IIM Bangalore Batch Profile 2026-28: IIMB Welcomes 618 Students with a Record 41% Women

IIM Bangalore Batch Profile 2026-28 at a Glance
The IIM Bangalore Batch Profile 2026-28 confirms a cohort of 618 students across the PGP and PGPBA programmes, inaugurated on 8 June 2026. The takeaway is the gender ratio: at 41% women, this is the most diverse incoming class IIMB has ever admitted. The batch is marginally smaller than the 622-student 2025-27 cohort. Here are the key highlights of IIM Bangalore Batch Profile 2026-28:

• Total students: 618 across both two-year MBA programmes

• Programme split: 541 in PGP and 77 in PGP in Business Analytics (PGPBA)

• Gender diversity: 41% women — the highest in IIMB's history

IIM Bangalore Welcomes 618 Students to PGP and PGPBA 2026-28
The IIM Bangalore PGP Batch Profile 2026-28 accounts for 541 of the 618 incoming students, while the PGPBA Batch Profile 2026-28 adds another 77 analytics-focused students. Together, the two two-year full-time programmes form IIMB's flagship MBA intake. The 2026-28 batch size of 618 sits just below the all-time peak of 622 recorded in 2025-27, signalling that IIMB has stabilised its flagship MBA intake at around the 620 mark over the last two admission cycles.

Record 41% Women: IIM Bangalore Gender Diversity Hits a New High
The most significant story in the 2026-28 batch is gender diversity. Women now constitute 41% of the IIMB cohort, the highest share ever recorded at the Institute. This continues a deliberate, multi-year push: IIM Bangalore gender diversity stood at over 30% for the 2023-25 batch, rose to 40% in 2024-26 (then described as the highest in 18 years), and has now crossed the 40% threshold to set a fresh record. For a top-tier IIM, a 41% female cohort marks a structural shift towards balanced classrooms and is among the strongest gender-diversity figures across India's older IIMs.

IIM Bangalore Batch Profile 2026-28 vs 2025-27: Year-on-Year Comparison
How does the IIM Bangalore Batch Profile 2026-28 compare with last year's cohort? The 2025-27 batch remains IIMB's largest ever at 622 students. The 2026-28 batch is four students smaller at 618, but advances the diversity agenda with a record 41% women. The table below sets out a clean year-on-year comparison of the two batches.

Three-Year Trend: How IIM Bangalore Batches Have Evolved
Viewed across three admission cycles, the IIM Bangalore MBA Batch Profile 2026-28 reflects two consistent trends: a flagship intake settling near 620 students, and steadily rising gender diversity. The batch size grew from 607 in 2024-26 to a peak of 622 in 2025-27, before easing to 618 in 2026-28. Over the same period, women's representation climbed from 40% to a record 41%.

Batch Inauguration by Dr. Mallika Sarabhai 
The IIM Bangalore Batch Profile 2026-28 was formally unveiled at an inauguration programme on 8 June 2026. Padma Bhushan awardee Dr. Mallika Sarabhai, the eminent dancer, activist and communicator, delivered the keynote address as Chief Guest, connecting with the new students through personal experiences shared with warmth and humour. 

The week-long orientation programme ran from 8 June to 14 June 2026, covering interactions with faculty, Deans and Chairpersons, introduction to the programmes, case-analysis sessions and alumni engagement. The concluding day on 14 June included reorientation for the 2025-27 PGP and PGPBA students, felicitation of the 2026 Distinguished Alumni Award (DAA) recipients, and announcement of the Director's Merit and Honours Lists. Senior faculty including Prof. U Dinesh Kumar (Director-in-charge), Prof. Manaswini Bhalla, Prof. Mukta Kulkarni and Prof. Vasanthi Srinivasan addressed the incoming batch.

What IIM Bangalore Batch Profile 2026-28 Means for CAT 2026 Aspirants
For CAT 2026 aspirants targeting IIM admission, the IIM Bangalore Batch Profile 2026-28 offers important signals. A stable flagship intake of around 618-622 PGP and PGPBA seats means competition for one of India's top MBA colleges in India remains intense, while the record 41% female cohort confirms that gender diversity continues to shape selection. Aspirants should read these takeaways alongside their CAT 2026 preparation:

• Seat availability is stable, not expanding sharply: plan your CAT 2026 percentile targets assuming roughly 540 PGP seats at IIMB, in line with the last three batches.

• Diversity weightage matters: with women now at 41%, candidates from under-represented categories should factor diversity points into their admission-call probability.

• PGPBA is a distinct route: the 77-seat Business Analytics programme is a focused option for data-oriented profiles, separate from the flagship PGP.

• Profile quality counts: IIMB consistently emphasises a rigorous, holistic selection process beyond the CAT score, including academic record, work experience and the interview.

Also read: IIM Ahmedabad Batch 2026-28 Profile | IIM Bangalore Overview