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Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) are the premier management education providers across India, recognised and reputed globally. There are 22 IIMs in India, and the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad has consistently secured the No. 1 rank in the NIRF rankings for the management category for the past few years.
This blog uncovers the list of IIM colleges in India based on ranks, established year, and classifications. Discover the popular courses offered by the top IIMs in India along with fee structure, and more.
The long legacy of IIMs dates back to 1961, when the foremost IIM was established, IIM Calcutta, followed by IIM Ahmedabad, in the same year. At present, the list of IIMs in India contains a total of twenty-two IIMs. It includes IIT Guwahati, which was inaugurated in February 2026, becoming the newest IIM in the list.
✅ The full form of IIMs is Indian Institutes of Management, which are public institutions providing premier management education in India.
✅ IIMs are established and owned by the government of India, but they largely take care of the funds needed to operate these institutions.
✅ These are premier management institutes in India catering to world-class education in the business sector.
✅ Candidates seeking to take the admissions to one of the IIMs are required to take the Common Admission Test (CAT).
Scroll ahead to learn more about IIMs in India and explore the list of IIM in India with ranking.
Currently, the total number of IIMs in India is twenty-two. The 22nd IIM that contributed to the list is IIM Guwahati, established in 2025. And IIM Mumbai was the 21st addition to the list of IIMs in India. Furthermore, the first IIM was established in November 1961: IIM Calcutta, followed by IIM Ahmedabad in the same year. It was founded and established by the Late Prime Minister Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru. IIMs were established to train skilled managers who can contribute to the Indian industry and business sector after independence.
Every year, IIMs are ranked by many national and international bodies based on their curriculum. In India, the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) ranks hundreds of higher education institutes in India across categories. IIM Ahmedabad has been ranked 1 for several consecutive years by NIRF in the management category. Moreover, IIM Guwahati is not yet ranked, as it was established in 2025 and its first batch shall begin in July 2026. Here is the list of all IIMs in India rank wise (NIRF 2025):
*Note that NIRF 2026 has not been declared yet. As soon as the new rankings are announced, the list will be updated accordingly.
Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) in India are divided into three categories based on their generations and reputation. It includes old IIMs, new IIMs, and baby IIMs. Baby IIMs are the newest generation of IIMs, while old IIMs are the institutes established initially. There are presently 22 IIMs in India. Let us explore the list of IIMs based on their classifications:
This is the first generation of IIMs, which were established before 1996. This group of IIMs comprises the most prestigious campuses of IIMs in India, such as IIM Ahmedabad and IIM Calcutta. Here is the list of old/BLACKI IIMs in India:
It is the second generation of IIMs, established between 2007 and 2011. You may take a look at the New Indian Institutes of Management (New IIMs) in India:
This is the newest and third generation of IIMs in India. Baby IIMs are the ones that were established between 2011 and 2016. It also includes the recent additions like IIM Guwahati. Check out the list of Baby IIMs in India:
*Note: IIM Mumbai is a special case, which is neither an old nor a baby IIM. It was initially established as NITIE Mumbai (National Institute of Industrial Engineering) in 1963. It was officially renamed and converted to IIM Mumbai in 2023.
Most of the old/BLACKI IIMs are considered the best IIMs in India. IIM A, B, and C, also known as IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, and IIM Calcutta, are the best Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) across the nation. Let us explore the best IIMs in India and why these institutions are ranked among the best IIMs:
The most popular courses across IIMs are MBA (PGP) and executive MBAs (PGPx/MBAEx/EPGP). Top Indian Institutes of Management widely offer these programmes across specialisations. The fees for IIM courses in India range between INR 11 - 37 lakhs, and beyond, depending on the domestic and international candidates, type of course, and curriculum. You may explore the list of IIM colleges in India, based on course popularity and fees:
Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Ahmedabad, also known as IIMA, is the number one IIM in India. It is regarded as the best IIM due to its academic value, placement rates, and strong corporate tie-ups. The premier management institute has been ranked number one by NIRF consistently since 2020. It is also the second IIM to be established in India after IIM Calcutta in the same year as IIMC. Moreover, admission to IIM Ahmedabad requires 99-100 cutoffs via the CAT exam, making it a highly competitive institution for management education in India.
You can just search “IIM (Campus Name)” on Google or any other search engine that you may use. These are the government-registered websites that typically appear on top during an internet search. Besides, most of the IIMs' websites end with the “.ac.in” domain. Here is the list of IIMs in India with official websites:
There are a total of 22 IIMs in the list of IIMs in India. It includes all kinds of IIMs in India established from 1961 to so far. Depending on different points of view, Indian Institutes of Management have been ranked by national and international bodies for years. Many IIMs in India are also accredited by AACSB, while a few of them feature triple-crown accreditations (AACSB, AMBA, & EQUIS) as well. Furthermore, having the list of all the IIMs in India allows you to compare and select the right institution for you. Apart from rankings, you can also consider the fee structure, placement support and outcomes, graduation rate, etc., to choose the right one for you.
As of 2026, there are 22 IIMs in India, including the newest one, IIT Guwahati, that has been inaugurated in February 2026.
IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, IIM Calcutta, IIM Lucknow, and IIM Kozhikode are the best Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) in India.
IIM Ahmedabad: 1961
IIM Calcutta: 1961
IIM Bangalore: 1973
IIM Lucknow: 1984
IIM Kozhikode: 1996
IIM Indore: 1996
IIM Shillong: 2007
As per NIRF Rankings 2025, IIM Sirmaur and IIM Amritsar are the lowest-ranked IIMs in India among others, with management rankings between 51-64.
IIM Ahmedabad is considered the toughest IIM to get into as it is known to be one of the most selective business schools globally. Besides, it requires a 99-100 CAT cutoff, considers composite scores of 10th, 12th, graduation, and diversity points, along with interview rounds.
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