16th IMC 2026: Theme, Speakers, Research Conference, Awards, Registration

The 16th Indian Management Conclave (IMC 2026) is scheduled for September 18–19, 2026. Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Lucknow is the Partner for IMC 2026 and shall host at its Noida Campus.

Organized by MBAUniverse.com, IMC is India’s definitive annual platform for management education. It convenes policymakers, global thinkers, corporate leaders, deans, directors, faculty, and researchers on one stage. Over fifteen editions, IMC has shaped the national conversation on curriculum, pedagogy, faculty development, learner outcomes, and the future of the Indian MBA.

The 16th edition carries forward this legacy into what is now the defining theme of our time: Management Education in the Age of Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Welcoming Speakers 
16th IMC 2026 shall be addressed by Policy Makers, Thought-leaders and Academic Leaders from leading B-schools in India and Abroad. Key confirmed speakers are:

Guest of Honour

• Dr V. Anantha Nageswaran, Chief Economic Advisor (CEA), Government of India

International Speakers 

• Dr Stewart Clegg, Management Thinker and Author, University of Sydney, Australia
  Joining Online from Australia
• Dr Dirk Holtbrugge, Dean, International Programs, Friderich Alexander University Germany
  Joining Online from Australia
• Dr Louis David Benyayer, AI Initiatives Head, ESCP Business School France
  Joining Online from France
• Dr Michelle Sisto, Director, EDHEC AI Centre, EDHEC Business School France
  Joining Online from France

Key Speakers     

• Dr M. P. Gupta, Director, IIM Lucknow (Host)
• Dr Rishikesha T. Krishnan, Vice Chancellor, Ashoka University
• Dr Varun Nagaraj, Dean, SPJIMR Mumbai
• Dr Arvind Sahay, Director, MDI Gurgaon
• Dr Rakesh Mohan Joshi, Vice Chancellor, IIFT
• Dr Sanjay Patro, Dean (Academics), XLRI Jamshedpur
• Dr Satyabhusan Dash, Dean, Noida Campus, IIM Lucknow
• Dr Arpan Kar, Endowed Chair Professor, DMS & School of AI, IIT Delhi
• Dr Praveen Ranjan Srivastava, Dean Research, IIM Rohtak

Partial List. Many other Distinguished Speakers to join…

IIM Lucknow: Partner & Host
IMC 2026 is privileged to welcome IIM Lucknow as Partner and Host for the 16th edition. 

The Indian Institute of Management Lucknow is fourth in the prestigious IIM family of management schools to be established in India after IIM Calcutta, IIM Ahmedabad and IIM Bangalore. The Institute was established in the year 1984. The institute undertakes a diverse range of academic activities aimed at creation, dissemination and application of management knowledge and practice. In 2005, IIM Lucknow expanded its area of influence in the realm of management education by becoming the first IIM to set up a satellite campus exclusively for Executive Education at NOIDA in Delhi NCR region.

IMC is grateful to Prof. Manmohan Prasad Gupta, Director, IIM Lucknow, and the institute’s leadership for agreeing to partner and host the 16th edition. 

THE IMC LEGACY: FIFTEEN YEARS OF CONTRIBUTIONS 
IMC was launched in 2010 with a single purpose to provide Indian management education a serious, fact-based, multi-stakeholder platform. At the time, Indian MBA education was expanding rapidly but without a forum where policy, industry, and academia could meet, debate, and co-create solutions. Fifteen editions later, IMC has earned its place as the definitive forum for Indian management education.

Past Chief Guests and High-Level Participation
Two Former Presidents of India have graced IMC as Chief Guests.

• Late Shri Pranab Mukherjee, Former President of India, was Chief Guest at the 10th IMC 2019 in New Delhi, which marked the 10th Anniversary edition.
• Shri Ram Nath Kovind, Former President of India, was Chief Guest at the 12th IMC 2022 at IIM Kozhikode.

