Ahmedabad: The Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA) has scripted a new milestone in its international placements, with a student securing a Maximum Earning Potential (MEP) of US$243,000—about ₹2.31 crore in the 2026 placement season.
The record offer, made for a business development role in the IT sector in Dubai, is the highest international MEP reported by IIMA since the Indian Placement Reporting Standards (IPRS) were introduced in 2011. It also breaks the institute’s previous record of US$192,581, set in 2014.
IT Takes the Top Spot
The latest placement season marks a shift in IIMA’s international salary landscape, with IT emerging as the highest-paying overseas sector, overtaking sectors such as banking, financial services and insurance (BFSI) and consulting that had dominated in recent years.
Of the 392 students who participated in the placement process, six accepted international offers. Dubai accounted for four placements, while Hong Kong and Japan recorded one each.
IIMA’s MEP is not simply a headline CTC figure. It factors in the annual cash salary, one-time cash payments and total guaranteed cash component, as reported under IPRS. The institute says its placement data is standardised and subjected to third-party audit.
Domestic Placements Also Remain Strong
The international record came alongside solid domestic placement numbers. The highest domestic MEP stood at ₹81.6 lakh, while the median MEP climbed to ₹36.98 lakh, the highest level recorded at IIMA in the past five years. BFSI remained the top-paying domestic sector for the second consecutive year.
Consulting, meanwhile, remained the biggest recruiter by volume, making 155 offers, followed by BFSI with 82. IT and business conglomerates made 34 offers each, while consumer services accounted for 15.
Business Development Roles Surge
Another striking trend was the rise of business development jobs. Offers in this category jumped to 27 in 2026, compared with only two to five annually between 2022 and 2024.
Overall, 182 companies participated, offering opportunities across around 267 roles. Accenture Strategy made 36 offers, including pre-placement offers, followed by BCG with 33, FinIQ Consulting with 24 and McKinsey & Company with 21. More than 50 new companies also joined IIMA’s lateral and final placement processes this year.
IIMA’s ₹2.31 crore international MEP therefore stands out not only as a new salary record but also as a sign of growing global demand for management talent in technology and business development.
