Future and Career Scope of Doctor of Business Administration in India

04-Apr-2025

With the rapid changes in economies, technology, and globalization, the demand for highly skilled business leaders is at an all-time high in India. Among the many qualifications that will shape the future of business leadership, the Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) stands out, for it provides a blend of theory and application. On the contrary, the Ph.D. in Management is traditionally regarded as a research-oriented, academic degree, while the DBA is considerably more pragmatic, focusing on real-time knowledge, strategic decision-making, and leadership practices in actual business settings. Because of this distinction, the DBA emerges as a potent qualification for professionals willing to impact the changing scenario of the Indian corporate world. This blog will discuss future opportunities and the career path of DBA in India by looking at its relevance, demand, and potential impact on various industries.

Understanding the Doctor of Business Administration:

The DBA is an advanced degree for accomplished professionals in business, oriented toward deepening their knowledge and application to organizational success. It takes approximately 3-5 years and provides a program of classes, research, and dissertations to solve practical business problems. In India, such DBAs or similar programs have started being offered by Indian Institutions through executive programs, and also in collaborations with foreign universities tailored for senior professionals. 

The program also includes more advanced subjects such as strategic management, organizational behaviour, financial decision-making, and the new areas of digital transformation and sustainability. Whereas a PhD might focus on making a theoretical contribution to the academic literature, the DBA compels students to address real-world issues that affect organizations, thus rendering it very relevant in such a dynamic economy as India's.

Read Also: Doctorate of Business Administration (DBA): Detailed Overview

The Indian Context: Why DBA Matters:

Through the past several decades, the economic narrative of India has been fascinating. With GDP growth rates averaging 6-7 per cent annually (pre-pandemic) and projected to become a $5 trillion economy by 2030, the country is a melting pot of opportunities and complexities. The liberalization of markets, the birth of startups, and the infusion of technology into the traditional sectors have created a crying need for leaders who can cope with ambiguity and create innovative solutions to tough problems. On the contrary, India is witnessing other challenges like regulatory flux, skill gaps, and global competition, which made advanced business acumen a necessity at higher levels.

The DBA caters exquisitely to these needs. The corporate landscape in India today is mirroring the presence of MNCs-industry giants, family-owned businesses rapidly shifting gears to the new paradigm of professional management, and the newly evolving ecosystem of entrepreneurs. Each of these domains needs leadership that possesses the power to relate the theory to practical solutions, which is exactly what a DBA teaches. With Indian enterprises going global, cross-cultural management, international trade, and global supply chains are becoming crucial, and DBA graduates have an edge in these areas.

Future Trends Shaping the Relevance of the DBA in India:

The Doctor of Business Administration is already gaining ground globally as a qualification that prepares the professional for addressing new-age business challenges. In India, several macro-level factors making it more relevant vis-a-vis the country's economic, technological, and social evolution only enhance the DBA's profile and define the future of the degree.

Read Also: What is a DBA Degree?

Digital Transformation and Technological Integration:

The digital revolution continues making high-speed strides on the Indian airways with initiatives like 'Digital India' further pushing developments in artificial intelligence, machine learning, blockchain, and the Internet of Things. The Indian IT service market is expected to reach $350 billion by 2025, while the transformation through digital technology drives developments in banking healthcare and manufacturing. Corporates need leaders who can use these new technologies in a more strategic, rather than only technical manner.

The DBA evolution transforms theory into practice by adding modules related to digital strategy, data analytics, and technology-driven business models. For instance: a DBA candidate might investigate what AI can do to optimize supply chains for e-commerce titans like Flipkart or Amazon India. This trend will ensure that DBA graduates occupy first place in terms of digital innovation and be able to steer organizational transformations through Industrial Revolution 4.0. And as companies will increasingly talk and talk about digital-first, such skills will be sought after more and more.

Sustainability and ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) Focus:

Sustainability is no longer just a buzzword, but a business imperative. In the meantime, India, as a signatory to the Paris Agreement and as someone who has proposed net-zero goals by 2070, is putting increasing emphasis on sustainable practices. According to the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), 60% of large companies are engaging with ESG principles, mostly due to regulatory requirements, shareholder pressure, and consumer demand.

Responding to the demands of practitioners and research, DBA programs have started to offer specializations in sustainable business practices, circular economy models, and green finance. For example, a DBA graduate may develop a carbon footprint mitigation framework for textiles, a major export sector in India. Ultimately, this trend positions holders of a DBA as primary advisers in aligning profitability with planetary and social goals, which companies, NGOs, and government institutions are increasingly seeking.

Globalization and Cross-Border Opportunities:

Integration in the global economy is fast developing for India as exports are expected to hit the $1 trillion mark by 2030 and foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows exceed $80 billion every year. For example, companies such as Tata Motors and Infosys are spreading their trade activities globally, while names like Apple and Tesla have set up a manufacturing base in India. Two-way globalization requires leaders who understand international markets, cross-cultural management, and global supply chains.

Applied research is the main aspect that steers students out of the sentence presented. Students will be able to write dissertations on topics such as optimization of Indo-US trade relations or managing cultural influences within the boundaries of an MNC, both of which could easily direct the corporate approach. With the growing credibility of power within India's world position, DBA holders will lead the way toward making local knowledge understandable in international terms for their further employability in multinational companies.

Rise of Industry-Specific Expertise:

Industry-specific knowledge is a requirement for India's diverse economy, including IT, agriculture, healthcare, manufacturing, and services. The DBA allows candidates to customize research around these particular industry challenges, such as improving rural healthcare delivery in India and scaling fintech solutions for unbanked populations. Such customization would hence broaden the degree's relevance across all sectors.

