Guwahati: After a wait of 17 years, Northeast India has now got approval for a second Indian Institute of Management (IIM). The first one at Shillong was set up in 2007 and the second one will be in Kamrup district of Assam.
The Centre has agreed to have an IIM in Assam and the latter has agreed to provide a plot of land free of cost and free from all encumbrances in an area with good infrastructure and industrial linkages.
Assam Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma wrote,” Sharing a BIG NEWS! Following our request in 2023, Hon PM Shri @narendramodi ji has given a special gift to the people of Assam by approving an Indian Institute of Management near Guwahati, making it among the few cities to house an IIT, AIIMS, Nat’l Law Univ & now IIM”
The State Government identified four plots of land and provided the details of the said land to the Ministry of Education for selection. The Site Selection Committee, under the Chairpersonship of Prof. V. K. Paul, Professor, School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi has finalized the plot situated at Marabhita measuring 574 Bighaa 1 Katha-12 Lessa = 76.8332 Hectare, Dag no. 71 and 124, category of land VGR.
IIM Ahmedabad shall be the Mentor Institute for the establishment of the proposed new IIM at Kamrup.
There is a feeling amongst people that the establishment of an IIM in Guwahati will significantly boost the region’s educational infrastructure and provide high-quality management education to students in the northeastern states. It will also contribute to the local economy and help in developing skilled professionals who can drive economic growth in the region.
This would be the 22nd IIM in the country whenever it comes up.
It all started in 2022 when Assam Chief Minister wrote to Dharmendra Pradhan Union Human Resources Development Minister saying at present, there are 20 IIMs across the country with Shillong being the lone city from North Eastern Region to be home to one. “Assam being the leading state in the region, having a sizeable population of over 3.40 crore and being a hub of diverse industrial sectors such as Oil, tea, coal, petrochemical, etc., the lack of a premier management institute of the stature of an IIM is always felt,” Sarma said.
He said due to the Government of India’s steps to promote the economic development of the North Eastern Region and the Act East Policy, Assam has huge potential to be a hub of modern management education on an international level, being the closest to many countries like Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, etc. The State Universities of Assam, of late, has been able to attract a sizeable number of foreign students; more so from Africa and South East Asia.
“Having an IIM will also result in the proliferation of education in neighboring States like Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, etc, and could lead to the establishment of an expert management hub to cater to the requirements of local industries. An IIM will attract elite corporate organisations to invest in human talent and encourage investments” Chief Minister Sarma said.
He further said the establishment of an IIM in addition to the already existing IIT Guwahati will enable these premier institutions to work in tandem in various fields.
There are several institutions( both private and government) in Assam that are providing management education IIMs were considered more important as they were declared institutions of national importance by the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) after the passage of the Indian Institutes of Management Act, 2017.
How Many from Northeast at IIM Shillong?
In the 2023-25 Post Graduate Program (PGP) in Management batch at IIM Shillong, the students hail from 27 different states and union territories, with about 12 from the northeastern region of the country.
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Prof. D P Goyal Director of IIM Shillong said last year- “Over the past 15 years, since its establishment in 2007 as the 7th IIM, the Institute has achieved remarkable milestones. The institute has earned recognition by winning prestigious national awards, highlighting its commitment to academic excellence and innovation in management education. Additionally, IIM Shillong has been successful in positioning itself among the top IIMs in the country and as a preferred institution among prominent recruiters. The 2023 placement recorded an average CTC of 26.96 LPA and had been consistently scoring high in the graduation outcome of the NIRF.
“The enrolment of students from various parts of the country further emphasizes the reputation and appeal of IIM Shillong as a preferred destination for management education,” he said.
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