IIM Bangalore's new economics centre: 80 students picked from nearly 12,000 applicants
By TUF News Desk · Published 26 October 2026 · 3 min read
Fact-checked against 2+ independent sources · Editorial policy
Eighty students got in from nearly 12,000 applicants. That was the first batch of the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore’s undergraduate school, and on Monday the institute announced a new backer for it: Axis Bank will fund a Centre of Economics at the school’s campus in Jigani, Bengaluru.
The two sides have signed a memorandum of understanding to set up the Axis Bank Centre of Economics at the IIMB-Dorabji Tata School of Undergraduate Studies. Axis Bank will support the construction and running of the centre inside the Integrated Academic and Administrative Block in Phase I of the campus. The partnership also covers faculty development, research and scholarships awarded on need and merit.
What students will study there
The centre will teach economics through quantitative and computational methods, data analysis and empirical research. Its curriculum is aligned with global standards, according to the institute, and it puts weight on learning across disciplines rather than economics alone. The aim is for students to test economic questions with data, and to carry those methods into research and jobs linked to India’s economy.
Who signed the agreement
The agreement was signed at Axis House in Worli, Mumbai. Present were Devi Prasad Shetty, chairperson of IIM Bangalore’s Board of Governors; Amitabh Chaudhry, managing director and chief executive of Axis Bank; U. Dinesh Kumar, director-in-charge of IIM Bangalore; and Vijay Mulbagal, Axis Bank’s group head for wholesale bank coverage, corporate salary, sustainability and CSR.
Mulbagal said multidisciplinary education and research are vital for building the knowledge and skills India needs as its economy grows more complex. Kumar said the centre would give students and faculty room to study the forces shaping national and global development closely, adding: “The Centre will contribute to creating an environment where students and faculty can engage deeply with the determinants of global and national development.”
The first batch, and where the centre fits
The school welcomed its first batch in August 2026. Eighty students were picked for Bachelor of Science (Honours) programmes in Data Sciences and Economics from nearly 12,000 applicants. Forty of them will pursue a Bachelor of Science in Economics with a minor in Data Sciences at the new centre.
The school’s model mixes subject depth with quantitative skills and data-driven applications. For students weighing an undergraduate programme that pairs economics with data work, our guide to choosing a university in India sets out how to compare teaching, costs and outcomes. Details of the school’s programmes are on IIM Bangalore’s official website. The scholarships in this deal are awarded on need and merit, and our guide to scholarships for Indian university students explains how such awards usually work.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Axis Bank Centre of Economics?
It is a new centre at the IIMB-Dorabji Tata School of Undergraduate Studies in Jigani, Bengaluru, set up under an agreement between Axis Bank and IIM Bangalore. It will focus on economics education built around quantitative methods, data analysis and empirical research.
Where will the centre be built?
Inside the Integrated Academic and Administrative Block in Phase I of the school’s campus in Jigani, Bengaluru. Axis Bank will support both the construction and the running of the centre.
Who will study at the centre?
Students of the school’s Bachelor of Science (Honours) programmes. Forty of the inaugural batch will pursue a Bachelor of Science in Economics with a minor in Data Sciences at the centre.
Does the partnership include scholarships?
Yes. The agreement covers need- and merit-based scholarships for students, along with faculty development and research support.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Axis Bank Centre of Economics?
It is a new centre at the IIMB-Dorabji Tata School of Undergraduate Studies in Jigani, Bengaluru, set up under an agreement between Axis Bank and IIM Bangalore. It will focus on economics education built around quantitative methods, data analysis and empirical research.
Where will the centre be built?
Inside the Integrated Academic and Administrative Block in Phase I of the school's campus in Jigani, Bengaluru. Axis Bank will support both the construction and the running of the centre.
Who will study at the centre?
Students of the school's Bachelor of Science (Honours) programmes. Forty of the inaugural batch will pursue a Bachelor of Science in Economics with a minor in Data Sciences at the centre.
Does the partnership include scholarships?
Yes. The agreement covers need- and merit-based scholarships for students, along with faculty development and research support.
Sources: The Indian Express, Careers360