The collaboration will support the
Centre’s infrastructure, academic research and scholarships for meritorious
students
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.