The Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIM Bangalore) has opened entries for the 2026 GIFT Finance Olympiad, a national-level case competition aimed at postgraduate students interested in financial markets, institutional strategy and innovation. Applications will be accepted until October 31, 2026.

Organised by IIM Bangalore’s Centre for Capital Markets and Risk Management (CCMRM) in partnership with GIFT City, the competition aims to encourage students to develop practical, research-driven responses to challenges affecting India’s international financial market ecosystem.

Eligibility and Registration Details

Students pursuing postgraduate programmes at recognised universities, colleges and business schools across India can participate. Each team must comprise four members, with organisers encouraging participants from different academic disciplines to collaborate. Students with backgrounds in finance, economics, technology and data analytics may bring complementary perspectives to the case studies.

Registration commenced on October 14 and will remain open until 11:59 pm IST on October 31, 2026. Each participant is permitted to join only one team. Interested candidates can register through the official competition form, while additional information is available through CCMRM at IIM Bangalore.

Competition Structure and Case Study Themes

The Olympiad will feature three stages: a national online case-solving round, regional finals conducted in person, and a concluding national final featuring the regional winners.

For the initial round, teams must analyse a case based on the financial ecosystem of GIFT City and submit a presentation consisting of a title slide and no more than four substantive slides. Participants must select one of two problem areas.

Track 1: Financial Products and Market Design

This track examines the potential introduction of single-stock futures linked to major Indian companies through depository receipt structures on the NSE International Exchange (NSE IX).

Participants will be expected to evaluate the proposed product from several perspectives, including the structure of contracts, investor access requirements, clearing arrangements, liquidity support and operational vulnerabilities. Their recommendations should demonstrate an understanding of market functioning and the practical considerations involved in introducing new financial instruments.

Track 2: Institutional Strategy and Governance

The second track explores how financial market institutions operating within GIFT International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) can assess collaborations with international exchanges, custodians and clearing organisations.

Teams will need to consider issues such as institutional oversight, cybersecurity, cross-border data exchange, strategic autonomy and the ability to compete with established global financial centres. The emphasis will be on developing strategies that balance international cooperation with effective governance and long-term institutional interests.

Regional Finals Scheduled Across Four Cities

Teams selected from the online stage will progress to regional competitions scheduled for the following dates:

• New Delhi: November 21, 2026
• Bengaluru: November 28, 2026
• Kolkata: November 30, 2026
• Mumbai: December 5, 2026

The regional rounds will feature more extensive case studies, presentations delivered before a judging panel and subsequent question-and-answer sessions. The winning team from each city will qualify for the Grand Finale, with the final date to be communicated separately.

Assessment Criteria and Use of AI

Judges will assess submissions on analytical rigour, originality, strategic insight, the practicality of proposed solutions, awareness of competing market considerations and presentation effectiveness. Original analysis will account for 30 per cent of the overall evaluation, making independent thinking a particularly important component of the competition.

The initiative is intended to help students engage with real-world financial sector challenges and formulate recommendations that could contribute to the credibility, resilience and international standing of GIFT IFSC.

Artificial intelligence tools may be used to assist with research and drafting. However, participating teams must transparently declare their use of such tools as part of the competition requirements.