IIM Sirmaur’s Ninth Annual Convocation

The 9th Convocation of IIM Sirmaur was held today, April 26th, 2025, at the permanent campus of IIM Sirmaur in Dhaula Kuan. Shri Vipin Sondhi, Chair, National Board for Quality Promotion & Chairman, CII Green Mobility Council, graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. Hon’ble Chairperson of Board of Governors (BoG), Shri Ajay S. Shriram, presided over the ceremony.
The ceremony began with the academic procession. After declaring the convocation open, Shri Ajay S. Shriram, Chairperson of BoG, addressing the audience, spoke about the Indian and global business environment and the resilience and growth of Indian businesses. He inspired students to come up with new ideas quickly and move with an open mind to position the businesses for resilience and growth.
Professor Prafulla Y. Agnihotri, Director, IIM Sirmaur, presented the Institute’s annual report, highlighting the milestones achieved by faculty, staff, and students over the past year. IIM Sirmaur currently offers six full-time programmes. This year, it launched a one-year, full-time program specializing in Advanced Manufacturing Management in collaboration with RWTH Aachen, Germany. The Institute also launched an MBA in Tourism and Hospitality Management (TTHM) in partnership with two leading universities in Mauritius and introduced its first Bachelor’s programme — the Bachelor of Management Studies.
He highlighted the Institute’s internationalization efforts, noting that IIM Sirmaur signed six MoUs this year with leading institutions, including RWTH Aachen University, Germany; emlyon Business School, France; Saint Marie De Chavagnes, France; University of Mauritius; University of Technology, Mauritius; and the Ministry of Tertiary Education, Science and Research of the Republic of Mauritius.
As of today, 92.5% of the construction of the campus has been completed at a cost of Rs. 316 crores. A major milestone this year was the shift to the permanent campus in July 2024 after receiving all statutory approvals from the relevant government departments.
IIM Sirmaur believes in the holistic development of its students and encourages their participation in national and international competitions. It positions itself as a strategic partner to industry, actively engaging with corporate houses, public sector undertakings (PSUs), and government ministries through its Management Development Programmes (MDPs). During the academic year 2024-25, the Institute organized and conducted 14 MDPs, spanning over seventy days. It also undertook three consultancy projects, collaborating with organizations to provide expert insights, strategic solutions, and data-driven recommendations. Expanding its Long Duration Programmes (LDPs), IIM Sirmaur successfully launched the first batch of the Executive MBA (EMBA) and Executive MBA in Digital Transformation and Analytics (EMBA-DTA) programmes in April 2024. It is also introducing two new Post Graduate Diploma Programs in collaboration with the National Stock Exchange (NSE) Academy, providing specialized knowledge in financial markets, investment strategies, and risk management.
Summer Placement this year saw participation from a record 202 companies for a batch of 298 students, with students interning with leading companies in India such as Accenture, EY, ICICI Bank, HDFC Life, Tech Mahindra, and Varun Beverages Ltd. For final placements, around 150 companies visited the campus.
The Director concluded his address by speaking directly to the graduating students, wishing them all the very best and reminding them of their social responsibility. He said, “There are many deserving students who cannot dream of getting higher education despite not lacking in abilities. Always remember that you carry a responsibility on your shoulder to maintain the dignity and honor of your education. Remember you owe a lot to the society and be aware of your social responsibility.”
During the last financial year, the Institute signed several MoUs with various organizations. Notably, it partnered with the Department of Panchayati Raj, Government of Himachal Pradesh, to provide capacity building and training support for the three tiers of governance in Himachal Pradesh. Another significant MoU was signed with the Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy (IGNFA) to provide management training for Probationary Indian Forest Service Officers. Additional MoUs were signed with THDC India Ltd, HCL Technologies Limited, and the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC).
Shri Ajay S. Shriram, Chairman, Board of Governors, awarded MBA degrees to the graduating students. Families of the graduating students were also present at the occasion. A total of 295 students graduated this year — 250 students were conferred the degree of Master of Business Administration (MBA), and 45 students received the Master of Business Administration in Tourism Management (MBA Tourism Management). Among the graduating students were 75 female students. Shri Mohit Garg received the Chairman’s Gold Medal for MBA, and the Director’s Medal was awarded to Shri Patel Pavan Sandeep. Shri Nischal Jain and Shri Gaurav Bhatt received gold medals as toppers in Finance and Marketing areas, respectively, and Shri Bratin Sarkar received the gold medal for best academic performance in the MBA Tourism Management Programme.
Shri Vipin Sondhi delivered the graduation commencement address. Congratulating the students on their meaningful day, he emphasized that convocation is “not just the close of a chapter but the beginning of a new one,” and highlighted the silent support of the parents in this journey. He encouraged students to learn faster and grow deeper, emphasizing that good education teaches a person how to ask good questions.
He shared five important lessons for the graduating students as they write their unique life scripts. First, head or heart — it’s your script, and yours alone to write. Second, go to the source of the problem. Third, find your mirror — someone who will tell you the truth with perspective and be your cheerleader. Fourth, be an apprentice — listen more than you speak, own your mistakes, and guard your integrity fearlessly. Fifth, build a culture of excellence and trust. Quoting Jacob Bronowski, he said, “Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection, we can catch excellence.” He reminded the students that management is not just about models and margins but about people, society, and ethics. He urged them to lead with empathy, intelligence, and ethics, and to live their lives with gratitude. Citing Roger Federer’s example, he concluded by saying, “you don’t have to win every point.”
The event concluded with an atmosphere of pride, hope, and celebration as students, parents, faculty, and staff came together to mark a significant milestone in the journey of IIM Sirmaur. With its growing legacy of academic excellence and commitment to nurturing responsible leaders, IIM Sirmaur continues to stride confidently into the future, remaining steadfast in its vision of shaping leaders who will drive positive change and contribute meaningfully to nation-building.