New Delhi: The Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA) has exchanged a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Chandrika Krishnamurthy Tandon and Ranjan Tandon for the establishment of the Krishnamurthy Tandon School of Artificial Intelligence at IIM Ahmedabad.
The MoU exchange took place in New Delhi in the presence of Dharmendra Pradhan, Union Minister of Education, Government of India, and Ambassador Vinay Kwatra, who joined virtually from the United States.
The Krishnamurthy Tandon School of Artificial Intelligence will be established through an endowment of ₹100 crore contributed by Chandrika Krishnamurthy Tandon, an alumna of IIMA’s PGP Class of 1975, and her husband Ranjan Tandon.
Speaking on the occasion, Dharmendra Pradhan expressed his happiness at witnessing the exchange of the MoU for setting up the Krishnamurthy Tandon School of Artificial Intelligence at IIM Ahmedabad.
He said the initiative, announced in the lead-up to the India AI Impact Summit 2026, reflects the concrete steps being taken by India under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to emerge as a global AI power.
Also Read: AI Edge for Viksit Bharat: PwC India Maps $550 Billion AI Opportunity Across Five Key Sectors
The Union Minister stated that artificial intelligence will act as an enabler for people, progress, and the planet, adding that India’s leadership in AI will be shaped not only by technological advancement but also by the strength of its institutions and human capital.
He appreciated Chandrika Krishnamurthy Tandon, a distinguished alumna of IIM Ahmedabad, and Ranjan Tandon for their philanthropic contribution towards establishing the AI school with an endowment of ₹100 crore, noting that the initiative reinforces the tradition of alumni giving back to their alma mater.
He further said that the Krishnamurthy Tandon School of Artificial Intelligence will contribute to strengthening India’s AI ecosystem by promoting inclusive access to AI, enabling job creation from India for the global AI economy, and leveraging AI to improve lives and advance social good, in line with the Prime Minister’s vision.
Krishnamurthy Tandon School of Artificial Intelligence to Strengthen India’s AI Capabilities
As a pioneering School of Artificial Intelligence housed within a management institute in India, the Krishnamurthy Tandon School of Artificial Intelligence will function at the intersection of technology, management, and public impact.
With a strong global outlook, the School will focus on addressing India’s unique and complex challenges through the responsible and effective application of artificial intelligence.
Anchored in IIMA’s legacy of leadership, governance, and institution-building, the School aims to influence how AI is developed, deployed, and governed to create long-term business and societal value.
It is positioned as an extension of IIMA’s mission to advance management education in an increasingly AI-driven world.
Also Read: LinkedIn Jobs on the Rise 2026: AI Engineer Fastest-Growing Role in Pune
Envisioned as a hub for business-focused and translational AI, the Krishnamurthy Tandon School of Artificial Intelligence will bring together faculty, industry leaders, policymakers, and global partners.
Its research agenda will be application-led and case-based, focused on translating AI research into deployable solutions, tools, frameworks, and scalable systems to support decision-making, productivity, and problem-solving across industry, government, and society.
Senior officials present at the event included Dr Vineet Joshi, Secretary, Department of Higher Education; Prof Bharat Bhasker, Director, IIM Ahmedabad; Purnendu Banerjee, Joint Secretary, Higher Education; and other officials from the Ministry of Education.
