At MMA, we firmly believe in the power of continuous learning and holistic development. We encourage every student and aspiring professional to keep igniting their careers, expanding their horizons, and inspiring those around them. It is through such collective effort that we can shape a stronger, future-ready management fraternity.
The MMA All-India Management Students Convention, held on 27th October 2025 on the theme “Future-Ready: Leveraging AI, Agility & Human Skills to Thrive in a Changing World”, was a resounding success. Conceived to bridge the gap between academia and industry, the convention focused on equipping management students with practical exposure to AI, digital thinking, soft skills, and entrepreneurial mindsets—capabilities that are indispensable in today’s rapidly evolving world.
A distinguished line-up of speakers shared thought-provoking insights designed to demystify AI, reinforce the importance of ethical leadership and soft skills, and inspire career agility in an uncertain environment. With over 1,250 students attending in person and 28,100 viewers joining online, the overwhelming participation reaffirmed MMA’s commitment to nurturing the next generation of leaders.
In this issue, we are delighted to present articles that capture the essence of the sessions, which offer invaluable lessons for all management professionals. We invite you to read on, explore the embedded videos, and draw inspiration from the wisdom shared by our eminent speakers.
Save the Date: MMA Annual Convention 2026
I am delighted to announce that the MMA Annual Convention 2026, themed “India @ 2035: Driving Progress in a Changing Global Paradigm”, will be held on Wednesday, 11 February 2026, at Hotel Taj Coromandel, Chennai. This year’s theme promises to spark deep reflection and offer rich insights into India’s journey over the next decade. McKinsey are the knowledge partner for the convention.
As a prelude to the convention, MMA invites young managers to participate in a competition centred on the convention theme. This presents an excellent platform for emerging professionals to demonstrate their capabilities, represent their organisations, and compete for attractive cash prizes.
We encourage you not to miss this opportunity. Watch out for the brochure and send in your nominations at the earliest.
Rule Book to Govern AI
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology released India’s first comprehensive Artificial Intelligence Governance Guidelines in November 2025. The framework is built on six key pillars: infrastructure, capacity building, policy and regulation, risk mitigation, accountability, and institutional mechanisms.
The guidelines mark a significant step toward creating an organised, innovation-friendly regulatory environment—one that supports India’s technology landscape and rapidly expanding start-up ecosystem. Rather than imposing a heavy compliance burden, the guidelines promote voluntary best practices, transparency, and ethical design principles.
This forward-looking approach brings greater clarity on data governance, model transparency, and risk management, offering policy stability that can strengthen investor confidence and encourage global partnerships.
A notable concern, however, is that the guidelines do not clearly outline how enforcement will function, leaving considerable room for interpretation. Should voluntary compliance prove insufficient, India may eventually require a dedicated AI law to make publicly determined norms legally enforceable.
Beware Against Cyber Heists
True financial literacy today goes beyond managing one’s money—it includes understanding how to safeguard digital access to it. Unfortunately, we still operate within a system that, in many ways, infantilises users rather than empowering them.
India’s financial architecture cannot depend solely on paternalistic safeguards. It must empower participants with the tools, visibility, and control they need to protect their hard-earned savings. The solution will not come from yet another digital literacy week or a standalone knowledge-sharing session at MMA.
What is needed is a shift in mindset: the financial sector must move away from merely shielding users from their own mistakes and instead focus on equipping them to navigate a world where every digital account is a potential target. In such an environment, the first—and often the last—line of defence is a user base that is well-informed, vigilant, and empowered. At MMA, it is our constant endeavour to strengthen this capability. We aim to empower our members and management professionals to lead by example, share knowledge, and collectively build resilience against cyber heists.
Leading with Purpose in the Age of AI
In the age of AI, leadership itself is undergoing a profound transformation. Leaders are no longer merely growth strategists; they are becoming technologists, architects of innovation, and ambassadors of change. With AI reshaping every sector, leaders today must deploy these technologies not just to improve efficiency, but to reimagine business models and build lasting competitive advantage.
At the core of this shift lies a renewed emphasis on investing in future-ready skills. Purpose-driven leadership in the AI era demands a deeper commitment to equipping organisations for long-term resilience. This transition moves leaders from reactive strategy to the creation of robust, future-forward initiatives capable of thriving amid rapid technological disruption.
In this context, MMA organised an insightful presentation by internationally acclaimed speaker Dr. Alex Osterwalder, Founder & CEO of Strategyzer, on “Strategy, Growth and Competition in the Age of AI”, in October 2025 at the MMA Management Center.
