The B-schools are rated on the basis of nine parameters: Student profile, faculty profile, academic excellence, infrastructure, placements, corporate connectedness, leadership & governance, accreditation & linkages and campus life 

RANK 1: Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad

Location: Ahmedabad
Top-scoring parameters: Faculty profile, academic excellence
Differentiator: Significant use of case study method in the course curriculum

Led by Dr Vikram Sarabhai, the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, (IIM-A) was founded in collaboration with the Ford Foundation and the Harvard Business School. Ranked first in faculty profile, academic excellence and placement among many others, the faculty is among the highest in international experience. The faculty actively involves itself in research and authors books in their field of expertise at an international level and has written 95 international cases, presented 459 papers at international conferences, written 405 papers in international journals and participated as faculty in international management development programmes. Another highlight of the institute is the extensive use of case method in the course curriculum. IIM-A produces many of the cases that it uses and more than 60 per cent of the classes are built on the case method or a variant. IIM-A is the top ranking school for Strategy, nationwide and ranks third in HR and IT.

RANK 2: Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore

Location: Bengaluru
Top-scoring parameters: Infrastructure, leadership & governance, campus life
Differentiator: Best institute for Finance, IT & Marketing management

The Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore (IIM-B) has been among the best in management education and research for the last three decades. In 2008, IIM-B revisited the vision of the institute after which it has positioned itself as an international management institute with a strong inclination towards research.

The institute has forged rich research collaborations with the Singapore Management University, Harvard Business Publishing and Richard Ivey School of Business, the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, and the University of Exeter Business School. The focus on research and collaborations lead to enriching experience for students and the school has been among the top scorers in academic excellence.Situated in a 100-acre campus, the school has been ranked first in infrastructure and campus life among the list of b-schools surveyed and is second in all the other parameters. IIM-B specialises in finance, IT and marketing and is the top ranking school in these streams.

RANK 3: Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta

Location: Kolkata
Top-scoring parameters: Leadership & governance and campus life
Differentiator: Best institute for Operations management

The Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta (IIM-C) was established as the first national institute for postgraduate studies and research in management by the Government of India in November 1961 in collaboration with Alfred P. Sloan School of Management (MIT), the Government of West Bengal, the Ford Foundation and Indian industry.

In the mid-nineties, IIM-C established the Management Centre for Human Values. One of a kind, this centre offers courses on business ethics, human values, leadership and management of non-governmental organisations and conducts research in related areas. Finance lab, Centre for Corporate Governance and High Performance Research Group, are among the other unique centres of excellence that the school has. During the last few years, the school has been growing steadily with an increased intake of students across all its programmes. Ranked at the third position, the institute is among the top five schools for finance, marketing, HR and the top-ranked for operations.

RANK 4: Xavier Labour Relations Institute (XLRI)

Location: Jamshedpur
Top-scoring parameters: Leadership & governance
Differentiator: Commitment to research and innovation in management studies

Founded in 1949 by Fr. Quinn Enright, the Xavier Labour Relations Institute started with specialised courses for management and trade unions, but launched its first two year full-time programme only in 1953. Since then, it has created new benchmarks in management education and is the top most B-school for human resources and among the top 10 for finance, marketing, strategy, operations and IT.

The school is inspired by the Jesuit spirit ‘Magis’ and is committed to being a management school that inculcates social conscience, human values, ethics and integrity along with human values. A pioneer of sorts in management research, XLRI broke new grounds with MAXI Fair and is the first B-school in the country to set-up a behavioural lab to study individual and group behaviour.

The legacy of research and innovation lives on with XLRI being one of the top recipients of research grant among the list of B-school surveyed.

RANK 5: Indian Institute of Management, Lucknow

Location: Lucknow
Top-scoring parameters: Student profile
Differentiator: Special weightage for diversity factor in terms of gender

Ever since its inception, IIM-Lucknow has focused on improving the management of corporate and non-corporate sectors and public systems by pursuing excellence in management education, research, consulting and training. The institute’s scores on academic excellence and faculty profile are one of the highest in the country and speak volumes about why it ranks among the top five B-schools in the country.

Faculty members of the institute have a rich background of academic affiliation with top global schools like HBS, Stanford and MIT, while the visiting faculty is drawn from leading European and American B-schools. Integration with business has been one of IIM-L’s defining features. What distinguishes IIM-L from its peers is its top ranking when it comes to student profile. As a unique initiative, for generating merit list the institute gives a weightage of 2 units in the diversity factor (gender) if a student is female for both Postgraduate programme and Postgraduate Programme in Agribusiness Management.

