Who is in the Indian School of Business Class of 2026? Meet this year’s PGP-M cohort

From space research to medicine, and sports to global impact, this year’s Postgraduate Program in Management (PGP-M) class at Indian School of Business (ISB) come from a diverse background.

Recognized as the number one school in India by the Financial Times, this year’s PGP-M class consists of a total of 826 students, 53% of whom are male, and 47% female. Aged between 21 and 45, with an average age of 26, the class of 2026 has between two and 17 years of work experience, averaging at around four years.

The majority of this year’s cohort come from an engineering background, with 54% having majored in the subject during their undergraduate studies. A further 21% majored in commerce, finance, and accounting, while 9% studied business.

Of those who sat the previous version of the GMAT exam, scores ranged from 640 to 780, with an average score of 720. Those who took the current version of the exam scored between 555 and 765, with an average score of 669.

“Looking ahead, this year’s PGP-M class will step into a global business environment shaped by rapid technological advances, sustainability imperatives, and cross-functional leadership,” says Professor Deepa Mani, deputy dean of academic programs at ISB.

Meet students from this year’s cohort below.

Indian School of Business Class of 2026

Salil Bagai

Before he joined ISB, Salil Bagai worked as a scientist at the Liquid Propulsions Systems Center (LPSC) for the Indian Space Research Organisation (IRSO). Through this, he contributed to a number of India’s flagship missions, including Chandrayaan-2, Chandrayaan-3, and Gaganyaan, India’s first human spaceflight mission.

“My role at IRSO evolved from technical engineering to project management and leadership, shaping my understanding of how large organizations function under high stakes and tight deadlines,” explains Salil. “These experiences made me realise that while technical excellence is essential, structured management knowledge is equally crucial, which eventually led me to pursue an MBA.”

Once he decided to pursue an MBA, Salil began studying for the GMAT alongside his role at IRSO—a task he says was challenging but beneficial for strengthening his discipline and focus.

“Alongside GMAT prep, I spent considerable time reflecting my story through essays,” he says. “Conversations with alumni helped me understand how important it was to authentically convey one’s motivations and journey. Writing those essays became a process of self-discovery, connecting with my roots, my experiences at ISRO, and my aspirations for the future.”

Salil says his natural strengths, patience, humility, and planning skills had helped him succeed technically at IRSO, but he realized he lacked formal exposure to business strategy and leadership frameworks.

“The PGP at ISB stood out as the perfect platform to acquire that knowledge,” he says. “The diverse cohort offers perspectives across industries, the case-based pedagogy ensures practical learning, and the world-class faculty bridges theory with real-world application. For someone transitioning from the public sector to corporate management, ISB’s ecosystem provided both the challenge and the support system I was looking for.”

Akarsh Sharma

An entrepreneur with over 20 patents in advanced technology solutions, Akarsh Sharma had an extensive and varied background before joining the PGP-M. From founding TopNergy Tournaments, a platform designed to bring professionally organized sport tournaments to life, to working on a retrofitting venture that aimed to convert petrol and diesel vehicles into electric, innovation has always been at the core for Akarsh.

“I’ve also served as a business analyst in the founder’s office at Shoolini University, worked as a senior analyst at PwC, and co-founded the startup Advizors Global—a consulting firm built to bridge the gaps between startups and structured business strategy,” says Akarsh.

“I continued my mission of democratizing innovation through the Patent World, working with schools, universities, and businesses to build innovation ecosystems, helping them convert ideas into patents, copyrights, and trademarks,” he continues.

Akarsh believes this experience taught him how to operate across a range of roles and how to balance the extremes of business—from the chaos of startups to the impact of academia.

Akarsh also took the GMAT as part of his application to ISB, studying alongside multiple commitments including working part-time and attending online classes. His first attempt at the previous version of the GMAT landed him a score of 650.

“I analyzed my mistakes, reprioritized my schedule, and prepared again,” says Akarsh, noting his sharper focus and improved time management resulting in an improved score of 730.

Akarsh says he hopes to continue to improve, learn, and grow as part of the PGP-M, through pushing his boundaries, meeting people who challenge his beliefs, and building something meaningful.

“For me, joining ISB wasn’t just about getting an MBA—it was about unlocking the next level of perspective,” explains Akarsh. “The ISB PGP aligned perfectly with my long-term vision—to bridge innovation and business strategy, to build ventures that are not just scalable but sustainable, and to create ecosystems that encourage creativity and execution alike.”