The collaboration will support the Centre’s infrastructure, academic research and scholarships for meritorious students
26th October 2026, Mumbai: Axis Bank, one of the largest private sector banks in India, and the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIMB) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish the Axis Bank Centre of Economics at the IIMB – Dorabji Tata School of Undergraduate Studies, the Institute’s greenfield campus located in Jigani, Bengaluru.
The MoU signing took place at Axis House in Worli, Mumbai and was attended by Dr. Devi Prasad Shetty, Chairperson, Board of Governors, IIM Bangalore; Mr. Amitabh Chaudhry, MD & CEO, Axis Bank; Prof. U. Dinesh Kumar, Director-in-charge, IIM Bangalore; and Mr. Vijay Mulbagal, Group Head – Wholesale Bank Coverage, Corporate Salary, Sustainability & CSR, Axis Bank, along with senior leadership representatives from both institutions.
As part of the collaboration, Axis Bank shall facilitate the construction and operationalization of the Axis Bank Centre of Economics in the Integrated Academic and Administrative Block in Phase I of the new campus, which will serve as a key academic and research facility for the entire School. The commitment also extends to faculty development, research, and offering need- and merit-based scholarships for deserving students.
The Axis Bank Centre of Economics will adopt a curriculum aligned with global standards, which combines disciplinary depth with quantitative and computational learning from the outset, promoting the use of data, quantitative methods and empirical analysis to address real-world economic challenges. This Centre will be integral to the School’s vision of becoming a globally benchmarked institution known for academic excellence, interdisciplinary learning and contemporary research.
Speaking on the occasion, Vijay Mulbagal, Group Head – Wholesale Bank Coverage, Corporate Salary, Sustainability & CSR, Axis Bank, said: “Multi-disciplinary education and research are vital to building the knowledge, skills and capabilities India needs to navigate an increasingly complex economic landscape. Together with IIM Bangalore, Axis Bank aims to establish a new paradigm in undergraduate education that is benchmarked to global standards and integrates meaningful pedagogy with deep research. The Axis Bank Centre of Economics reflects our continued commitment to strengthening institutions that can play a leading role in shaping India’s long-term, inclusive and sustainable progress.”
On the occasion, Prof. U. Dinesh Kumar, Director-in-charge, IIMB, said: “We are grateful to Axis Bank for supporting our vision for the Axis Bank Centre of Economics at the IIMB – Dorabji Tata School of Undergraduate Studies. Economics is central to understanding the forces shaping businesses, markets and society, and its study today increasingly calls for strong foundations in quantitative and qualitative methods, data-driven application and interdisciplinary thinking. The Centre will contribute to creating an environment where students and faculty can engage deeply with the determinants of global and national development. The support from Axis Bank will enable us to strengthen academic infrastructure and create opportunities that advance the School’s mission of developing a world-class undergraduate institution”.
The IIMB – Dorabji Tata School of Undergraduate Studies welcomed its first academic cohort in August 2026. 80 students across the Bachelor of Science (Hons) programmes in Data Sciences and Economics were selected from a record pool of nearly 12,000 applicants through a rigorous application process. 40 students from the inaugural cohort shall pursue their Bachelor of Science Degree in Economics with a minor in Data Sciences at the Axis Bank Centre of Economics.
Building on the School’s strong academic foundation, the Axis Bank Centre of Economics will open new avenues for students and faculty while nurturing future economists, researchers and leaders equipped to shape India’s growth and engage with the global economy.