RANK 6: International Management Institute (IMI)

Location: New Delhi
Top-scoring parameters: Leadership and governance
Differentiator: Quality faculty with industry experience

As India’s first corporate sponsored business school, International Management Institute (IMI) helps organisations in enhancing their competencies, effectiveness and competitiveness. At IMI, consultancy and research is ‘a way of life.’ Dr Pritam Singh, Director IMI says, “IMI has doubled the faculty this year with people from across the world which is building on the intellectual capital of the school.”The faculty members are not only qualified in terms of their specialisation in various fields but many of them have diverse industry backgrounds as of part of their professional experience apart from academics. This explains as to why it ranks amongst the top five business schools in the country when it comes to either finance, marketing, HR or strategy.

Thanks to its research orientation, the institute scores very high on parameters of academic excellence and faculty profile. In fact faculty members of IMI have more research papers to their credit as compared to their peers from other institutes.

RANK 7: Management Development Institute (MDI)

Location: Gurgaon
Top-scoring parameters: Corporate connect and accreditation and linkages
Differentiator: Triple-crowned Indian B-school

A school for change masters and thought leaders, Management Development Institute (MDI) is India’s first triple-crowned B-school. It has the global accreditation of AMBA, South Asian regional accreditation of SAQS and national accreditation of NBA. No wonder, the institute scores a cent per cent when it comes to accreditations.

The institute ranks fourth in corporate connect as it engaged in continuous dialogue with practitioners in industry and academia around the world, but it hasn’t translated to a higher score in leadership and governance as the college saw too much churn at the top.

The institute scored highly on parameters of academic excellence and faculty profile and is a testimony to the fact that the institute puts the maximum weight on the quality of faculty and high quality research. Besides this, the institute lays a lot of emphasis on innovation and excellence in design and delivery of all its activities.

RANK 8: Indian Institute of Management, Kozhikode

Location: Kozhikode
Top-scoring parameters: Academic excellence and student profile
Differentiator: A unique selection process

As the fifth member of the IIM fraternity, IIM-Kozhikode (IIM-K) today is recognised as an institute of national impact and international repute. The institute’s unwavering focus on academic excellence, cutting-edge research and constant interaction with the industry has propelled it to among the top 10 b-schools in the country.

Yet what differentiates IIM-K from the rest is its unique selection process. First, the applicants are shortlisted on the basis of their CAT scores. Then, they have to fill a form online, which will then be evaluated. Finally, the candidates selected are called for group discussions and personal interviews.

Besides the academic excellence and research orientation that the institute is known for, IIM-K scores fairly high on parameters such as students profile and leadership and governance. A little known facet of IIM-K is that it offers lessons on humanities and liberal arts too.

RANK 9: Indian Institute of Management, Indore

Location: Indore
Top-scoring parameters: Student profile
Differentiator: Robust selection process & social activities

The sixth school under the Indian Institute of Management family, it ranks second after IIM-Lucknow in terms of student profile thanks to a robust selection process and strict shortlisting criteria. Established in 1996, the school has a separate cell on social activities. It scores reasonably well on academic excellence and is ranked eighth in placements and corporate connect.

It was chosen to be set up in Indore across a massive 193 acres to give impetus to management learning in central India. It is the first IIM to set up a campus outside India. As no IIM is present in the country’s financial capital, IIM-I set up a campus in Mumbai in 2012. The institute encourages innovation and had set up an entrepreneurship cell. The Entrepreneurship Cell or E-Cell runs an incubation unit to nurture and develops innovative ideas of students within or outside IIM-I. The E-cell takes up activities like industrial visits, entrepreneurship summits, luncheons, consulting and organising start-up weekends.

RANK 10: Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS)

Location: Mumbai
Top-scoring parameters: Leadership & governance
Differentiator: Placement diversity across sectors and streams

A constituent of Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies University, Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS) began with a Master of Management Studies programme in 1981 and converted the programme into an MBA in 2003.

