India Business Case
Programme 2026-27

The India Business Case Programme is one of the largest case study programmes exclusively for undergraduate students in India. Supported by HSBC India and implemented by Sattva Consulting and United Way Mumbai, the programme offers a unique learning opportunity to undergraduate students from across India to enhance their employability and leadership skills through a series of thoughtfully curated learning structures. The top two teams from the programme get to participate in the HSBC/HKU Business Case Challenge held in Hong Kong.

• This programme focuses on skills required to make you career-ready. This is done through exposure to business case-study solving and training sessions to hone your analytical and communication skills.
• By applying theoretical concepts in an engaging and enjoyable way, it aims to bridge the gap between the classroom and the workplace.
• By facilitating interactions with fellow undergraduate students from different parts of the country, the programme also aims to provide a head start in building your professional networks.
• The programme also offers opportunities for peer interaction, bringing together students from across the country and encouraging meaningful exchange of ideas, experiences, and perspectives.

This programme is open to undergraduate students across all years of study. Students from any academic discipline (Science, Commerce, Arts, and others) are eligible to apply.

• Each team should mandatorily comprise four students, with all team members studying in the same college.
• There is no requirement for the team to include students from the same academic batch (e.g. a 1st year student and a 3rd year student can be part of the same team).
• Also, while not mandatory, we highly encourage diversity in academic background and gender composition within the teams.

No, all four members of a team must be studying in the same college.

No, the team will not be eligible to continue to further rounds.

Participation in the India Business Case Programme is completely FREE. Students and/or Colleges are not required to pay any fees throughout the programme. To register, students must form themselves into teams of 4 and fill out the registration form for IBCP 2026-27.

Team registrations for the programme will start in July and conclude on 06 October, 2026. The training interventions and the Preliminary Online Assessment will commence by early October, with the National Round tentatively taking place in February 2027 (see FAQ no. 14 for the programme structure).

The top 2 teams at the National Finals will receive support to travel to Hong Kong to participate in the HSBC/HKU Business Case Challenge 2027. The winning team in Hong Kong has the opportunity to receive a prize of $10,000.

The cases cover a wide spectrum of themes within business & management, such as (but not limited to):

• Strategy & General Management
• Marketing
• Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG)
• Production & Operations Management
• Economics & Business Policy
• Finance & Investments

Each case is typically 15 to 20 pages long and is meticulously developed by academicians from the Hong Kong University (HKU).

• Each team will receive three hours to study and solve the assigned case study. Solutions must be prepared in a handwritten format using markers and pens.
• Teams are encouraged to incorporate relevant infographics and visuals to mirror a PowerPoint-style presentation.
• No electronic devices are allowed in both the preparation rooms and the presentation rooms. This includes phones, tablets, notebooks, iPads, smart watches, PDAs, Meta AI glasses, and all other electronic memory and communication devices.
• Once submitted, teams will present their solution to a jury within 20 minutes, followed by 15 minutes of Q&A.
• Mirroring the APAC Round, the National Round will feature an additional format known as the Boardroom Challenge. In this format, two teams will present simultaneously before a jury panel. Each team will be allotted a total of 20 minutes across: Presentation (at least 10 minutes required), Challenge, and Rebuttal.
• All team members are required to participate at least once in their respective presentation(s).
• Laser pointers and similar presentation devices are not allowed.

Other rules:

• Participants must not be in contact with any party other than fellow team members (including coaches or other participants), through any means, from the start of each round's preparation session to the end of each round's presentation session.
• Participants should, at all times, follow the instructions of the organizers.
• Participants should arrive at all venues in a timely manner as per the schedule.
• No additional time will be provided if teams are late for their presentation. If teams have not started within 10 minutes of the scheduled time, they will be automatically disqualified.
• If one team member is sick or otherwise unable to participate, the team can continue as a team of three. A team with fewer than three members must forfeit.
• Teams or team members who fail to comply with the programme rules will be disqualified.
• If disputes occur, the decision of the IBCP Team shall be final.

The programme shall offer a bundle of open-source sample case studies for reference. However, we encourage you to explore the wide range of open-source material on case-solving available online, including sample case studies.

If your team progresses to the in-person rounds (Regional Round 2 and the National Round) and is based out of another location, the programme provides full financial support for the participants' travel and accommodation. However, any other incidental or discretionary expenses will not be reimbursed.

A unique structure has been designed to help students navigate the complexities of each round. Students will be guided and challenged to explore various aspects of business management, including operations, finance, problem-solving, and storytelling.

The different interventions designed for the 2026-27 programme are as follows:

• A curated repository of open-source resources will be made available to all registered students to familiarise them with the case study method of learning.
• Through a Preliminary Online Assessment (online MCQ test), the top 500 teams will be selected.
• These 500 teams will progress to the Scenario-based Assessment/Business Simulation round, where they will solve scenario-based case studies/business simulations on a dedicated platform. This round will result in the selection of the top 80 teams, who will virtually participate in the first case-solving round (Regional Round 1).
• After this, the top 40 teams advance to the in-person, regional case-solving round (Regional Round 2).
• The top 24 teams emerge as finalists for the national case-solving rounds (National Round).
• Of these 24 teams, the top 4 teams will be selected to participate in the National Finals.
• Of these 4 teams, the top 2 teams will be selected to participate in the HSBC/HKU Business Case Challenge, held in Hong Kong.

• This will be a time-constrained, multiple-choice question (MCQ) test where teams will attempt questions on numerical, logical, and verbal reasoning.
• Note: Teams will be required to attempt the test on a single electronic device. Team members may confer with each other before selecting the answers.

For optimal performance, teams must attempt the test on a computer or laptop. Additionally, please ensure you have a stable internet connection during the test. For teams without access to the above, we recommend using your institution's IT lab.

Students will participate in a scenario-based/business simulation assessment round, where they will analyze business scenarios/simulations and submit responses on a dedicated evaluation platform. To ensure broad participation and optimize learning outcomes, a comprehensive training session on navigating the platform will be held across multiple time slots.

The assessment will be based on the clarity of their thoughts, communication skills, and the strength of the idea presented.

This programme is not linked with any temporary / permanent placements for the students. While participation or success in the programme does not entitle students to any internship / employment opportunities, alumni of the programme have been able to successfully leverage the experience and credentials developed through the programme, while applying to major companies and consulting firms.

The jury typically consists of senior leaders and executives with rich experience across industries such as banking and finance, FMCG, Consulting and other industries. This creates an exciting opportunity for students to network and learn about various career paths during in-person events.

In the National Round of the 2023-24 edition, the HSBC India CEO, Mr. Hitendra Dave, also delivered a keynote address, offering valuable insights to the teams regarding their career trajectories.

Recap video of India Business Case Programme 2025-26.