Opportunity brief
Overview
N. L. Dalmia Institute of Management Studies and Research (NLDIMSR) takes immense pleasure to introduce Shikhar 2026, a National Level B-School Paper Presentation Competition, at NLDIMSR, Mumbai, India. It was started in the memory of our founder Late Shri Niranjanlalji Dalmia, a visionary, philanthropist and industrialist.
Shikhar is a Hindi word which means "mountain peak". It is the in-depth knowledge and sheer intellect which helps an individual to reach the pinnacle of success. And that is what Shikhar stands for. Shikhar is the arena where the finest students from the best B-Schools in India have battled it out to attain the supremacy in intellect and creativity.
Shikhar has proved to be a phenomenal paper presentation competition conducted at the national level. We have had participation from India's finest institutes over the years.
The theme for Shikhar 2026 is "Urban India as a Growth Engine: How Cities Drive Jobs, Businesses and Economic Growth".
India's economic transformation is increasingly becoming an urban story. By 2036, India's towns and cities are expected to house around 600 million people, representing around 40% of the population, and contribute close to 70% of GDP. At the same time, around 70% of the urban infrastructure required by 2047 is yet to be created, with an estimated investment requirement of $840 billion by 2036.
The opportunity is enormous, but urbanisation alone does not automatically generate growth. Congestion, inadequate transport, housing shortages, weak sanitation and pollution management systems, climate risks, and constrained municipal finances can undermine the productivity and competitiveness of cities.
The central question, therefore, is: How effectively can Indian cities convert urbanisation, infrastructure, and innovation into jobs, productivity, business growth, and inclusive economic development?
Eligibility
- Open to all 1st and 2nd-year students of full-time MBA or equivalent programs recognized by AICTE.
- Teams can comprise members from either or both years.
- No individual can be part of more than one team.
- Multiple teams can participate from the same institute.
Flow of the Event
- Registration Deadline: 10 September 2026 on Unstop.
- Report Submission: A soft copy of the written report along with a 150-word abstract must be emailed to shikhar@nldalmia.in by 10 September 2026.
- Teams must not reveal their identity, including the institute's name or participants' names, anywhere in the written report, except in the registration form and cover page.
- The cover page should include the title, institute's name, participants' names, and contact details.
Shortlisting
- Six finalist teams will be declared on 18 September 2026.
- Results will be shared via email or phone.
Finals
- The six shortlisted teams will present their papers before a panel of judges.
- Presentation Duration: 15 minutes
- Q&A: 10 minutes with the judges
- Evaluation will be based only on the final presentation and Q&A.
- The judges' decision will be final.
Travel & Accommodation
- Outstation teams that qualify for the finals will be reimbursed for AC 3-Tier ticket fare from their institute to Mumbai by the shortest route.
- Travel and accommodation for one night will be taken care of by N. L. Dalmia Institute of Management Studies and Research.