The school was a top scorer in the leadership and governance parameter and was among the high scorers in student profile, campus placements and accreditation and linkages. Student diversity and a strong curriculum review process that emphasises on cross-functional understanding of business are key highlights of the course. The trimester-based curriculum offers a choice of specialisations in finance, marketing, HR, operations and systems. Three of these electives are owned and delivered by KPMG India, Wipro Technologies and Cognizant Technology Solutions. For all-round development, students also need to work on a three-week social project in collaboration with non-governmental organisations along with other internship project.

RANK 11: Institute of Management Technology (IMT)

Location: Ghaziabad
Top-scoring parameters: Accreditation & linkages
Differentiator: Ranks third in international exchange programmes

Established in 1980, the Institute of Management Technology (IMT), Ghaziabad now has its branches in Dubai, Nagpur and Hyderabad. The institute ranked third in terms of international exchange programmes and boasts of partnerships and alliances that few business schools in India have. It offers various types of student exchange programmes including in-bound, out-bound, short-term and project partnerships with international institutes.

Besides that IMT also runs a Centre for Distance Learning (CDL) that combines distance learning with contact sessions for management education. IMT has tied up with Kellogg School of Management for a joint research programme in India.
A few of the notable alumni of the institute include Sachin Pilot, Prasoon Joshi, Nimmagadda Prasad and Mini Mathur. The PGDM curriculum is divided into trimesters, with variety of electives across functions offered in the second year. Students can opt for a dual specialisation in the second year with one major and one minor specialisation.

RANK 12: Faculty of Management Studies (FMS)

Location: New Delhi
Top-scoring parameters: Leadership & governance
Differentiator: Distinguished and influential alumni network

Faculty of Management Studies, popularly known as FMS, is one of the early proponents of management education in India. Owned by a government body, the school offers a management degree that is not only one of the best in country but also give a high return on investment by virtue of its reasonable fee structure. Admissions to the school are on the basis of CAT scores. Being a founding member of the Association of Management Development Institutions of South Asia (AMDISA), FMS has a rich history of collaborations with institutions around the world. A history of half a century plus of providing management education has blessed the institute with a distinguished alumni network which works to its advantage in placements.

While the all India rank for FMS is 12, it has been ranked among the top 10 B-schools across India for finance, marketing and strategy.

RANK 13: Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT)

Location: New Delhi
Top-scoring parameters: Faculty profile and academic excellence
Differentiator: Centre of excellence in international trade and business

Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) was started as an autonomous organisation to help professionalise the country’s foreign trade management and increase exports by developing human resources; generating, analysing and disseminating data and conducting research. Today IIFT is a deemed university with robust infrastructure, strong faculty and dedication to excellence and has emerged as a national institute for pedagogy and advocacy. Its path-breaking research studies with organisations like World Trade Organisation, World Bank, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development and the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India are reasons enough as to why it scores so high when it comes to academic excellence and faculty profile. It is a centre of excellence in international trade and business.

The institute realises that placement plays a critical role in any business management education and IIFT is placed ninth on this parameter. In fact, IIFT has witnessed double digit international job offers to its students.

RANK 14: Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS)

Location: Mumbai
Top-scoring parameters: Academic excellence
Differentiator: Emphasis on social consciousness and sustainable development

The first school of social work in India, the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) was established in 1936, as the Sir Dorabji Tata Graduate School of Social Work. In1944, the Sir Dorabji Tata Graduate School of Social Work was renamed as the Tata Institute of Social Sciences and was recognised as a Deemed University by the University Grants Commission (UGC) of India. Since then TISS has diversified across various streams which include social work, habitat studies, management and labour studies, media and cultural studies etc. Ranked among the top 10 B-schools for human resource management, the school offers a Masters in Human Resource Management and Labour Relations – a course which has a strong base in social science. The school has stayed true to its motto –“Reimagining futures” and till date the main focus of all its programmes is to develop professionally competent and socially conscious management graduates who can contribute towards building sustainable organisations.

RANK 15: S.P. Jain Institute of Management & Research (SPJIMR)

Location: Mumbai
Top-scoring parameters: Accreditation & linkages
Differentiator: Committed efforts towards innovation

The founding principles of S.P. Jain Institute of Management and Research (SPJIMR), a constituent unit of the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, are influencing industry practice and promoting value-based growth along with social relevance and responsiveness, cooperation and collaboration and networking. A key strength of the institute is consistent innovation in the curriculum and selection process. Indeed, SPJIMR was one of the first B-schools to introduce management simulation and team activity in the selection process. In recent years, SPJIMR has taken several initiatives to globalise its programmes and has introduced joint programmes through international collaboration, student exchange programs etc. The school that was a high scorer in accreditation and linkages has received several accreditations which include AICTE, NBA, Association of MBA, London etc. SPJIMR was also the only Asian institute invited by Aspen Institute, US, along with 11 other global institutes to develop pedagogy for Teaching Improvement Programme (TIP), integrating CSR in the management curriculum. 

