Patna: The Chandragupt Institute of Management Patna (CIMP) has hosted the 4th International Financial Management Conference (IFMC 2026), bringing together academics, policymakers and industry leaders to debate emerging issues in finance, technology, ethics and responsible investment. The event drew participants from universities and institutions across India, highlighting interdisciplinary research spanning asset pricing, responsible agriculture and sustainable finance.
In the inaugural session, Prof Rana Singh, Director of CIMP, underscored the need to strengthen financial literacy and integrate technology into financial services. He also stressed the importance of balancing people, planet and profit to ensure inclusive and sustainable economic growth, while announcing plans to publish selected conference papers in an edited volume. Prof Santosh Kumar provided an overview of the conference programme, including the Factor Zoo contest, which showcased innovative portfolio and asset pricing research.
The conference featured more than 60 research submissions, with 43 papers accepted and 30 scheduled for presentation. Prof Ranjit Tiwari outlined the technical tracks and highlighted participation from institutions such as NIT Patna, Central University of Rajasthan and Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda. Keynote speaker Chandan Sharma of IIM Lucknow focused on research integrity, warning against data manipulation and ethical lapses in academia and calling for greater transparency and institutional support for rigorous scholarship.
Industry sessions explored the growing influence of artificial intelligence on finance and investment. Sambasivan G, chief financial officer of Tata Play, discussed how AI models and data-driven decision-making are reshaping organisations, arguing that professionals who effectively use AI will gain a competitive advantage. Kumar Ayashkanta of Wipro examined the rise of AI-focused investments, warning of ethical, privacy and misinformation risks and urging stronger regulation and accountability to ensure long-term value creation.
In the valedictory session, Deepak Mandal of Thomson Reuters highlighted the automation of finance functions through AI and stressed the importance of continuous learning and ethical decision-making. He cautioned that compromising ethical standards for short-term gains could damage trust and reputations irreversibly.
Awards recognised outstanding research contributions, with Sujata Kumari winning first prize for a paper on volatility clustering in the Bombay Stock Exchange, and Riny Raju, Anju Susan Thomas and Raju G receiving second prize for research on capital market misallocation. Team Alpha won the Factor Zoo Grand Finale for its performance in predictive financial modelling. The conference concluded with acknowledgements for corporate advisory excellence and a vote of thanks from the organisers, who described IFMC 2026 as a significant platform for advancing financial research and professional dialogue.
