Manipal, April 11, 2026: T A Pai Management Institute (TAPMI), a constituent of the Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), an Institute of Eminence Deemed to be University, hosted its 40th Annual Graduation Ceremony as part of the 33rd Convocation Ceremony of MAHE, Manipal, at KMC Greens, Manipal.

At the ceremony, degrees were awarded to students across TAPMI’s five flagship programmes, MBA (Core), MBA in Banking and Financial Services, MBA in Human Resource Management, MBA in Marketing, and MBA in International Business.

The event was graced by Chief Guest Arundhati Bhattacharya, President & CEO, Salesforce – South Asia, who delivered the convocation address and presented awards to students for academic excellence. The Guest of Honour, Karthik Y, Chief Executive Officer, Page Industries Limited, also addressed the gathering. It was a matter of pride for TAPMI that the Guest of Honour is an alumnus from the 2007–09 batch.

Speaking on the occasion, Lt. Gen. (Dr.) M. D. Venkatesh, Vice-Chancellor, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, congratulated the graduating students and underscored the role of institutions in shaping responsible leaders. “At MAHE, our endeavour is to prepare graduates who combine professional competence with social consciousness. TAPMI’s emphasis on academic rigour, ethics, and industry relevance equips its students to contribute meaningfully to organisations and society alike,” he said, adding that the university remains committed to nurturing talent capable of addressing global and national challenges.”

In her convocation address,  Arundhati Bhattacharya, President & CEO – Salesforce South Asia, urged the graduating students to remain agile and purpose-driven in an increasingly complex world.  “India’s future will be shaped by a generation of leaders who can navigate complexity with clarity and lead with both intelligence and empathy. In a world defined by constant change, purpose will be the true differentiator. Institutions like MAHE are instrumental in nurturing such leaders, equipping them to drive innovation, responsibility, and impact at scale,” she added

Addressing the graduates, Mr. Karthik Y, Chief Executive Officer, Page Industries Limited, reflected on his own journey from TAPMI to corporate leadership. “What TAPMI gives you is not just academic grounding but the mindset to solve real-world problems. Stay curious, stay grounded, and remember that sustained success is built on discipline, integrity, and respect for people,” he said, urging students to view learning as a lifelong process.”

 Dr. Sharath Rao, Pro  Vice Chancellor (Health Sciences), Dr. Dilip Naik, Pro Vice Chancellor (Mangalore campus), Dr. Narayana Sabhahit, Pro Vice Chancellor (Technology and Sciences), Dr. Giridhar Kini, Registrar, MAHE  Dr. Durga Prasad, In-charge Director, TAPMI, and faculty members, were present on the occasion.

A total of 521 students from the 2024–26 graduating cohort received their degrees. This included 348 students from the MBA (Core) programme, 56 students from MBA (Banking and Financial Services), 44 students from MBA (Human Resource Management), 50 students from MBA (Marketing), and 23 students from MBA (International Business).

The ceremony marked a significant milestone for the graduating students, celebrating their academic achievements and the beginning of their professional journeys. The event was attended by proud family members and faculty, making it a memorable occasion that reflected TAPMI’s commitment to nurturing future-ready leaders.

The following students were presented the T. A. Pai Young Achiever Award, instituted in 2024 to commemorate the centenary year of founder Dr. T. A. Pai. carrying a cash prize of ₹2.50 lakh along with a medal and certificate, the award recognised first-rank holders across all five MBA programmes for their academic excellence: Ms. Rythem Sharma (MBA, in absentia), Ms. Riya (MBA-BKFS), Ms. Malavika Rajesh (MBA-HRM), Mr. Calvin D’Cunha (MBA-MKT), and Ms. Ananya Bansal (MBA-IB).

The TAPMI Titan of the Year 2026, supported by an endowment from Titan Industries since 2013 to honour the best overall graduating student, was awarded to Mr. Gursimran Singh Reen. The Dr. T. M. A. Pai Gold Medal for Outstanding Research Publication was also presented Prof. Madhu Veeraraghavan, Pro Vice Chancellor -Management, Law, Humanities and Social Sciences.  Prof. Veeraraghavan has been honored by Brigham Young University’s 2025 rankings as the #1 scholar in India for accounting research.