RANK 16: National Institute of Industrial Engineering (NITIE)

Location: Mumbai
Top-scoring parameters: Infrastructure
Differentiator: Pioneer in the field of industry specific research

Since its inception in 1963, the National Institute of Industrial Engineering (NITIE) has been a pioneer in the field of industry specific research and courses and is one of the best business schools for students who want to make a career in operations.

Located in the scenic surroundings of north Mumbai flanked by Powai and Vihar Lakes, It has been acknowledged as a centre of excellence along with the IITs, IIMs and IISc by the Ministry of HRD, Government of India. The institute considers GATE scores for admission to its flagship programme, Postgraduate Diploma in Industrial Engineering (PGDIE), whereas admissions to others courses are on the basis of CAT scores. NITIE is one of the select few institutes in the country that offers a programme on Industrial Engineering, which is a highly specialised techno-managerial area that integrates an entire organisation as a single entity.

RANK 17: Birla Institute of Management & Technology (BIMTECH)

Location: Greater Noida, Delhi-NCR
Top-scoring parameters: Leadership and governance
Differentiator: One of few B-schools to offer sectoral programmes

Birla Institute of Management and Technology (BIMTECH) scores very high on the social activity front along with XISS Ranchi, IIM-Calcutta and Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies. Established in 1988, BIMTECH is also one of the few colleges that offer sectoral programmes. The college scores high on campus life, but lags in student diversity and intellectual capital. Robust governance is one factor that has helped the college gain reputation. Located in an education hub and within the Delhi-NCR region has helped the college establish better industry connect. BIMTECH has set up various centres on research, entrepreneurship, rural business, development and public policy and is also the first of its kind in the country to offer courses in insurance and risk management. The institute’s student profile is diverse and includes international students. Emphasis on social sensitivity in the content of the courses deserves a special mention. Exchange and cultural programmes are highlights of a vibrant campus life.

RANK 18: T.A. Pai Management Institute (TAPMI)

Location: Manipal
Top-scoring parameters: Infrastructure
Differentiator: Rich peer learning experience by virtue of diverse student profile

T. A. Pai Management Insitute (TAPMI)is among the few institutes to receive Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business accreditation, a rigorous process that mentors an institute through its processes of faculty selection and development, curriculum design and student learning.

The school offers a rich peer learning opportunity because has a diverse student mix and was among the high scorers in student profile and scored fairly high on accreditations. With a consistent placement record the school gets plum offers from IT/ITeS sectors with a fair contribution from others such as BFSI, consulting, FMCG, manufacturing etc. Founded in 1980, the institute launched a postgraduate diploma in healthcare management in 2010. The institute has excellent infrastructure and features in the top ten on this parameter across all the schools surveyed.

RANK 19: Great Lakes Institute of Management

Location: Chennai
Top-scoring parameters: Academic excellence and faculty profile
Differentiator: Scores high on intellectual capital with experienced faculty who have an extensive research and corporate background

Academic excellence and faculty profile is what sets apart Great Lakes Institute of Management (GLIM) from its peers. It is among the few institutes that have a faculty with international teaching experience and who also have a considerable research and corporate background. The advisory committees are steered by stalwarts of academia and industry.

Full-time faculty continues to publish in leading journals worldwide on a consistent basis. Yet another distinguishing feature of GLIM is its Centres of Excellence which facilitates research, exchange of ideas, provides solutions to industry problems and offers guidance to future decision makers. These are reasons why it scores high on leadership and governance. The almost decade old GLIM by virtue of its corporate consultancy assignments, cutting-edge research collaborations with the industry as well as academic schools of repute, has carved for itself a niche status.

RANK 20: Xavier Institute of Management, Bhubaneswar

Location: Bhubaneswar
Top-scoring parameters: Placements
Differentiator: Research focus, with an emphasis on Corporate Social Responsibility

Established through a public private partnership between the Government of Orissa and the Orissa Jesuit society, the Xavier Institute of Management, Bhubaneswar (XIMB) is among the high scorers in student profile and leadership & governance & scores fairly well on academic excellence.

