IIM Ahmedabad Professor Defends Navya Naveli Nanda’s Admission as Merit-Based

Navya Naveli Nanda, granddaughter of Bollywood legend Amitabh Bachchan, recently announced her admission to the prestigious Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Ahmedabad for the Blended Post Graduate Programme (BPGP). The 26-year-old shared her excitement on Instagram, calling it a “dream come true.”

Thanks, @rashi__pandey_, for saying so loudly.

The acceptance rate for this program is low, like others. Even if ppl want to discount her interview & CV. She, dammit, cleared the cut-off.

For a long time, India has been debating why elite families move out of India for higher… https://t.co/vj32H0Mvis

— Promila Agarwal (@promila_agarwal) September 2, 2024

However, her admission quickly became a topic of online debate, with critics questioning the legitimacy of her course and speculating about her star lineage influencing the process. In response, IIM Ahmedabad’s Associate Professor Promila Agarwal took to social media to address these concerns.

Professor Agarwal firmly defended Nanda’s admission: “IIM-A does not offer quotas for any of its programmes. Navya Nanda was admitted purely on merit, having met all the required cut-offs and successfully clearing the interviews, just like any other candidate.” She further emphasized Nanda’s qualifications, noting that she has a “solid CV” that justified her selection.

Professor Agarwal also highlighted the rigorous selection process for the BPGP, which requires applicants to pass an online admission test or present valid CAT, GMAT, or GRE scores, followed by a personal interview. She pointed out that the acceptance rate for this program is as competitive as for other IIM-A courses.

Navya Nanda’s Instagram post shared her excitement, along with photos of her new journey at IIM Ahmedabad, stating, “Dreams do come true! The next 2 years, with the best people and faculty! Blended Post Graduate Programme (BPGP) Class of 2026.”