IIM Shillong marked a historic milestone with the commencement of its first-ever batch of the Integrated Program in Management (IPM) for the academic session 2025–2030. The five-year program, uniquely designed to blend liberal education with rigorous management training, reflects IIM Shillong’s vision of nurturing responsible leaders with an Indian ethos and a global outlook.The IPM programequips students with a strong foundation in critical thinking, communication, data-driven decision-making, and socio-economic awareness during the first three years, before transitioning into the flagship Post Graduate Program in Management (PGP) in the final two years. The curriculum emphasizes sustainability, ethics, inclusivity, and values-based leadership, drawing upon principles such as Dharma (righteousness), VasudhaivaKutumbakam (the world is one family), and Nishkama Karma (selfless action).The admissions process for the first IPM cohort was rigorous, beginning with shortlisting based on IPMAT scores, followed by academic performance in Class X and XII, and a personal interview. Out of 30,220 aspirants who appeared for the IPMAT, 16,357 secured a positive score, and 1,588 specifically applied to IIM Shillong. After a rigorous evaluation, 46 participants were selected for the inaugural batch.The first cohort of IPM demonstrates a diverse academic and demographic profile:• Gender Diversity: 32 male (70%) and 14 female (30%) participants.• Academic Background: 46% from Arts, 30% from Commerce, and 24% from Science.• Geographic Representation: Students hail from 19 states across India, reflecting the pan-Indian character of the program. The largest representation is from Madhya Pradesh (17.4%), followed by Maharashtra (13.0%) and Gujarat (8.7%). States such as Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, and Odisha contribute 6.5% each, while Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Punjab, and Goa account for 4.3% each. Participants from Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Meghalaya, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Chandigarh, Rajasthan, Bihar, and Haryana further enrich the diversity of the cohort.The Commencement Ceremony for the IPM Batch of 2025–2030 was held on September 6, 2025, at the IIM Shillong Auditorium. The program began with the Lighting of the Lamp, followed by the batch presentation by Prof. Kailash Choudhary and an overview of the IPM Program by Prof. Sheetal, Chairperson – IPM.Delivering the Keynote Address, Dr. Mahesh Y. Reddy, Chairman of the Infrastructure Industry & Logistics Federation of India, commended IIM Shillong’s integrated education model for nurturing future-ready leaders. He stressed the importance of multidisciplinary learning in fostering entrepreneurship and innovation, urging students to play a pivotal role in advancing India’s $5 trillion economy vision.Shri Nitin Sharma, Member of the Board of Governors, IIM Shillong, addressed the inaugural IPM batch with a message of encouragement and assurance of the Institute’s full support. Congratulating the students and acknowledging the collective efforts that made the program possible, he emphasized leadership as the core of learning at IIM Shillong. Drawing from the Rig Veda, Swami Vivekananda, and real-life examples, he inspired the students to embrace values of courage, collaboration, mentorship, humility, spirituality, service to society, and strategic thinking, urging them to practise leadership daily with clarity and courage.Prof. NalinipravaTripathy, Director (In-Charge), IIM Shillong, congratulated the students on joining the pioneering program and highlighted that the IPM, designed in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, aims to nurture future leaders through a blend of liberal arts, management education, and critical skills. She emphasized IIM Shillong’s vision of creating globally oriented yet value-driven leaders, encouraging the students to step beyond their comfort zones and grow into resilient, responsible individuals ready to embrace challenges and opportunities.The ceremony also included a pledge led by Prof. Rohit Joshi, Dean Academics, and a Vote of Thanks by Prof. Vishakha Bansal, concluding with the National Anthem.A highlight of the day was the panel discussion on the theme “Going from 0 ➡️ 1: Turning Ideas into Sustainable Business.” The session featured Ms. Kanika Raajdev, Chief Executive Officer, Mindcog; Ms. Sukhvinder Kaur, Chief General Manager – Retail Loans, State Bank of India; and Mr. Pradeep Sekar, Managing Director, Optiv Inc. The panel shared valuable insights into entrepreneurship, innovation, and building scalable ventures rooted in sustainability.The IPM program not only expands IIM Shillong’s academic offerings but also reinforces its mission of developing leaders who are rooted in Indian values while being equipped to address global challenges. With immersive residential learning, live projects, internships, and mentorship by faculty and industry leaders, the IPM promises to be a truly transformational journey for its participants.