XIM-B is a state-approved centre for providing incubation services for small and medium enterprises and has a Centre for Development Research and Training for India-centric research projects. It also has tie-ups with University of Antwerp, Belgium and Loyola University, Maryland, USA for student and faculty exchange programmes. XIM-B has a robust curriculum that is updated annually with inputs from industry experts, alumni, media and brand management experts. The school has a significant focus on Corporate Social Responsibility supported by the Orissa Jesuit Society and research Another highlight is the widespread alumni network which is a registered body with seven chapters in India –Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad & Bhubaneswar.

RANK 21: Symbiosis Institute of Business Management (SIBM)

Location: Pune
Top-scoring parameters: Student profile
Differentiator: Mentorship programme provided to students

The Symbiosis Institute of Business Management is the flagship brand of Symbiosis International University. With a new state-of-the-art residential campus and world-class infrastructure at the hill top in Lavale, Pune, SIBM provides a holistic environment for all around learning and development.

The institute, which boasts of a diverse mix of students and was a top scorer in the student profile, has developed a unique system wherein the alumni act as mentors to students. The school scores in the top ten on student profile across all the schools surveyed and is one of ten best schools in west India. SIBM is a top scorer on leadership and governance and fairly high on corporate connect. Apart from various guest lectures, corporate workshops and seminars, SIBM also has a Centre for Corporate Education, Consulting and Training as a part of SIBM’s corporate training initiative.

RANK 22: Fore School of Management

Location: New Delhi
Top-scoring parameters: Leadership & governance
Differentiator: Research is a core area of interest and assistants are hired for such projects

A blend of academic excellence, business acumen and research has helped this 32-year-old B-school carve a niche for itself in management education. In order to facilitate research, the school set up a Centre for Research in 2010. The centre provides seed money to faculty for research projects and also allows them to hire research assistants.

While the institute scores highly on leadership and governance parameters, the student profile in terms of educational qualifications and gender diversity is fairly balanced. It takes pride in its modern infrastructure, technology and resources across the management spectrum. The students get a high level of industry exposure through continuous interaction with senior industry professionals. The faculty at the school is highly experienced and stable.

RANK 23: Prin. L.N. Welingkar Institute of Management Development & Research

Location: Mumbai
Top-scoring parameters: Accreditation and linkages
Differentiator: Faculty adopts innovative teaching methods

Welingkar Institute of Management Development is recognised for emphasis on social activities in its courses. Many of its courses are AICTE accredited. The infrastructure is not a strong point, but the institute makes it up by using a combination of innovative indoor and outdoor teaching methods. It has a blend of traditional methods like seminars, lectures and projects and different styles like multi-disciplinary & cross functional approach- team teaching, theatre workshops, outbound programmes, knowledge pool creation and idea lab.

What is impressive is that in order to increase the level of teaching in the institute, it sent its professors back to school. The batch sizes have grown over the years, thus making it difficult for the college to have an impressive student-faculty ratio. In an effort to minismise the glaring gap between academia and corporate India, the institute has set up a Council for Academic Excellence to review, monitor and restructure the curriculum of the management programmes.

RANK 24: KIIT School of Management, Bhubaneswar

Location: Bhubaneswar
Top-scoring parameters: Campus life and infrastructure
Differentiator: Students get exposure to high-demand technologies

One of the known MBA colleges in East India, KIIT School of Management provides industry-focused management education. The school stresses upon the need to do good to the society at large. One unique aspect of its academic programmes is the flexibility to adapt with changing industry requirements. The strong infrastructure ensures that students are exposed to high-demand technologies such as ERP, SOA.

In a one-of-its-kind endeavour in India, software innovator Dassault Systemes has established Product Lifecycle Managemen (PLM) Lab and a Centre of Excellence. Additionally, the institute recently became a SAP University Alliance partner, making its students SAP-ready. The institute has recently signed an MoU with Mahindra Satyam too. One resource that deserves a special mention is KRADLE (KIIT School Of Management Resource Centre for Advancement of Development of Entrepreneurship) which guides students willing to take path of entrepreneurship.

RANK 25: Institute of Management, NIRMA University

Location: Ahmedabad
Top-scoring parameters: Leadership & governance and campus life
Differentiator: Academic collaboration with foreign universities

For ‘The Institute of Management’, a constituent of the Nirma University, quality education is first priority. The institute scores high on academic excellence and corporate connect and is led by a faculty with extensive expertise and experience in diverse fields.

