Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Monday said technology-enabled bilingual management education has the potential to bridge the rural-urban divide by making quality education accessible to talented students regardless of their location or background.
Virtually inaugurating the online bilingual Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) programme at the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Udaipur, Goyal described the initiative as a significant step towards expanding access to high-quality management education through technology.
The Minister said offering the programme in both Hindi and English would enable a wider section of society to benefit from the credibility and quality associated with IIM education. He expressed confidence that the undergraduate course would contribute to the country’s development while meeting the evolving needs of Indian industry.
Highlighting India’s growing digital ecosystem, Goyal said the country has around 100 crore internet users, making technology an effective medium for delivering quality education at scale in line with the National Education Policy (NEP).
“The classrooms of IIM will now be visible on the screen,” he said, adding that students from small towns such as Bhilwara as well as remote regions like Bastar would be able to access the programme through smartphones, laptops or computers. He noted that while the course would be delivered online, examinations would be conducted offline to ensure academic integrity and accountability.
The Minister also outlined four key suggestions to strengthen the programme.
He recommended incorporating regular physical interactions into the hybrid model through monthly faculty visits and student meet-ups at different locations, saying management education extends beyond classroom learning and benefits from peer interaction and collaborative experiences.
Secondly, Goyal stressed the need to focus on soft-skill development, including communication, teamwork, technology proficiency, cultural exposure and interpersonal skills, to better prepare students for professional careers.
His third recommendation centred on experiential learning through visits to factories, ports and industrial clusters, enabling students to gain practical exposure to management and industrial operations.
As his fourth suggestion, the Minister urged IIM Udaipur to adopt global best practices by leveraging digital and audio-visual learning tools, promoting credit transfers under the National Education Policy, collaborating with international institutions and encouraging research internships during the fourth year of the programme.
Speaking about India’s economic outlook, Goyal said new free trade agreements are creating fresh opportunities for manufacturing, innovation and entrepreneurship, opening global avenues for India’s youth.
“For a Viksit Bharat, the doors of the world are open to students,” he said, encouraging them to combine academic learning with practical experience to prepare for future challenges.
The Minister highlighted the transformative role of educational technology, noting that while the COVID-19 pandemic posed significant challenges, it also accelerated the adoption of online learning and strengthened India’s EdTech ecosystem.
He said digital education has helped bridge the gap between rural and urban India, making quality learning more accessible across the country.
Goyal also observed that rapid advancements in artificial intelligence and emerging technologies are reshaping management education and industry requirements. He said employers increasingly seek dynamic skills, making continuous learning and adaptability essential for future professionals.
Drawing parallels with India’s ongoing free trade agreement negotiations, the Minister said virtual collaboration across different time zones has demonstrated how technology can improve both speed and efficiency. He expressed confidence that IIM Udaipur’s hybrid model, combining online learning with physical engagement, would become a successful template for management education.
Praising the global reputation of the Indian Institutes of Management, Goyal said the IIM brand is recognised internationally for producing capable business leaders and entrepreneurs.
Addressing the inaugural batch of students, he described them as pioneers of a unique initiative and expressed confidence that they would make history by setting new benchmarks for technology-driven, bilingual management education in India.
