Culmination of the Foremost Programme in Business Management for Armed Forces Officers at IIM Nagpur

Nagpur: The Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Nagpur in its continued dedication to provide high-quality management education and developing leaders equipped to meet the challenges of corporate world, successfully undertook the maiden Certificate Programme in Business Management for the Armed Forces at its MIHAN Campus. The 6-month programme, under the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) concluded with Directorate General of Resettlement (Ministry of Defence (MoD), GoI apex body) was inaugurated in January 24, 2024, in presence of Brig Rohit Mehta, Additional Director General Resettlement, Dr. Bhimraya Metri, the Director of IIM Nagpur and esteemed professors including Prof. Shailendra Nigam. This programme aimed to facilitate transitioning of Armed Forces personnel to corporate roles.
The course featured a cohort of 24 officers from all three defence services viz. Indian Army, Indian Navy, and Indian Air Force, primarily of Short Service Commissioned (SSC) officers, who are transitioning out of military service after 10, 12, and 14 years of active duty, with an average age ranging from 30 to 33 years along with officers of higher seniority.
The teaching faculties, under the guidance of Programme Director, Prof Shailendra Nigam designed the course to develop a profound understanding of Business Management among the officers, thereby enhancing their business acumen and assisting the young Officers in transitioning smoothly into mid-senior leadership roles within corporate sector.
In addition to academic training, the cohort undertook and executed various extra-curricular and co-curricular activities aimed at providing holistic development and corporate exposure. Highlights of these activities include:
1. Antarprerna – A seminar aimed at developing an entrepreneurial mind-set, was steered by Cdr Meena Padmanabhan, Lt Cdr Ishan Kakkar, Lt Cdr Jayaram Rajan, Lt Cdr Mahanand Yadav and Lt Cdr Sikandar Pal Singh. The participants along with IIM Nagpur in-house start-up incubation cell, InFED interacted with seasoned venture capitalists and start-up mentors through Idea pitching sessions. The valuable ideas by student officers Lt Cdr Khushboo Singh, Lt Cdr Lokesh Pandey, Lt Cdr Saurabh Pandey and Lt Cdr Ajay Kanwar on leveraging skills of military personnel for India’s Green Hydrogen initiatives was well appreciated by the VCs and Mentors.
2. Industrial Visits – In order to bridge theoretical knowledge with practical application, engage with plant heads and operations managers and effectively linking learnings of Operations, Quality, and Supply Chain Management (SCM) to real-world practices, Lt Cdr Lalit Kumar Ahlawat, Lt Cdr Bhavriti Singh, Lt Cdr Ayub Khan and Lt Cdr Harangad Singh coordinated visits to Haldiram’s largest food processing facility in Nagpur and the Atlas Copco manufacturing plant in Pune.
3. Community Health and Wellbeing Initiatives – Lt Col (Dr) Sameer Parwate, Grp Capt Ganne Rambabu and Lt Cdr Srinivasan G led a highly subscribed and successful blood donation drive in support of World Blood Donor Day. In furtherance of IIM Nagpur’s commitment to community service, the officer students Cdr Sandeep Kumar Tomar, Lt Cdr Pushpdeep Singh and Lt Cdr Abhiram Sundaram organised a car rally from the MIHAN Nagpur campus to Pune Satellite Campus that demonstrated not only exemplary leadership, operational excellence, and event execution skills of the cohort but also enhanced the awareness about the importance of blood donation.
4. Guru Vandana – A gratitude event, upholding the highest traditions of Armed Forces, officer students Col Sajjad Hussain, Lt Col Kiran Kumar, Lt Cdr Bhuvanesh Kaushik, Lt Cdr Prashant Sambyal and Lt Cdr Sibi Arul organized a gratitude event for IIM Nagpur faculty and staff members at The Nagpur Army Officers Mess & Institute (NAOMI).
The course culminated with a valedictory ceremony on June 19, 2024, graced by the esteemed presence of Chief Guest Brig. Rahul Dutt, Deputy General Officer Commanding, Uttar Maharashtra & Goa Sub Area. The cohort of young transitioning military officers is now prepared to step out of their uniforms and into corporate boardrooms, where they are poised to make significant contributions by combining their business acumen with military training.