I am delighted to present, in this issue, the cover story based on his thought-provoking lecture. Please read on—and do watch the video at …….
Is the Rupee Racing Toward 100?
The rupee has fallen by around 4.5% over the past eleven months, a puzzling trend given that India’s economy remains fundamentally stable, with no clear domestic trigger for a sharp depreciation. Much of the pressure stems from global uncertainty. A thinning capital account, reduced buffers, and a current account vulnerable to tariff headwinds have all dampened market sentiment toward the rupee.
India is responding with a series of reforms aimed at strengthening capital inflows—easing External Commercial Borrowing (ECB) norms, further opening the banking sector, and encouraging greater use of the rupee in international trade settlement.
Yet the more pertinent question may not be whether the rupee will touch 100, but what it means if it does. A weaker currency is not necessarily a negative outcome. In fact, it can help offset the inflationary impact of tariffs and keep Indian exports competitively priced in global markets. Ultimately, robust economic growth remains the most powerful magnet for foreign capital—and the strongest long-term support for the rupee.
Building Rare Earth Resilience
The Government of India has approved a ₹7280 crore scheme to incentivise the manufacturing of rare earth permanent magnets over the next seven years. The initiative aims to build the capacity to produce 6,000 metric tonnes annually of these critical components, which are essential for a wide range of technologies—from electric vehicles and renewable energy systems to advanced electronics.
This strategic push signals India’s intent to strengthen its position in the global race for secure and reliable access to key materials that power modern industry. By offering fiscal incentives, the scheme is designed to attract investment, boost domestic capabilities, and elevate India as a significant player in the international rare earth value chain.
Preparing for the New Labour Landscape
India’s labour framework is on the cusp of a historic transformation. With the consolidation of 29 Central labour laws into four comprehensive Labour Codes, organisations across the country are preparing to navigate a new era of workforce regulation. These reforms will influence every stakeholder in the labour ecosystem—employees seeking greater protection and clarity, employers striving for smooth compliance, and HR leaders responsible for translating policy into practice.
To support industry in this critical transition from awareness to action, MMA, in collaboration with the NIPM Madras Chapter, is organising a one-day conclave on “The New Labour Codes – Adoption to Action” on Saturday, 6 December 2025, at the MMA Management Centre. A distinguished panel of experts and practitioners will lead participants through the key provisions of the Codes on Wages, Social Security, Industrial Relations, and Occupational Safety, Health & Working Conditions.
The conclave will provide a deep dive into the fundamentals—definitions, wage structures, social security implications, union recognition, dispute resolution, and provisions governing contract labour, fixed-term employees, and workforce engagement. More importantly, it will focus on how organisations can adapt their policies, compliance processes, and labour strategies to align with the new regulatory regime.
With expert-led sessions, case studies, and industry perspectives, the program is designed to equip HR professionals, compliance managers, and business leaders with practical tools to manage change proactively. The day will conclude with a practitioner panel sharing real-world experiences, challenges, and lessons for seamless adoption.
As we enter this defining phase of labour reform, MMA remains committed to empowering industry with clarity, confidence, and actionable insights. We look forward to welcoming you to this important and timely conclave.
Click to view the brochure.
Please do watch it live on 6th December 2025.
Nowcasting: A New Lens for Economic Insight
Nowcasting—using real-time, high-frequency indicators to estimate current economic conditions—offers policymakers an important tool, especially during periods of heightened uncertainty. However, it must complement traditional datasets, not replace them. Robust policy decisions by the RBI depend on a clear understanding of macroeconomic fundamentals. Whether to raise, reduce, or maintain interest rates hinges on the interplay between GDP growth considerations and the RBI’s primary mandate of ensuring price stability.
Unlike GDP compilation, which follows well-established methodologies, nowcasting remains an evolving and experimental discipline. What is beyond doubt is that it can significantly strengthen monetary policy formulation—provided it supplements existing data frameworks rather than supplanting them.
In this context, MMA is organising a session on the theme “Monetary Policy, Inflation, and Financial Stability: Balancing the Trilemma” by Dr. Ravindra H. Dholakia, Director, Central Board, RBI, on 8 December 2025. We have also scheduled another important event featuring Dr. Arvind Subramanian, Senior Fellow, Peterson Institute for International Economics, Washington, D.C., and Dr Subbarao, Former Governor, RBI.
I am confident these distinguished leaders will offer valuable perspectives on this critical subject. Please join us on 3 December 2025 and 8 December 2025 at the MMA Management Centre and get inspired.
As always, we would be happy to hear your views, comments, and suggestions.
Merry Christmas! Happy Reading!!
