IMDR was established in 1974 as a constituent unit of the DES. It took over the MBA programme of the MBA centre of University of Pune and the DBM programme run in the BMCC since 1968. Affiliated to the Pune University, IMDR was also a recognized centre for research leading to PhD. In 1977, IMDR became an autonomous institution by voluntarily delinking from the University of Pune. Since then, it has carried on its activities independent of the University or any other statutory body. The rationale of this step was stated in these words: “…to make our teaching programmes, methods of teaching and examination more comprehensive, more flexible and more result oriented…”

IMDR is committed to provide quality management education to students and is guided by the values and principles of the DES. This is reflected in the fact that at IMDR there are no management quotas, no donations and no reservations. Merit remains the sole criteria for education in IMDR. IMDR also provides opportunities to students to get international exposure through its tie-up with ESSCA – one of the top management institutes of France.