PGPDM Batch 26 set to drive social transformation

SPJIMR welcomed Batch 26 of the Post Graduate Programme in Development Management (PGPDM), marking the beginning of a transformative journey for 44 passionate professionals committed to driving social change. The inauguration ceremony, held at the SPJIMR campus, brought together distinguished speakers, faculty, and an exceptional cohort poised to enhance the effectiveness of India’s social sector.

The event began with the traditional lamp-lighting ceremony, with Prof. Tanojkumar Meshram, Chairperson of PGPDM; Dean Varun Nagaraj; Chief Guest Mr. Sanjay Prakash, Managing Director and CEO of SBI Foundation; Prof. Tulsi Jayakumar, Professor of Economics and Policy; and representatives from the participants.

Prof. Meshram delivered a warm welcome address while presenting the remarkable profile of Batch 26. The cohort comprises 44 participants with a combined average work experience of 34 years, representing unprecedented diversity. This includes participants from all four South Indian language backgrounds and, for the first time, representation from Ladakh. His message that “this is not just a classroom; it’s a community of learners” set the tone for the collaborative spirit that defines the programme.

Dean Varun Nagaraj brought intellectual rigour to the proceedings through an engaging discussion on India’s social sector spending. He articulated SPJIMR’s unique approach, and stated, “We come from a business school perspective. ‘Agar paisa spend ho raha hai, toh return bhi aana chahiye’. That’s the lens we bring to the social sector—using business acumen to serve social development.”

He shared that government social sector spending approximates ₹25 lakh crore—nearly 20% of total expenditure—and posed the crucial question: “Should we increase the spend or increase the return on that spend?” His emphasis on enhancing the ROI of social spending underscored SPJIMR’s commitment to developing management excellence within the development sector.

Chief Guest, Mr. Sanjay Prakash, drew from his over 35 years of experience in banking and development to deliver an inspiring address. He offered insights into India’s evolving CSR landscape and highlighted the shift from compliance-driven approaches to purpose-led transformation. “CSR today is not just compliance; it’s about purpose and impact. We are moving from fragmented projects to building ecosystems, and it’s your generation that will drive the change,” he said. His vision for reaching India’s most underprivileged communities through strategic, scalable programmes resonated deeply with the incoming cohort.

The ceremony sparked meaningful connections through introductions involving participants and faculty members, including Prof. Amol Dhaigude, Prof. Chandrika Parmar, and Prof. Kiran Mahasuar, along with the programme team. These interactions laid the foundation for the collaborative learning environment that characterises PGPDM.

As Batch 26 embarks on a rigorous academic journey, we hope they will carry forward SPJIMR’s legacy of developing leaders who create measurable impact across India’s development landscape. Together, this cohort will shape the future of sustainable development practices across the country. SPJIMR is proud to support their evolution into tomorrow’s development management champions.