Innovate & Ignite: 2026 IMA India Corporate Case Challenge

The Innovate & Ignite: 2026 India Corporate Case Challenge is a national-level competition designed to challenge professionals to apply their business, financial, and strategic thinking to a real-world business challenge. It brings together emerging finance and business leaders to collaborate, challenge conventional thinking and develop practical, innovative solutions.

Eligibility & Team Structure

  • Open to early career to mid-level professionals across India.
  • Each Team should comprise of 3 employees.
  • Cross-functional representation is encouraged across Finance & Accounting, Strategy & Business, Operations, Marketing, Sales, Sustainability/ESG, Risk, Supply Chain and other relevant functions.
  • Each organization may register only one team.
  • Teams must independently develop their case solution and may not receive professional assistance in solving the case.

Competition Timeline

  • Competition Launch: 24 October 2026 | Virtual Mode
  • Submission Deadline: 21 December 2026 | Virtual Submission
  • Initial Review Period: 3 January – 8 January 2027 | Virtual Review
  • Top 10 Finalist Teams: Shortlisted following the initial review
  • Grand Finale: 13 February 2027 | Bengaluru
  • Final Presentation: 15-minute presentation followed by Q&A for 10 minutes.

CHALLENGE

Review the real-world business case "How Should Shakti Group Embed ESG While Maintaining Profitability?" and work with your team to analyze the challenges, develop your recommendations, and submit your solution through the competition platform.

Teams will be challenged to:

  • Demonstrate a clear understanding of the business problem.
  • Apply strong analytical, financial and business thinking.
  • Develop creative, practical and well-supported recommendations.
  • Consider relevant business, financial and sustainability implications.
  • Translate analysis and insights into actionable business strategy.
  • Work collaboratively and communicate recommendations effectively.

SUBMIT YOUR SOLUTION

Teams must upload their PowerPoint presentation (PPT/PPTX) containing their case analysis and recommendations through this platform by the specified deadline. 

Please review the Case Solution Presentation Guidelines below before preparing and submitting your presentation.

Each entry must:

  • Complete online Submission form. 
  • Abide by the Ethical Standards and Statement of Compliance.
  • Include a signed Ethics Statement of Compliance Form. To access the statement of compliance form, please click here. 
  • Include a signed Efficacy Form. To access the efficacy form, please click here. 
  • Submit a PowerPoint presentation (not PDF) that contains your case analysis.

CASE SOLUTION PRESENTATION GUIDELINES:

 1. Format: Teams must submit their case solution as a PowerPoint presentation (PPT/PPTX) through the competition platform.

 2. Slide Limit: The presentation must not exceed 40 slides, excluding any permitted appendix/reference slides. Presentations exceeding the prescribed limit may be disqualified.

 3. Team Submission: Each team must submit one consolidated presentation. The solution should reflect the contribution and collaborative work of the entire team.

 4. Case Requirements: The presentation should directly address the business problem and requirements outlined in the case. Teams should clearly demonstrate their analysis, key insights, recommendations and rationale.

 5. Evaluation: Submissions will be evaluated on factors including:

  • Understanding of the case and business problem
  • Quality and depth of analysis
  • Financial and business reasoning
  • Feasibility and relevance of recommendations
  • Consideration of business and sustainability implications
  • Structure, clarity and effectiveness of communication

 6. Visual Presentation: Charts, graphs, tables and other visual elements should be used where they strengthen the analysis and make the recommendations easier to understand.

 7. Anonymity: Do not include the names of team members, organizations or companies or any other identifying information within the case solution or the file name. This is to support an objective evaluation process.

 8. Supporting Material: All information necessary for evaluating the proposed solution should be included within the submitted presentation. Teams should not submit separate handouts or supporting documents unless specifically requested by the organizers.

 9. Sources & Assumptions: Any external data, sources, assumptions or frameworks used in developing the solution should be clearly identified and appropriately referenced within the presentation.

10. Originality: Teams are expected to submit their own original analysis and recommendations. Any use of external material should be appropriately acknowledged.

11. Submission Deadline: The completed presentation must be uploaded to the competition platform by the stated deadline. Late submissions will not be accepted.

12. File Naming: Teams should follow the prescribed file-naming format provided on the competition platform and must not include participant, organization or company names in the file name.

To submit your solution for the case, please click here.  All case analyses should be submitted online on or before Monday, December 21, 2026.

Recognition & Rewards

Winning Team

  • Trophy
  • Certificate of Excellence
  • Amazon Vouchers
  • Full CMA Scholarship

First Runners-Up

  • Certificate of Merit
  • Amazon Vouchers
  • Full CMA Scholarship

Second Runners-Up

  • Certificate of Merit
  • Amazon Vouchers
  • Full CMA Scholarship.

In addition to the awards, finalist teams will gain the opportunity to present their ideas before a distinguished jury and be recognized as among the leading corporate teams participating in the challenge.

Be Part of the Challenge

The Innovate & Ignite: 2026 IMA India Corporate Case Challenge is more than a case competition.

It is an opportunity for organizations to engage emerging talent, encourage cross-functional thinking and develop the next generation of business and finance leaders.

The challenge will explore an important question facing businesses today: How can organizations create sustainable value while balancing business performance, financial priorities and ESG imperatives?

We invite your organization to nominate a team, bring together your best emerging talent and compete on a national platform.

THINK BOLDLY. SOLVE STRATEGICALLY. COMPETE NATIONALLY.

For any queries concerning the 2026 IMA India Corporate Case Competition, please contact the IMA India team at imaindia@imanet.org.