The world of business is constantly evolving, yet the core principles of effective management remain as relevant today as they have ever been. For decades, India’s premier management institutions have served as breeding grounds for future business leaders, playing a pivotal role in shaping the country’s economic growth and strengthening its position on the global stage.
Among the oldest and most respected MBA colleges in India are institutions that have stood the test of time, including the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIM-A), the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) Mumbai, and the Faculty of Management Studies (FMS) New Delhi. These institutions have not only maintained their legacy of academic excellence but have also continuously adapted to meet the evolving demands of the global business environment.
The significance of these pioneering management institutions goes far beyond their impressive rankings and alumni networks. They represent the very foundation of professional management education in India, having introduced a culture of rigorous academic thinking, ethical leadership, and practical business acumen that continues to inspire generations of management professionals across the country and around the world.
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Which are the Oldest MBA Colleges in India?
Management education in India has seen considerable changes. In the initial years, the focus was on postgraduate diploma programs, like the PGDM, which were created by the self-governing universities, sometimes in partnership with international organisations, long before the current Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree became globally popular.
Given below is the list of the oldest MBA Colleges in India, along with their establishment year, about the university and the top recruiters of the institute:-
| Institute Name | Years | About | Recruiters List |
| TISS Mumbai | 1936 | The Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) was founded in 1936 as the Sir Dorabji Tata Graduate School of Social Work. The current name of the institute was taken up in 1944.The Tata Institute of Social Sciences offers courses in Master of Arts in Human Resource Management and Labour Relations, Master of Hospital Administration, and Master of Arts in Organisation Development, Change and LeadershipThe admission to these programs is conducted through the CAT exam.The highest package for the HRM and LR for 2025 was INR 36,25,000 LPA. | Citi BankPine LabsLarsen and TruboReliance IndustriesFlipkartITCSun PharmaAccentureTata ElectronicsGAIL, etc. |
| XLRI | 1949 | XLRI, India’s oldest business school, was founded in 1949 by a group of visionary Jesuit Fathers to transform the economy and society as a whole.In 1953, a two-year, day program in Industrial Relations and Welfare was established, which was eventually renamed as Human Resource Management. In 1965, a three-year evening program in Business Management was launched, which was followed by a two-year full-time program in 1968.This institute is one of the first management institutions in India to internationalise its academic programs. | Alvarez and MarsalAccentureAccenture StrategyAirbnbAditya Birla GroupAllianzAmazonAmerican ExpressBain and CompanyBCGBarclaysBennet, Coleman and Co LtdCapeGemini |
| IISWBM Kolkata | 1953 | The Indian Institute of Social Welfare and Business Management (IISWBM) in Kolkata was established on April 25, 1953.This institute was the result of a collaborative effort by the University of Calcutta, the Government of West Bengal, the Government of India, and industry leaders to establish a management institute in India.Dr Bidhan Chandra Roy, the then Chief Minister of West Bengal, founded IISWBM, India’s first management institute.The first Business Management Course, the first course, began on July 5, 1954. | Tata Consultancy ServicesCognizantHindustan Unilever LimitedPhillipsDHLPwCAmazon, etc. |
| FMS Delhi | 1954 | The institute, established in 1954 by the University of Delhi, FMS has been a pioneer in management education, research, and consulting.The college has continuously been placed among the top business schools in the country, and it is well-known for its creative pedagogy, industry connections and robust alumni networks.In 1954, the institute started a three-year part-time Postgraduate Management Program in Business Administration for senior and middle-level executives.The institute was founded at the Delhi School of Economics. | BCGDeloitteBain and CompanyEYKearneyMcKinsey and CompanyPwCKPMGAccentureMicrosoftAdobeDE Shaw and CoGoldman SachsMorgan Stanley |
| IIM Ahmedabad | 1961 | The Institute’s mission is to promote excellence in scholarship by developing high-quality research, innovative and effective teaching, and important contributions to knowledge creation across a range of fields.IIMA collaborates with several academic institutions throughout the world to teach postgraduate programs, conduct executive education programs, and implement its research agenda.For example, it collaborated with the University of Bocconi and HEC School of Management.The NIRF has ranked the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad as the top B-School in India since 2020. | Accenture StrategyBain & CompanyBoston Consulting GroupKearneyMcKinsey & Company,PwCSimon-Kucher & PartnersAmerican ExpressDeutsche BankStandard Chartered BankTata Administrative Services, etc. |
| IIM Calcutta | 1961 | In November 1961, the Government of India established the Indian Institute of Management Calcutta (IIMC_ as the first national institute for Post-graduate studies and Research Management.IIMC has developed into a mature school with a global reputation for offering high-quality management education.It has been a pioneer in professionalising Indian management through Post Graduate and Doctoral Level programs, Executive Training Programs, and Research Consulting Activities. | Auctus AdvisorsBarclaysCapegeminiBajaj FinservBain and CompanyDeloitteBCGDE Shaw and CoEYKearneyHindusan Unilever LimitedMcKinsey and Company, etc. |
| JBIMS Mumbai | 1965 | Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management is frequently regarded as one of the top ten elite business schools in the country, with a history of 52 years.The late Dr K.S. Basu established India’s first full-time two-yearMaster’s in Management Studies (MMS) program at JBIMS. | DE Shaw and CoHindustan Unilever LimitedNPCITata DigitalAbbottAccentureDeloitteHenkelP & GPwC, etc |
(Source of information:- Official Websites of the institutes.)
The world of management is ever-evolving, yet the fundamental principles that define effective leadership and business administration remain constant across generations. For decades, India’s most reputed management institutions have served as powerful hubs for nurturing future business leaders, contributing significantly to the nation’s economic development and enhancing its competitiveness on the global stage.
The history of management education in India is rich with a pioneering spirit that dates back several decades. Institutions like the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), established in 1936, laid the early foundation of formal management education in the country. This was followed by the establishment of XLRI in 1949 and the Indian Institute of Social Welfare and Business Management (IISWBM) Kolkata in 1953, both of which played a crucial role in shaping the management education landscape in India.
Over the years, other distinguished institutions such as the Faculty of Management Studies (FMS) Delhi, the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), and Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies (JBIMS) Mumbai further strengthened India’s reputation as a global hub for world-class management education.