**Executive Summary**
The Vaikunth Mehta National Institute of Cooperative Management (VAMNICOM) successfully hosted "SPARDHA 2026," its flagship annual business fest themed "UDAAN – Where Aspirations Take Flight." The event concluded with a two-day on-campus finale on March 20–21, 2026, following preliminary online rounds conducted between March 8 and 16. The fest served as a platform for 142 finalists from 44 institutions to demonstrate leadership and management excellence in the cooperative and agribusiness sectors.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Event Participation and Scope**
* The competition attracted 2,172 student registrations nationwide through the Unstop platform.
* The grand finale hosted 142 finalists representing 44 reputed academic institutions.
* The fest comprised 15 diverse events, including Best Manager, Business Quiz, Business Plan, Financial Analyst, Debate, and Marketing Case Study.
**Competition Winners**
* **Best Manager:** ICFAI University, Raipur (Winner); PUMBA, Savitribai Phule Pune University (Runner-up).
* **Business Quiz:** Pune University (Winner); National Institute of Management, Pune (Runner-up).
* **Business Plan:** College of Agriculture, Pune (Winner); MANAGE, Hyderabad (Runner-up).
* **Coopathon:** National Insurance Academy, Pune (Winner); PUMBA (Runner-up).
* **Financial Analyst:** MANAGE, Hyderabad (Winner); National Insurance Academy, Pune (Runner-up).
* **Marketing Case Study:** College of Agriculture, Sonai (Winner); MANAGE, Hyderabad (Runner-up).
**Institutional Leadership and Support**
* The event was executed under the guidance of VAMNICOM Director Dr. Suva Kanta Mohanty and supported by a dedicated team of faculty and student volunteers.
* Key industry partners and sponsors included IFFCO, Advanta Seeds, UPL Ltd., Annapurna Pariwar, and Godavari Urban Multistate Credit Co-operative Society Ltd.
* Prominent dignitaries, including Dr. Medha Samant and Milind Akre, highlighted the importance of community empowerment and professional excellence during the ceremonies.
**Impact Analysis**
**Participating Students and Finalists**
**Impact**
Students gained national-level exposure and the opportunity to sharpen their analytical, creative, and leadership skills through competitive intellectual events.
**Action Required**
Participants must continue to innovate and collaborate to prepare for future leadership roles in management and agribusiness.
**VAMNICOM and Ministry of Cooperation**
**Impact**
The event reinforced VAMNICOM’s position as a premier institute for nurturing management professionals and strengthening the national cooperative ecosystem.
**Action Required**
The institute must maintain its commitment to fostering excellence through its flagship PGDM programs and similar impactful learning platforms.
**Partner Organizations and Sponsors**
**Impact**
Leading organizations like IFFCO and Advanta Seeds engaged with high-caliber talent while supporting the development of the cooperative management sector.
**Action Required**
These stakeholders should continue providing industry support and resources to bridge the gap between academic learning and professional practice.
**Participating Academic Institutions**
**Impact**
Institutions received validation of their training quality as their students competed against the "brightest management minds" in the country.
**Action Required**
Colleges and universities should encourage student participation in national forums to enhance institutional prestige and student development.
Key Entities Referenced
Vaikunth Mehta National Institute of Cooperative Management (VAMNICOM): A premier national institute under the Ministry of Cooperation that hosted the flagship business fest SPARDHA 2026 to train professionals in cooperative management.
SPARDHA 2026: The flagship annual national business festival and competition focused on fostering innovation, leadership, and analytical skills among management students across India.
Ministry of Cooperation: The central government ministry overseeing VAMNICOM, dedicated to strengthening the cooperative ecosystem and professional management education.
Ministry of Cooperation
VAMNICOM Hosts Annual Business Fest
‘SPARDHA 2026’ Under the Theme “UDAAN –
Where Aspirations Take Flight”
Posted On: 25 MAR 2026 8:45PM by PIB Mumbai
Pune, 25 March 2026
The Vaikunth Mehta National Institute of Cooperative Management (VAMNICOM) successfully
hosted its flagship annual business fest, SPARDHA 2026, under the inspiring theme “UDAAN –
Where Aspirations Take Flight.” The two-day on-campus finale, held on March 20–21, marked
the culmination of a nationwide competition that brought together some of the brightest
management minds from across India.
The fest witnessed an overwhelming response during its preliminary online rounds conducted
from March 8 to 16 on Unstop, attracting 2,172 registrations from students nationwide. The
grand finale at VAMNICOM saw participation from 44 reputed institutions, with 142 finalists,
reflecting the growing prestige of the event.
A Platform for Future Leaders
SPARDHA 2026 featured 15 diverse and intellectually stimulating events, including Best
Manager, Business Quiz, Business Plan, Financial Analyst, Debate, and Marketing Case Study.
Participants showcased exceptional analytical skills, creativity, and leadership capabilities,
making the fest a vibrant hub of innovation, collaboration, and competitive excellence.Key Winners
The competition crowned outstanding performers across categories:
Best Manager: ICFAI University, Raipur (Winner); PUMBA, Savitribai Phule Pune
University (Runner-up)
Business Quiz: Pune University (Winner); National Institute of Management, Pune
(Runner-up)
Business Plan: College of Agriculture, Pune (Winner); MANAGE, Hyderabad
(Runner-up)
Coopathon: National Insurance Academy, Pune (Winner); PUMBA (Runner-up)
Debate: PUMBA (Winner); Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai (Runner-up)
Financial Analyst: MANAGE, Hyderabad (Winner); National Insurance Academy,
Pune (Runner-up)
Marketing Case Study: College of Agriculture, Sonai (Winner); MANAGE,
Hyderabad (Runner-up)
The fest commenced with an inspiring inaugural ceremony graced by eminent dignitaries. Dr.
Medha Samant, Founder and Secretary of Annapurna Pariwar, attended as the Guest of Honour
and highlighted the importance of community empowerment. Milind Akre, Additional Registrar
and Director of the National Institute of Post-Harvest Technology, Pune, presided as the Chief
Guest, while Dr. M. S. Powar, Regional Head of IFFCO, Pune, attended as the Special Guest.Grand Valedictory Ceremony
The event concluded on March 21 with a grand valedictory and prize distribution ceremony.
Mahesh Kendre, Managing Director of Godavari Urban Multistate Credit Co-operative Society
Ltd., Nanded, graced the occasion as the Chief Guest and applauded the participants for their
enthusiasm and excellence.
The successful execution of SPARDHA 2026 was carried out under the guidance of Dr. Suva
Kanta Mohanty, Director, VAMNICOM, with strong support from Dr. D. Ravi, Joint Programme
Director, and Dr. S. Dharmaraj, Registrar. The event was coordinated by Dr. B. Kishor and Dr.
Amit Borkar, along with a dedicated team of faculty members and student volunteers.
The fest received valuable support from leading organizations, including Advanta Seeds, UPL
Ltd., Annapurna Pariwar, IFFCO, and Godavari Urban Multistate Credit Co-operative Society Ltd.
As a premier institute under the Ministry of Cooperation, Government of India, VAMNICOM
continues to play a pivotal role in shaping professionals in cooperative management and
agribusiness through its flagship PGDM programmes.
SPARDHA 2026 once again reaffirmed its position as a premier platform for nurturing future
leaders—empowering students to innovate, collaborate, and lead with confidence. The institute
reiterated its commitment to fostering excellence, strengthening the cooperative ecosystem,
and creating impactful learning experiences for the next generation of management
professionals.* * *
PIB Pune | Harshal Akude/Darshana Rane
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