The institute lays a lot of emphasis on research and to this end it has opted for academic collaborations with foreign universities so as to promote students/faculty exchange, joint research assignments, joint management development programmes and development of selected international business cases for inclusion in the MBA curriculum. It has a compulsory residential programme.As far as corporate interface is concerned, it includes a range of planned activities with and within the industry including live projects, internships, guest lectures and case study discussions. For the academic session 2010-12, IT and BFSI accounted for 60 per cent of the placements.

RANK 26: Lal Bahadur Shastri Institute of Management (LBSIM)

Location: New Delhi
Top-scoring parameters: Leadership & governance
Differentiator: Student-Industry interaction stressed upon

Lal Bahadur Shastri Institute of Management (LBSIM) offers value based management education. Its advisory body has top corporate leaders, CEOs and academic professionals. The institute lays a large emphasis on student-industry interactions. So, when the pedagogy was designed, it included self learning, live projects and practical assignments in the industry apart from lectures, management games, syndicate discussions and group presentations. Social activities are also given priority in the institute with the school undertaking live and research projects in order to learn rural management. Students along with faculty members took part in the projects such as “Knowing the real India” and on farmers in Barnala district of Punjab. They also undertook a sanitation project in association with Sulabh International. The institute is recognised by AICTE and NBA. Candidates are shortlisted on the basis of their performance in the Common Admission Test (CAT) administered by the IIMs and are then evaluated through group discussion and personal interview.

RANK 27: Indian Institute of Forest Management (IIFM)

Location: Bhopal
Top-scoring parameters: Leadership & governance
Differentiator: Robust doctoral programme and emphasis on collaborative research

For a sectoral management institute, the Indian Institute of Management (IIFM) receives the highest research grant in the country and has in place a very robust doctoral programme in the area of ecosystem and environment management, environment and development economics and sociology and community development.

IIFM gets research grant from not just the government but also national and international organisations like the Ford Foundation. The institute also lays a lot of emphasis on collaborative research and has already completed two projects: One in partnership with the Japanese government and another on sustainable waste management in Bangalore. Recently, the Centre asked IIFM to submit a report within three months on revising the net present value of forestland, which is charged from project developers for afforestation. IIFM faculty undertakes consulting projects for a wide range of clients including public and private sector enterprises, central government ministries, international agencies like the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, Food and Agriculture Organisation among others.

RANK 28: Institute of Finance and International Management (IFIM)

Location: Bengaluru
Top-scoring parameters: Infrastructure
Differentiator: Academic excellence and leadership & governance

Founded in 1995, the Institute of Finance and International Management scores highly on academic excellence even though its faculty profile and infrastructure is not so great. But the institute makes it up by boasting of a good number of visiting faculty as many sessions are taken by industry experts. Leadership and governance is another core strength of the institute. The institute takes a holistic approach while imparting knowledge to students. Wellness and personal enhancement programmes help in the all-round development of the student. The school has tie-ups with internationally renowned institutes like Virginia Commonwealth University, USA, Ecole de Grenoble, France, University of Science and Technology Lubeck, Germany, New York Institute of Technology (NYIT), USA, for academic, research, internship opportunities and also for establishing centres of excellence. It has also tied up with the Bombay Stock Exchange and the National Stock Exchange.

RANK 29: Amity Business School

Location: Noida
Top-scoring parameters: Campus life and faculty profile
Differentiator: Robust innovation cell for entrepreneurs

The institute is one of the few colleges to have a high student-faculty ratio. The institute also scores high on campus life with wireless campus, swimming pools, shooting ranges and more. Student profile is a plus and initiatives like foreign language programmes, personal enhancement modules and grooming sessions were introduced for their all-round development.

RANK 30: PSG Institute of Management

Location: Coimbatore
Top-scoring parameters: Academic excellence
Differentiator: Student and faculty exchange programmes

One of the oldest management institutes in India, students here are encouraged to nurture leadership skills and hence it set up an active learning programme service. Students are also taught Japanese and French.

The college focuses strictly on course related education, which may not be adequate for industry requirements. In the last few years the institute has tried to customise its courses according to the industry requirements. 

