Ahmedabad: International offers powered a new milestone in IIM Ahmedabad’s 2026 final placements for its flagship PGP, with the Indian Placement Reporting Standards (IPRS) report pegging the maximum earning potential (MEP) at $243,000—about Rs 2.31 crore—its highest international MEP since IPRS was introduced in 2011.The new peak overtook the earlier record of $192,581 set in 2014. The $243,000 MEP was linked to a Dubai placement in the IT sector for a business development role. IIM-A said the MEP calculation includes the annual cash component, one-time cash payment and total guaranteed cash component.The IT sector led international pay this year, a shift from the last five years in which Banking, Financial Services and Insurance (BFSI) twice emerged as the top overseas payer, while consulting and business conglomerates led once each.Of the 392 students who participated in the process, six chose international roles—four in Dubai and one each in Hong Kong and Japan. By sector, business conglomerates hired three of the six, while BFSI, IT and retail accounted for one each. Over the last five years, 2024 saw the highest international tally, with 11 overseas placements.On domestic outcomes, the maximum package in India stood at Rs 81.6 lakh, the third-highest in the past five years, while the median MEP rose to Rs 36.98 lakh, the highest in the same period. BFSI remained the top-paying domestic sector for the second consecutive year.Consulting led in volume with 155 offers, followed by 82 in BFSI, 34 each in IT and conglomerates, and 15 in consumer services. By compensation, BFSI led, followed by IT, consumer services and automotive—each reporting a highest MEP of Rs 50 lakh or more. Excluding automotive, which had a single candidate, the highest median salaries were reported in BFSI, followed by consulting, engineering/technology and consumer services.Recruiters also flagged a jump in business development roles. From 2022 to 2024, annual offers in the category ranged from two to five, rising to 27 in 2026.In all, 182 firms participated across about 267 roles. Accenture Strategy made the most offers, including PPOs, at 36, followed by BCG with 33, FinIQ Consulting with 24 and McKinsey & Company with 21. The report said over 50 new firms joined the lateral and final placement processes in 2026.
