NxtStep

Samvaad, the flagship business colloquium organized by the PGDM-BM Executive Batch at MDI Gurgaon, brings together industry leaders, academicians and management professionals to engage with contemporary business challenges.

The central theme of Samvaad 2026 is "Thriving in a Polycrisis" — exploring how organizations and leaders can navigate an environment where multiple disruptions intersect, creating challenges that are complex, interconnected and constantly evolving.

As part of Samvaad 2026, we present SamvaadXScaNxt NXT STEP: The Polycrisis Challenge, a national-level case competition organized in collaboration with ScaNxt.

The competition is designed to test participants beyond conventional case-solving. Teams will be required to understand a complex business situation, identify the critical strategic challenges, formulate actionable recommendations and, most importantly, adapt their strategy when the situation changes.

The competition will progress through three rounds, moving from a business and management aptitude assessment to case-based problem solving and finally to a live strategic challenge at MDI Gurgaon.

The Challenge

All participating teams will work around a common business case. However, the challenge will evolve as teams progress through the competition.

In the final round, shortlisted teams will face a new crisis scenario that changes the context of the original problem. Teams will have to reassess their assumptions, modify their recommendations and defend their decisions before an industry-led jury.

Who Can Participate?

Open to:

- Management School Students

Team Size: 2–3 members

Guidelines

• Registration closes on 15 September 2026.
• Finalists must be available to participate physically at MDI Gurgaon on 27 September 2026.
• Participants may use Generative AI tools for research, information gathering and analysis.
• Generative AI tools must not be used to generate the final case submission or presentation deck. The final output must represent the team's own analysis, recommendations and articulation.

Rules

• All submissions must be the original work of the participating team.
• Plagiarism, copying or misrepresentation of work will result in disqualification.
• Each participant may register with only one team.
• Teams must adhere to the specified time limits and submission deadlines for each round.
• Late submissions may not be considered for evaluation.
• Participants may use publicly available sources and research material while developing their solutions.
• Participants are expected to maintain professional conduct throughout the competition.
• The decision of the judging panel regarding the final results will be final and binding.
• The organizing committee reserves the right to modify the schedule, format or rules where necessary. Any such changes will be communicated to registered participants.