2026 Positive Impact Assessment: : The Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIM Bangalore) secured an overall score of 9.7 in the Positive Impact Assessment (PIR) 2026, significantly exceeding the global average score of 8.0. The institute was also recognized as a Level 5 “Pioneering School” for the fifth consecutive year, maintaining the highest distinction awarded in the global assessment framework.The Positive Impact Assessment is an international student-led assessment that measures how effectively business schools contribute to social progress and prepare future leaders to address global challenges. Unlike conventional rankings that focus on academic performance and institutional reputation, the PIR evaluates institutions in dimensions such as governance, culture, learning methods, public engagement and social impact.The 2026 edition of the PIR received nearly 20,000 valid student responses from 87 business schools in 32 countries and five continents, making it the largest edition of the assessment to date.According to the results, IIM Bangalore recorded particularly strong performance in the ‘Energize’ and ‘Educate’ categories. Under ‘Energize’, which assesses governance and institutional culture, the institute achieved an overall score of 9.8, with a governance score of 9.8 and culture 9.7. In the ‘Educate’ category, which covers programmes, learning methods and student support, IIM Bangalore scored 9.6 overall, compared to the global average of 7.9. Individual scores in this category include 9.7 for programs and 9.6 each for learning methods and student support.The institute also reported strong performance in areas related to public engagement and its role as a model institution, which are assessed under the “Enable” dimension of the PIR.Commenting on the recognition, Prof U Dinesh Kumar, Director-in-Charge of IIM Bangalore, said that the feedback received through the evaluation process will help the institution assess its efforts to meet society’s evolving expectations from management education.“The annual feedback we receive through the PIR helps to validate our efforts at a time when the modern B-School has been called to a higher purpose than ever before. We will continue to play a conscious role in addressing the challenges that matter to society in our journey to be among the leading centers of management education in the world,” he said.Professor Mukta Kulkarni, Dean of Programs at IIM Bangalore, said the recognition was particularly significant because the assessment is based entirely on student feedback.“It is especially encouraging to see that IIMB continues to be recognized at the highest level in an assessment formed entirely by student voices. It challenges us to keep raising the bar,” he said.The Positive Impact Rating is governed by a Swiss association and was initiated by a coalition of business school experts. The initiative is supported by organizations such as WWF, Oxfam International, and the UN Global Compact Switzerland and Liechtenstein. It focuses on evaluating the contribution of business schools towards the well-being of society and sustainable development.