Faculty and student exchange programmes are the norm here with the institute signing MoUs with University of TOLEDO, San Diego State University, University of Applied Sciences, Hof, Alliance Francaise of Madras and Institute of Finance and Economics, Mongolia. The college is accredited by AICTE and Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programmes and is affiliated to organisations like the National Stock Exchange, Harvard Business Publishing and Association of Brics Business Schools.

RANK 31: Jaipuria Institute of Management, Noida

Location: Noida
Top-scoring parameters: Leadership and governance
Differentiator: Accreditation and campus life

The faculty-student ratio is high in the school, but it lags in academic excellence. It scores high on leadership and governance and fairly well on campus life. According to the figures released by the institute for 2010-12, the banking sector is a big draw for students from this campus.
Jaipuria Noida was established in 2004 and its flagship programme is approved by the AICTE. Students are encouraged to opt for innovative electives along with their course thereby allowing them to opt for dual specialisation. Jaipuria institutes has international collaborations with Universities of Applied Sciences, Finland (as a part of Finland Network for East and Southeast Asia) University of Illinois, United States (Technology Management Programme) and HEIG-VD, Switzerland (a member of University of Applied Sciences Western Switzerland (HES-SO) network), amongst others.

RANK 32: SIMSREE 

Location: Mumbai
Top-scoring parameters: Placements
Differentiator: Active participation of student clubs in placements, selection of visiting faculty & guest speakers

The Sydenham Institute of Management Studies, Research and Entrepreneurship Education (SIMSREE) was set up by the Government of Maharashtra in 1983 and is supervised by the Directorate of Higher and Technical Education. The school admits students on the basis of CMAT scores, group discussion, personal interview and work experience.

Although the ratio of engineering and finance students is relatively higher, the school has a fairly diverse student mix. By virtue of being in the centre of commercial activity, the students are privileged to have a great industry interface and the school attracts placement offers from industry leaders across sector with BFSI leading the pack. The key highlight of campus life is the active participation of student bodies in all significant activities in the college, which included placements, functional clubs, selection of visiting faculty and guest speakers. This exposure and opportunity leads to an all round development of the students.

RANK 33: Xavier Institute of Social Service (XISS)

Location: Ranchi
Top-scoring parameters: Corporate connect
Differentiator: Social activities are a part of the curriculum

What started as an extension department of St. Xavier’s College has over the years transformed and developed into the one of the country’s premier management institutions. The institute’s Postgraduate Diploma course in Rural Development – a programme to prepare professionals for the developmental needs of rural India, is a unique initiative.

Social activities have been incorporated as a part of the curriculum. Students also voluntarily take up community based activities such as teaching and working in villages, even when it is no more a mandatory part of the academic session. As a matter of fact, students of its flagship programme are most sought after and are respected for their sense of commitment and dedication to the cause of the downtrodden and the marginalised. XISS is among the few management institutions that receives the highest research grant.

RANK 34: Jaipuria Institute of Management, Lucknow

Location: Lucknow
Top-scoring parameters: Leadership & governance and campus life
Differentiator: Top-notch faculty with excellent teaching skills

The first of the four Jaipuria campuses, Jaipuria Institute of Management, Lucknow boasts of a pool of highly experienced, full-time faculty, duly supported by experienced industry managers and academicians as visiting faculty. The full-time faculty members are known for their excellent teaching skills and contribution to management education through cutting-edge research.

The faculty has contributed to more than 400 research papers, which were published in Indian and international journals. As a part of its industry initiative, the institute hosts corporate leaders and innovative speakers from different disciplines. Jaipuria Lucknow scores highly on campus life and leadership and governance. Apart from domain specific clubs, there are clubs such as cultural club, expression club, sports club and euphony – the music club. While the cultural club aims to dissolve cultural barriers and regional identities to build up a unique culture; the expression club helps develop a sense of confidence and achievement orientation among the students.

RANK 35: Bharati Vidyapeeth

Location: Pune
Top-scoring parameters: Academic excellence and leadership & governance
Differentiator: Doctoral programmes a hit among students

Established by Bharati Vidyapeeth in 1978, The Institute of Management and Entrepreneurship Development (IMED), is one of the oldest management institutes in western India. The institute’s intellectual capital has been recognised through its high score on academic excellence. Its doctoral programmes and their acceptability among the students is also a defining factor.

