versatility ensures you are not anchored to what was, but adaptable to what is and what is going to be. Empathy will determine whether others choose to move and work with you. The future most definitely will not be shaped by those who know the most. The future belongs to those who have the courage to choose, the versatility to adapt, and the empathy to connect.”
IIM Admission 2026. MBA Placements, Seat and Fees
Speaking at the ceremony, Shri Smriti Irani, said: “The biggest battle you will fight is the battle within your own mind. Your mind will either be your prison or will give you the power to surge ahead. It depends on you as to how you train your mind. Master your mind before you venture to manage others. Learn faster than the world changes. Learn, relearn, unlearn. For your degree is not the finish line, it is the starting point of the rest of your life’s experiences. Lead with empathy, not only efficiency. As you build your company, your bank balance, build with trust, for that is your greatest currency. For people do not follow titles, they always follow trust. Compete to also grow, not only to win. Compete with discipline, not with desperation. And compete fairly.”
Underscoring BITS Pilani’s institutional growth and impact, Prof V. Ramgopal Rao, Vice Chancellor, BITS Pilani, said: “I urge you to dream big, remain grounded, and carry the BITS legacy with pride, while also strengthening it through your own conduct and accomplishments. Stay connected to this institution, contribute to it, and help it grow, because the greatest institutions are built not only by their leaders but by generations of alumni who continue to believe in them. I congratulate our graduates, their families, and the faculty, staff, and leadership of BITSoM for building a business school of remarkable promise in such a short time. My best wishes to the graduating class for a life of success, purpose, and impact.”
IIM Mumbai Unleashes 505 Future Business Leaders at Its Third Convocation
Commenting on the occasion, Prof Saravanan Kesavan, Dean and Professor of Operations, BITSoM, said: “We live in a strange paradox: our ability to forecast has never been greater, yet the future has never been harder to predict. Black Swan events, from pandemics to geopolitical shifts have become our new baseline. As a professor and researcher of supply chains, I can tell you this – resilience means not just resisting a shock but recovering and thriving after one. My charge to the graduating class: use AI to sharpen your foresight but anchor your soul in resilience. Use technology to manage the expected. Use your character to lead through the unexpected.”
MDI Gurgaon Holds Convocation Ceremony for Graduating Cohort 2025-26
IIM Indore Honors First Graduating Batch of the MMS Programme
Among the highlights of the ceremony, Nanduri V P S Anirudh was named Valedictorian with the best academic performance, and Sushant Khandelwal received the Chancellor’s Award for all Round Excellence. The Chancellor’s Award recognises a student who exemplifies extraordinary leadership, integrity, and commitment to the BITSoM community, with a demonstrated ability to mobilise and energise peers, foster collaboration, and contribute meaningfully to the larger common good. Nine more students were named to the Dean’s Merit List, and nine others received the Excellence Award, recognising outstanding academic performance and overall contribution to the BITSoM community.
During the ceremony, faculty members were also recognised for their outstanding teaching contributions across categories. Prof A. Prabhu Venkatachalam was awarded for excellence in Core Courses, Prof Lil Mohan for Electives, and Prof Ratan Postwala for Winning at the Workplace (WAW) Courses.
The Class of 2026 also distinguished itself on some of the world’s most competitive academic and professional platforms. A team of five — Sreelakshmi M K, Sanklan Chandak, Vedang Poddar, Kartik Sharma, and Ria Jha, claimed victory at the EMI Cornell Corning Case Competition, hosted by Cornell University. Another team comprising Rohak Shah, Akash Bhansali, Aastha Pundhir, Shefali Goyal, and Nishant Hinge was selected among the Top 10 globally at the Harvard Global Case Competition. Adding to these international achievements, Kritika Kotecha was recognised as a Top 100 Essayist at the St. Gallen Symposium and will represent BITSoM in Switzerland.
At the national level, students delivered strong performances across leading competitions, including the Tata Consumer Grow Beyond Better Challenge, BCG Re-DEIsign 2024, Samayra x White Knight – Backwaters 2025, CIPLA Ascend Season 3, TVS Credit E.P.I.C 7.0 – Finance Challenge, Grant Thornton x BizOps, and Lupin x PreQL – The Strategy Lab.
The graduating class steps out of a campus ecosystem that has grown considerably in its reach and vibrancy. Initiatives taken by the students include BITSoM Business Conclave, now in its second edition, has brought together senior leaders from industry and public life for high-impact conversations on AI-powered transformation and leadership. The school’s cultural festival ROAR, alongside experiential learning platforms such as Business Valley and BITS of Wisdom, have further deepened collaboration, innovation, and hands-on learning across campus. As per Media Report.
