2026: The Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA) today exchanged a
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Ms. Chandrika Krishnamurthy Tandon and Mr.
Ranjan Tandon for the establishment of the Krishnamurthy Tandon School of Artificial
Intelligence at IIMA. The MoU was exchanged in the esteemed presence of Shri Dharmendra
Pradhan, Union Minister of Education, Government of India, in New Delhi, and Ambassador
Shri Vinay Kwatra virtually in the USA.
The School will be established through a generous endowment of ₹100 crore by Ms. Chandrika
Krishnamurthy Tandon, an alumna of IIMA’s PGP Class of 1975, and Mr. Ranjan Tandon.
Speaking on the occasion, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan expressed his happiness to witness the
exchange of the MoU for setting up Krishnamurthy Tandon School of Artificial Intelligence at
IIM Ahmedabad. He said that the MoU in the lead-up to the India—AI Impact Summit 2026 is
a solid reflection of the concrete actions Bharat is taking under the leadership of Prime Minister
Shri Narendra Modi to become a global AI superpower.
Shri Pradhan said that AI will be an enabler for powering people, progress, and planet. India’s AI
leadership will not only be shaped by technology but by the strength of our institutions and
human capital. Hon’ble Minister appreciated Chandrika Krishnamurthy Tandon ji, a proud
alumna of IIM Ahmedabad, and her husband Ranjan Tandon ji for their benevolent gesture of
setting up this AI school with an endowment fund of ₹100 crore. This philanthropic initiative
sets and strengthens a fine tradition of alumni giving back to their alma mater.
He stated that Krishnamurthy Tandon School of Artificial Intelligence will work towards
boosting India’s AI capabilities, democratising AI, creating jobs from India for the global AI
economy, harnessing AI for creating a global impact in improving lives and advancing social
good, as envisioned by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji.
As a pioneering School of Artificial Intelligence housed within a management institute in India,
the Krishnamurthy Tandon School of Artificial Intelligence will operate 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 AI.
Anchored in IIMA’s long-standing legacy of leadership, governance, and institution-building, the
School aims to shape how artificial intelligence is developed, deployed, and governed to create
enduring business and societal value. It will serve as a natural extension of IIMA’s mission to
advance the future of management education in an increasingly AI-driven world.
Envisioned as a hub for business-focused and translational AI, the School will bring together
world-class faculty, industry leaders, policymakers, and global partners to redefine the frontiers
of AI research and application. Its research agenda will be application-led and case-based, rooted
in real-world managerial, institutional, and societal challenges. The School will focus on
translating cutting-edge AI research into deployable solutions, tools, frameworks, and scalable
systems that enhance decision-making, improve productivity, and address complex challenges
across industry, government, and society.
Secretary, Department of Higher Education, Dr Vineet Joshi; Prof. Bharat Bhasker, Director,
Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad, Joint Secretary, Higher Education, Shri Purnendu
Banerjee, and senior officials of the ministry and IIMA were also present on the occasion.
Sharing his thoughts on this landmark partnership, Prof. Bharat Bhasker, Director,
IIMA, said, “The world is at an unprecedented inflection point where data and artificial
intelligence are reshaping how businesses think, decide, and grow. At IIM Ahmedabad, we are
committed to building leaders who stay ahead of the curve and can harness these technologies to
make strategic decisions, drive innovation, and create greater impact. We are grateful to Ms.
Chandrika Krishnamurthy Tandon and Mr. Ranjan Tandon for their generous contribution,
which reflects their deep commitment to advancing education, institution-building, and the
responsible application of artificial intelligence for societal good. Through its focus on
translational AI, management-anchored research, and cross-sector partnerships, the
Krishnamurthy Tandon School of AI will make a meaningful contribution to business and
society, setting a global benchmark for AI research aligned with real-world impact.”
Sharing her motivation behind establishing the School at IIMA, Ms. Chandrika
Krishnamurthy Tandon, said, “It is an honour and privilege to be able to contribute to my
beloved alma mater, IIMA, in such a pivotal area – one that I believe will redefine business and
society in the years to come. I hope the Krishnamurthy Tandon School of Artificial Intelligence
will allow us to train a new generation of far-thinking visionary leaders and help India address
some of the most significant needs using the best technology and minds. Many of these lessons
and learning will also be relevant to the world. It promises to be an exciting journey ahead.”
Ms. Chandrika Krishnamurthy Tandon is a distinguished business leader, philanthropist, and
global advocate for education and the arts. An alumna of IIM Ahmedabad (PGP 1975) and
former partner of McKinsey, she is the founder of Tandon Capital Associates, a firm focused on
strategic advisory and investment. She is also an internationally acclaimed Grammy®-
Award–winning musician, and her philanthropic work spans education, culture, and institutional
development across the world. She is a trustee of New York University (NYU) and has served
on the board of many schools and institutions, including NYU Stern and the NYU Langone
Health system. She established the Tandon School of Engineering at NYU, where she served as
Chair of the Board until December 2025, as well as the Boyd Tandon School of Business at
Madras Christian College, Chennai. Mr. Ranjan Tandon, an IIT Kanpur and Harvard Business
School alumnus, is the founder and chairman of Libra Advisors and manages the Tandon family
office. The Tandons have established faculty chairs and programs at Harvard Business School,
Yale University, and the Berklee College of Music.