Past Host Institutions
IMC has been hosted by India’s most respected business schools. Each host has lent its academic strength to the edition.

• ISB Hyderabad (2015)
• IIM Ahmedabad (2016)
• IIM Lucknow (2017)
• IIM Bangalore (2018)
• MDI Gurgaon (2021)
• IIM Kozhikode (2022)
• SPJIMR Mumbai (2023)
• XLRI Jamshedpur (2024)
• IIFT New Delhi (2025)

IMC 2026: KEY INITIATIVES
Over the last decade, the Indian Management Conclave has evolved into a prestigious platform that hosts many initiatives, each designed to advance a distinct dimension of Indian management education.

1. IMC Conclave: A Policy Platform for Education Leaders
The flagship two-day Conclave convenes policymakers, global thinkers, CXOs, deans, and directors for structured dialogue. Sessions include Inaugural and Valedictory Addresses, Plenaries with CXOs and Thought-leaders, and the IMC Roundtable of Vice Chancellors & Directors.

2. IMC International Research Conference (IMC-IRC)
IMC-IRC is the only research conference in India devoted exclusively to promoting rigorous research in business and management education. Developed in partnership with XLRI Jamshedpur and inaugurated at IMC 2024, IMC-IRC has quickly become a prestigious outlet for scholars working on management learning and education. 

IMC-IRC 2026 has received an outstanding response from India’s management academia. 220 extended abstracts were submitted by scholars from leading B-schools. Following a rigorous, ~90 abstracts accepted for presentation. 

The Call for Papers is now closed. Details on theme, tracks, and submission calendar are available on the dedicated IMC-IRC 2026 portal.

3. IMC Award for Excellence in Management Education
Launched in 2013, the IMC Awards are India’s most credible recognition for Best Practices and successful initiatives in Indian B-schools. Award winners are selected by an independent Jury on the merit of nominated initiatives. IMC Awards have been presented by a Former President of India, Higher Education Secretary, AICTE Chairman, and other senior dignitaries. Award-winning initiatives have been published by McGraw Hill and Pearson. There is no entry fee to participate. Details on theme and submission calendar are available on the dedicated IMC Awards 2026 Portal. 

4. IMC Distinguished Alumni Award (IMC-DAA)
Alumni achievers are the brand-ambassadors for management education. The IMC Distinguished Alumni Award recognises outstanding business leaders who graduated from Indian business schools and are now creating national and global impact.

IMC-DAA 2025 was conferred on Shri Rajesh Agrawal, Commerce Secretary, Ministry of Commerce, Government of India, an IIFT Delhi alumnus. Past recipients include Mr Ravi Kumar S (Global CEO, Cognizant), Mr Ajay Kapur (CEO, Adani Cement), Mr R S Sodhi (Former MD, AMUL) and Mr Krishnakumar Natarajan (Co-founder, Mindtree). 

WHAT TO EXPECT AT IMC 2026
The 16th edition builds on recent conclave themes, focusing on shifts in business value creation models and the evolving nature of work and jobs in the age of AI and disruptive technologies. The broad theme is Reimagining Management Education for the AI Era.

Delegates can expect:

• Keynote Addresses by Thought-leaders from India and abroad.
• Plenary sessions with global deans, policy makers, and industry CXOs.
• The IMC Roundtable of Vice Chancellors & Directors, a dialogue with heads of top Indian B-schools.
• The IMC International Research Conference (IMC-IRC) 2026 with tracks on AI, curriculum, pedagogy, and more.
• Presentation of IMC Awards for Excellence in Management Education 2026.
• Presentation of IMC Distinguished Alumni Award 2026.
• Master Classes and Knowledge Sessions by globally renowned experts.
• Structured networking opportunity with policy, industry, and academic leaders.

Delegate registrations for the 16th IMC 2026 is open. The Conclave is held exclusively in offline, in-person mode at the IIM Lucknow Noida Campus. Prior confirmed registration is mandatory to attend. Registration details are available on the IMC Delegate Registration page.