Chandrakant Patil, Ashish Shelar, Shekhar Bajaj and Ajay Piramal
during the inaugural ceremony of diamond jubilee celebration of
Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies, at Mumbai University
Fort campus | Photo Credits: Salman Ansari
Mumbai: The prestigious Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies (JBIMS), a pioneer in management education in India and a constituent of the University of Mumbai (MU), is poised to become a deemed university, Maharashtra’s Minister of Higher and Technical Education, Chandrakant Patil, announced during the institute’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations on Saturday.
“Once JBIMS is granted the status of a deemed-to-be university, students from across the globe will be able to pursue world-class management education right here in Mumbai,” Patil said while addressing a packed gathering at the Sir Cowasji Jehangir Convocation Hall of the University of Mumbai.
Photo Credits: Salman Ansari
“A one-member committee led by industrialist and JBIMS alumnus Ajay Piramal will oversee the transition. The government will extend full support in this transformation,” Patil added.
Widely known as a “CEO Factory” for producing some of the highest number of corporate leaders in the country, JBIMS marked 60 years of excellence in management education with a grand ceremony attended by distinguished guests from academia, government, industry and alumni networks from India and abroad.
Photo Credits: Salman Ansari
Alongside Patil, the event was graced by Maharashtra’s Minister of Information Technology and Cultural Affairs Ashish Shelar, industrialists Shekhar Bajaj and Ajay Piramal, MU Vice-Chancellor Prof Ravindra Kulkarni, Pro-Vice Chancellor Dr Ajay Bhamre, Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Mumbai Director Dr Manoj Tiwari, Registrar Dr Prasad Karande, and JBIMS Director Prof Kavita Laghate.
Applauding JBIMS’s contribution to India’s academic and corporate landscape, Shelar said, “This Diamond Jubilee is not the culmination, but a new beginning for JBIMS. As India rapidly moves towards becoming the third-largest economy globally, our management institutions must combine technological innovation with academic rigour. JBIMS must lead the way in creating global leaders ready to meet the challenges of a rapidly evolving economy.”
Industrialist Ajay Piramal, a 1977 batch alumnus of JBIMS, reiterated the institute’s legacy and called for its recognition as an independent university. “JBIMS has produced the highest number of CEOs in the country. Its impact is on par with institutions like the Reserve Bank of India, SEBI and NSE, which are headquartered in Mumbai,” said Piramal. “The university status will not only give JBIMS the freedom to innovate but will also enhance its ability to attract top talent globally.”
MU Vice-Chancellor, Prof Kulkarni, reflected on the institute’s six-decade-long journey and hinted at its future direction. “Since 1965, JBIMS has upheld its reputation for academic excellence. It has shaped India’s corporate world. Going forward, the institute will focus on emerging sectors, with special emphasis on innovation, entrepreneurship, and deep-tech startups,” he said.
“For the alumni, students and faculty alike, the long-awaited university status is the fulfilment of a shared aspiration,” he added.
Established in 1965, JBIMS has built a stellar reputation for nurturing generations of business leaders, thinkers, and innovators. The transition to a university is expected to further empower the institute with academic autonomy, enable curriculum modernisation, and elevate its standing on the global education stage.
“To equip our students with the necessary skills to succeed in the global market, this institution is committed to upholding its tradition of excellence,” said Prof Laghate. “In conjunction with the Diamond Jubilee celebrations, we will be organising a range of seminars, workshops, alumni meets and industry dialogues throughout the year,” the JBIMS director added.
