Management Development Institute

Management Development Institute (MDI), MDI Gurgaon, established in 1972, is one of India’s leading management institutes known for its academic excellence, strong industry linkages, and global recognition. Accredited by AACSB International (USA) and the Association of MBAs (AMBA, UK), the institute is part of an elite group of internationally recognised business schools. Located in Gurugram, India’s corporate hub, MDI offers full-time postgraduate programmes, executive education, online management courses, and doctoral fellowships. Its graduates occupy leadership roles across corporations, government bodies, and international organisations in over 50 countries. Supported by a strong faculty, industry partnerships, global collaborations, and an active alumni network, MDI Gurgaon emphasises rigorous academics, research, and practical relevance in management education.

Management Development Institute

Motto	Yogāh Kārmāsu Kaushālām
Motto in English	Perfection in action is Yoga
Type	Private business school
Established	1973 (1973)
Chairperson	Shri Rajnish Kumar
Director	Prof. Arvind Sahay
Location	Gurgaon , Haryana , India
Campus	Urban
Website	www.mdi.ac.in

Rankings

Institute rankings
Business/Management – India
NIRF (2023)[1]	13
Outlook India (2022)[2]	2

MDI was ranked 13th among overall management schools in India, ranked 2nd in the list of Private B Schools in India, by the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) in 2023,^[1] ranked 2nd in India's Best B-schools by Outlook, ranked 7th among Best B-schools by The Week, ranked 7th again amongst India’s Best B-schools by India Today.

Leadership

MDI Gurgaon is governed by the MDI Society, a registered body comprising senior leaders from India’s banking and financial sectors, which oversees both MDI Gurgaon and MDI Murshidabad. Its strategic direction is shaped by the Board of Governors, consisting of distinguished figures from industry, academia, and regulatory institutions. The institute is led by Prof. Sahay, who joined MDI Gurgaon as Director and Professor of Marketing and International Business in October 2023. Prior to this, he served on the faculty of the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (from 2004) and London Business School (from 1996), following his Ph.D. from the University of Texas at Austin. He is supported by a team of Deans, Chairpersons, and senior administrators who oversee academic programmes, research, and institutional operations. This leadership structure ensures strong governance and continued focus on academic excellence.

Faculty Members

MDI Gurgaon’s faculty comprises a blend of academicians, researchers, policymakers, administrators, and industry professionals who contribute to both scholarship and practice-oriented learning. The institute emphasizes high-quality research, with faculty members regularly publishing in reputed peer-reviewed international journals, including Asia Pacific Management Review, Benchmarking: An International Journal, Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, International Journal of Bank Marketing, Global Business Review, and Vision: The Journal of Business Perspective. Faculty expertise is organised across eight academic areas: Accounting and Finance, Business Communication, Economics and Public Policy, Information Management, Marketing, Operations Management, Strategic Management, and Organisational Behaviour and Human Resource Management. This multidisciplinary composition ensures that students receive a combination of rigorous academic perspectives and contemporary industry practices.

Approvals and Accreditations

MDI Gurgaon holds accreditations from Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), Association of MBAs, UK (AMBA) and National Board of Accreditation (NBA). The accreditations awarded by two most influential academic accreditation bodies globally, underscore the quality in everything we do at MDI Gurgaon.

MDI Gurgaon Ranking

MDI Gurgaon consistently stands among India’s top management institutes, earning strong national and global recognition year after year. In 2025, it secured #7 in Business Today, #8 in The Week, and #9 in the NIRF India Rankings, along with a place in the Financial Times MIM Ranking and #61 in the Financial Times Executive Education Custom Rankings. The institute’s performance in 2024 remained equally impressive with #6 in India Today, #5 in Business World, #7 in The Week, #6 in Business Today, and #11 in NIRF, while also being featured in the Financial Times MIM Ranking and the QS Global MBA Ranking.

Furthermore in 2023, MDI Gurgaon continued its strong run, ranking #7 in both India Today and The Week, #2 in Outlook, #10 in MBAUniverse.com, #13 in NIRF, and #7 again in Business Today, alongside securing positions in the Financial Times MIM and QS Global MBA Rankings. These consistent achievements highlight MDI Gurgaon’s enduring excellence and leadership in management education.

Programmes offered at MDI Gurgaon

Full-Time Programmes: MDI Gurgaon offers several full-time residential programmes designed for students seeking comprehensive management education. Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM) – A two-year, full-time management programme.

PGDM in Business Analytics (PGDM-BA) – A full-time programme with emphasis on data-driven decision-making and analytics.

PGDM in Human Resource Management (PGDM-HRM) – Focused on human resources, organizational behaviour, and people management.

PGDM in International Business (PGDM-IB) – Includes international components and global exposure, often through dual-degree structures.

Online Programmes: PGDM (Online) – A two-year AICTE-approved online management programme designed for remote learners and working professionals.

Executive and Part-Time Programmes : These programmes are intended for working professionals seeking to upgrade their managerial skills while continuing their employment. PGDM in Business Management (PGDM-BM) – An executive management programme.

PGDM in Public Policy and Management (PGDM-PPM) – Focused on public policy, governance, and public-sector management.

Executive PGDM in Business Administration – A part-time programme for mid-career professionals.

Management Development Programmes (MDPs) – Short-term, specialized executive programmes offered in various functional areas. Fellow Programme in Management (FPM) – The institute’s doctoral-level programme, offered in residential and non-residential modes for individuals pursuing research and academic careers.