Recently, the research and consultancy activities were integrated with the teaching and learning programmes in the college. The institute also accepts consultancy projects and collaborates with other colleges and the industry in the areas of management and information technology. It scores reasonably well in leadership and governance, thanks to its associations with various national bodies like the Confederation of Indian Industries and the National Stock Exchange. The institute remained under Pune University until 2000, when it was brought under the ambit of Bharati Vidyapeeth by the government. IMED has ‘A’ grade accreditation from National Assessment and Accreditation Council.

RANK 36: School of Management Studies (GGSIPU)

Location: New Delhi
Top-scoring parameters: Leadership and governance
Differentiator: Behaviour lab and pedagogy

Established in 1999, University School of Management Studies has a focus on promoting inter-disciplinary research like banking & insurance, brand & retail management, IT-business interface etc. Located on the campus of the Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, it has a behaviour testing and training laboratory. The laboratory extends its services for psychometric testing to industrial houses for recruitment, selection, placement and employee profiling. The school is ranked in the top 25 of all the schools surveyed for its faculty profile. The university is recognized by University Grants Commission and accredited by NAAC. Pedagogy emphasises on interactive learning by employing sophisticated technology. Business games and case studies are used to develop analytical and managerial skills in the students. Traditional methods like seminars, group discussions, role plays and summer internships are also an integral part of the pedagogy, including a blend of industry exposure, conceptual learning, practical assignments and innovative projects.

RANK 37: ITM Business School

Location: Navi Mumbai
Top-scoring parameters: Campus life
Differentiator: Student-centric approach

One of the first private, non-aided business schools in India, ITM Business School is known for its student-centric approach and also lays emphasis on student-faculty interaction. Unsurprisingly, the college scores best in campus life.
Emphasis on practical aspects of learning is what gives the college an edge over its peers. There is a lot of focus on case-based, activity-based teaching methods and giving industry exposure to students. There is a career service team, iConnect, to assist students and facilitate their job search. Established in 1991, ITM has six campuses across the country and counts JP Morgan Chase, Cognizant Technologies, ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank etc among its recruiters. It also boasts of partnerships with international universities and schools from across the US, Europe and Asia. Though the college doesn’t boast of an extraordinary infrastructure, it has state-of-the-art computer labs, well-stocked library and ample recreation facilities etc.

RANK 38: Galgotias Business School (GBS)

Location: Greater Noida, Delhi-NCR
Top-scoring parameters: Student profile
Differentiator: Mentorship programme for students & a strong industry connect

Established just six years ago, Galgotias Business School (GBS) has a unique mentorship programme for personal guidance, which is very well appreciated by its students as it helps them in their all-round development. GBS has a corporate resource centre in its state-of-the-art, sprawling and self-sufficient campus. The resource centre’s membership with industry body Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce (FICCI) and other trade bodies helps the institute to network with the industry. Spread over 19 acres giving the campus a lush green feel, it is well connected to the country’s capital as it is located near the New Delhi-Greater Noida expressway. In terms of pedagogy, the institute relies more on tools for acquisition of knowledge and skills. Role-play, case study, project work, field experience, assignment, quiz, seminars, industry visits are some of the methods used.

RANK 39: GITAM School of International Business, Visakhapatnam

Location: Visakhapatnam
Top-scoring parameters: Accreditation and Linkages
Differentiator: Tie-ups with many universities for academic initiatives

Founded in 1980, GITAM School of International Business has adapted remarkably to changing times and has set up 19 e-classrooms for its students. The institute prides itself on its experienced faculty who interact with industry captains and business organisations, both government and private through training, consultancy and research projects. Course delivery is an integration of case studies, group discussions, and situational teaching methods.

GITAM has tied up with several universities and companies for academic initiatives. The school has signed Memorandum of Understandings with University of Glasgow, University of Central Michigan, University of Nebraska, Omaha, University of Cambridge for BEC programme, Dun & Bradstreet, HPCL and Pantaloon India Pvt. Ltd. GITAM School of International Business is one of the few B-schools to get an ‘A’ grade accreditation from the National Assessment and Accreditation Council in 2005 and is also recognised by AICTE.

RANK 40: Indian Institute of Social Welfare and Business Management (IISWBM)

Location: Kolkata
Top-scoring parameters: Leadership & governance
Differentiator: Offers programmes not found inother management institutes

IISWBM has the rare credit of being the first institute in the country to have introduced a Postgraduate Diploma Programme in Business Management. A third of the students at IISWBM are female%