IIM Bangalore and GIFT City launch national finance case challenge for post‑graduates

IIM Bangalore, in partnership with GIFT City, has launched the GIFT Finance Olympiad – National Student Case Challenge 2026 for postgraduate students across India. The competition, organized with IIM Bangalore’s Centre for Capital Markets and Risk Management, invites teams of four students from any recognised college, university or business school, regardless of discipline, and encourages interdisciplinary composition. Participants must tackle real‑world problems in international financial markets, choosing between two tracks. The Markets and Product Design track examines a proposed launch of single‑stock futures on large Indian companies for global investors via the GIFT International Financial Services Centre, assessing market demand, product design and operational considerations. The Institutional Strategy and Governance track looks at how exchanges and clearing corporations in GIFT IFSC should evaluate partnerships with global exchanges, custodians and other infrastructure providers, focusing on strategic and operational impacts. The challenge proceeds in three stages: a national online case challenge (deadline 31 Oct 2026), regional finals in Delhi (21 Nov), Bengaluru (28 Nov), Kolkata (30 Nov) and Mumbai (5 Dec), followed by a Grand Finale where city winners present extended recommendations to a jury. Entries are judged on analytical quality, strategic depth, feasibility, market trade‑off insight and presentation; AI tools may be used if disclosed. ## Context The Olympiad aims to nurture fresh talent for India’s emerging financial hub at GIFT IFSC, linking academic insight with practical market innovation.