Rising salaries at IIM Ahmedabad’s MBA-PGP signal persistent demand for premium management talent despite economic caution.

The Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA) has reported that the mean salary for its flagship MBA-PGP batch of 2025 reached Rs 35.5 lakh per annum, with the median at Rs 34.59 lakh. The figures, released in the institute’s audited placement report, were reported by The Hindu BusinessLine.

IIMA said the figures are based on Maximum Earning Potential (MEP) — a measure of first-year cash compensation — rather than Cost to Company (CTC). According to the institute, the use of MEP offers a more accurate picture of take-home pay.

Professor Viswanath Pingali, chairperson of placements at IIMA, said in an official statement that the outcomes highlight employer confidence. “It is encouraging to see recruiters placing faith in IIMA graduates even in a challenging business environment. We focus on recruiter–recruitee fit and ensure each student secures a job aligned with their aspirations. Our audited placement report, verified by a third party, reflects the highest standards of transparency and integrity,” he said. 

Atharva Kapadnis, Recruitment Secretary for the MBA-PGP 2025 cohort, added that the placement success stemmed from careful matching of students with recruiters. “Students had full flexibility to explore multiple opportunities, even after securing offers, ensuring the best possible outcomes for their careers,” he told BusinessLine.

The placement outcomes are a signal for senior leaders about the premium employers continue to place on high-potential management talent. Even as many firms tighten hiring budgets, consulting majors, investment banks and global corporates are prepared to offer salaries upwards of Rs 35 lakh for IIM Ahmedabad graduates.

Founded in 1961, IIM Ahmedabad is consistently ranked among the world’s top business schools. It placed first in India in the NIRF 2025 rankings and features prominently in the Financial Times Global MBA and Masters in Management lists. The audited placement reports from IIMA, verified independently, have become a benchmark for salary reporting in Indian management education.

For employers, the results reaffirm the need to align compensation strategies with rising benchmarks at elite schools. With a mean package of Rs 35.5 lakh, companies are sending a clear message that they will continue to back premium talent, even as they cut costs in other areas.

Forward-looking signals

For CHROs, the data has three implications:

• Salary expectations for top-tier MBA graduates are moving higher, setting new benchmarks in India’s management talent market.
  
• Competition for leadership-track talent remains intense, particularly from consulting and finance.
  
• Transparency in reporting — with IIMA’s use of MEP — may push recruiters to rethink how they frame compensation packages.
  

Despite the broader slowdown, the 2025 IIMA placement cycle suggests that high-quality management graduates remain a seller’s market. For companies, this means balancing cost control with strategic investment in future leaders who can steer organisations through uncertain times.

Source : https://www.peoplematters.in/news/recruiting-and-onboarding/top-recruiters-push-iim-ahmedabad-mean-salaries-to-rs-355-lakh-43780