Philanthropists Chandrika And Ranjan Tandon Fund $11 Million AI School At IIM Ahmedabad

Photo:NYU

India-West News Desk

NEW DELHI- The Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with philanthropist and alumna Chandrika Krishnamurthy Tandon and her husband Ranjan Tandon to establish the Krishnamurthy Tandon School of Artificial Intelligence, backed by a ₹100 crore endowment.

The agreement was exchanged in New Delhi in the presence of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, while India’s Ambassador to the United States, Vinay Kwatra, joined the event virtually.

The proposed school will operate within IIMA as a specialized center focused on artificial intelligence at the intersection of technology, management, and public policy, with an emphasis on real-world deployment and societal impact, a statement said.

Addressing the gathering, Pradhan said the agreement aligns with preparations for the India–AI Impact Summit 2026 and reflects ongoing efforts under Prime Minister Narendra Modi to strengthen India’s global position in artificial intelligence. He noted that India’s progress in AI would depend on institutions and human capital alongside technological capability.

The minister also acknowledged the philanthropic contribution of the Tandon family, saying alumni-led initiatives help strengthen academic institutions while expanding national capacity in emerging technologies.

The new school aims to serve as a hub connecting faculty, industry leaders, policymakers and global partners to develop application-led and case-based AI research. Its focus will include translating research into deployable solutions for business, governance and social sectors.

Officials present at the event included Higher Education Secretary Dr. Vineet Joshi, IIMA Director Prof. Bharat Bhasker, Joint Secretary (Higher Education) Purnendu Banerjee, and other senior ministry representatives.