Research at the Management Development Institute, Gurgaon

The Institute’s academic community carries out research work of a high international standard that contributes to the national goals of innovation, socio-economic development and environmental sustainability. MDI Gurgaon encourages its faculty and doctoral students to publish their papers in quality journals classified in Class A, B and C based on ISI Thomson Scientifics’ Journal Impact Factor and cases in Asia Case Research Centre, Hong Kong. The faculty members collaborate with leading institutions and societies for organising international conferences and conducting research projects. These also result in high quality publications such as books and research reports. MDI Gurgaon has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Asia Case Research Centre (ACRC), Hong Kong, to promote an India Business series.

Vision: The Journal of Business Perspective

MDI Gurgaon publishes Vision: The Journal of Business Perspective, a quarterly, peer-reviewed management journal published by SAGE Publications with an impact factor of 3.1. Guided by an editorial board of distinguished national and international scholars, the journal features high-quality research from around the world and promotes thought leadership, academic debate, and industry-relevant insights. Widely subscribed to by leading management institutes and increasingly recognised by corporate professionals, Vision is globally indexed on EBSCO, ensuring broad visibility and reach for cutting-edge management research.

Centre of Excellence at Management Development Institute, Gurgaon

MDI Gurgaon established its Centres of Excellence (CoEs) to promote multi-disciplinary research and strengthen collaboration between faculty, industry experts, and partner organisations. The Centre for Indian Thought and Management develops indigenous management perspectives; the Centre for Digital Economy, Cryptocurrencies & Cyber Security studies emerging technologies and their impact; and the Centre for Ethics, Responsible Organisations & ESG Initiatives (CERO) advances research in ethics and sustainability. The institute also hosts the Centre on Artificial Intelligence and its Application in Business, focused on AI/ML-driven innovation, and the Centre for Financial Services (CFS), inaugurated in 2025 to support research and policy dialogue in banking, insurance, and financial markets. Together, these CoEs serve as key drivers of MDI Gurgaon’s research, outreach, and thought leadership.

Academics

The institute offers various post graduate diploma programmes. These include full-time post graduate programmes in management and part-time programmes such as executive programmes. It also offers fellowship research programmes.^[3]

Full Time Programmes : MDI Gurgaon offers two-year Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM), Post Graduate Diploma In Management - Business Analytics (PGDM Business Analytics), Post Graduate Diploma In Management - Human Resource Management (PGDM-HRM) and Post Graduate Diploma In Management - International Business (PGDM-IB). The AICTE-approved program is accredited AACSB, AMBA.

Online Management Programme - It also offers 2-year PGDM (Online) Programme which follows same curriculum as the 2 years full time Programme.

Executive PGDM Program - Many Programmes for Working professionals are offered by MDI among which most popular are : Post Graduate Diploma in Management – Business Management (PGDM-BM), Post Graduate Diploma In Management - Business Administration (PGDM BA); Post Graduate Diploma In Management – Public Policy And Management (PGDM-PPM).

Fellowship Programmes : Also offered a Fellow Programme in Management (FPM).

Management Development Institute was set-up in 1973 as an institute for training, consulting, and research activities.^[4] In 1986, Lt. Gen. ML Chibber, a Padma Bhushan, was appointed as its director.^[5] The same year, Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, along with HRD minister P. Chidambaram visited the MDI campus and discussed with Lt. Gen. ML Chibber about unifying leadership amongst private, public, and government sectors.^[6]

Thus, India’s first full-time Executive PGDM program, called ‘National Management Programme (NMP)’ was created with a 15-month curriculum.^[7] The core objective of the program was to develop appreciate mindsets across the three sectors and provide opportunity to learn from each other.^[8] Additionally, Gandhi conferred the following awards to the program: Prime Minister’s gold medal for topper of the course, Finance Minister’s gold medal for topper in finance, HR Minister’s gold medal for topper in HR, and ITC gold medal for topper in marketing. ^[9]

The program drew top government officers as well as private sector organisation executives that had the potential to attain top leadership positions.^[10] The program, originally restricted to top executives nominated by their organisations, eventually became open for general public applications also, and was MDI’s flagship programme till 1994.^[11]

National Management Programme (NMP) was rechristened as ‘Post Graduate Diploma in Management – Business Management’ (PGDM-BM) in 2021, has been open for general applications for Executive PGDM ^[12] The AICTE-approved program is accredited as a full-time MBA by the Association of MBAs, UK (AMBA) and has been revised for duration (18 months), content, and corporate exposure as well.^[13]

MDI launched its 2-year Post Graduate Diploma in Management programme in 1994, making it as the new flagship programme.^[14] Thereafter, MDI added part-time PGDM (erstwhile EMP), PGDM- International Business, PGDM - Human Resource Management, Online PGDM, and fellowship programs to its list of courses offered.^[15]

Exchange Program

MDI Gurgaon has one of the largest exchange programmes in the country where one out of every 5 students enrolled in the post graduate programmes get an opportunity to study abroad for one or two terms. It has partner institutes in more than 34 countries ^[16] with institutes such as EDHEC Business School,^[17] Copenhagen Business School,^[18] HHL Leipzig Graduate School of Management,^[19] Bocconi University, RSM Erasmus University, ESCP Europe.^[20]

Notable alumni

• Parameswaran Iyer^[21]
• Durjoy Datta
• K. S. Sabarinadhan
• Sachin Garg