For example, Indian health services are opening up to a market of $372 billion produced in 2025, and they need people to lead their organizations from inefficiency to the effectiveness of utilizing telemedicine. An open DBA graduate in healthcare management could build scalable decision-making models for private-public partnerships. This niche specialization has put all DBA-qualified professionals in demand in specific sectors around India's varied industries.

Career Scope of the DBA in India:

Corporate Leadership Roles:

India’s corporate sector has seen shifts in the professionalization of businesses over the past decades, such as family-run Adani and Reliance moving into more formal methods of management as well as entrants like Zomato evolving into public companies. In an environment such as this, DBA graduates, with their skills in advanced strategy and analysis, are better fitted for jobs as, say, CEO, COO, or Chief Strategy Officer. All three positions typically call for a long-term vision, with the capability to engage and manage the expectations of stakeholders to drive organizational growth—core competencies of the DBA.

For instance, a DBA holder specializing in organizational transformation could catalyze a legacy company into new markets, such as renewable energy, very much in the spirit of India's push for greening the nation. Salaries for C-suite roles in India typically start above 2 - 5 crores per annum, while DBA is expected to command a significant premium that is already to be paid because such skills are so rare and impactful.

Management Consulting:

The consulting industry in India is expected to grow at a CAGR of 12% until 2030. Companies like McKinsey, BCG, and EY rely on experts who can address complex business dilemmas, from market entry to operational efficiency. DBA graduates stand out with their research insights and practical expertise. They are candidates for working with first-rate consultancies or for starting their consulting practice, working with SMEs or startups.

A DBA consultant may advise a retail chain on omnichannel strategy, using insights from their consumer behaviour dissertation. An independent consultant in India may earn between ₹50 lakhs and ₹1 crore per annum, depending on clientele and expertise, making this an attractive option.

Academic and Research Roles:

India's higher education landscape has developed in the last two decades, with a university count of more than 1000 and a major focus on applied learning. Business schools such as NMIMS, SPJIMR, and XLRI require faculty with experience to teach executive MBA and PhD students. There is timely use for DBA graduates in filling that gap by bringing real-world exposure along with academic rigour to bear in their work. They may also lead research centres and wield great influence on industry practice through studies on topics such as digital adoption in MSMEs.

Top academic salaries in India range between ₹15 - 40 lakhs a year, aside from consultancy or executive training. Such a dual role then makes the DBA even more attractive to knowledge lovers.

Entrepreneurship and Innovation:

India is a hotbed of entrepreneurship activity, being home to more than 100 unicorns and a startup ecosystem valued at $450 billion. DBA graduates are skilled in starting new ventures or scaling existing ones. They can conduct marketing research, raise funds, and build sustainable models. For instance, the DBA holder may start an agri-tech venture that enhances farmer productivity in the $600 billion agriculture sector in India. 

Entrepreneurship has an inconsistent pay scale, and the most successful businesses may earn multi-crore rewards, so this is a high-risk-high-reward option for DBA graduates.

Policy and Public Sector Contributions

Other public purposes, such as 'Make in India' or 'Smart Cities,' are now being vigorously pursued in association with private experts. DBA graduates may act as advisors in ministries, think tanks such as NITI Aayog, or even engage in programs developed under Public-Private Partnership. Their work on economic policy, infrastructure, or workforce development can assist in shaping significant legislation, as well as put it into action.

Public sector jobs pay anything between ₹20 -50 lakhs a year and come with additional prestige and clout, so they seem to attract individuals who would like to make an impact on the society.

Institutions Offering DBA in India and Its Recognition:

The professional doctorate for applied research in business and leadership is known as the Doctor of Business Administration (DBA). It is, therefore, different from the classical research-oriented PhD. In India, DBA without such restrictions is rare as compared to conventional PhDs because of regulatory frameworks and institutional preferences toward DBA programs. Nevertheless, there are a few institutions that have increasingly come to offer DBA programs through collaborations with international universities. Below, we consider institutions offering DBA programs in India in data terms and examine the merits of the degree as evidenced in those data.

Institutions Offering DBA in India :

• S P Jain School of Global Management:

S P Jain, an Australian institution maintaining a presence in India, offers a DBA program that can be taken either online or at its Sydney campus. Having International recognition under CRICOS Provider Code: 03335G, it does not have AICTE accreditation. This 3-year program is designed for professionals with considerable work experience, and its graduates are reported to earn an average salary of ₹1 crore per annum, a considerable premium over the Indian PhD holders who, according to Hindustan Times (2022), earn around ₹20 lakhs p.a. from their universities.

• Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Sambalpur:

The dual-degree Executive PhD & DBA program is organized in IIM Sambalpur by the IAE Bordeaux University School of Management in France. Initiated as India's first dual-degree doctoral programme, it emphasises on the working executive population and runs for a duration of 3 to 5 years. The fee structure is around ₹13-15 lakhs, adding to its attractiveness through international faculty (IIM Sambalpur, 2024).

• Indian Institute on Business Management (IIBM):

IIBM India provides a DBA from the European Institute of Applied Science and Management (EIASM), Prague. With a price tag of around ₹10.5–13 lakh, it leans towards an emphasis on industry-recognized certification rather than UGC approval and targets professionals wanting their careers to develop further rather than those looking to enter academia (IIBM India, 2023).

• Institute on Business Management Studies:

The equivalent of a Doctorate in Management Studies (DMS), marketed as an equivalent to DBA by IBMS, with approximate fees of ₹10.5 lakhs. Its emphasis is on practical application and consequently has recognition on a global scale. However, it does score poorly in terms of Indian validity as it is neither UGC nor AICTE accredited (IBMS, 2024).

Recognition of DBA in India

In India, DBA recognition tends to depend on the context and the accrediting bodies behind the degrees being offered. Unlike PhDs, where the University Grants Commission (UGC) regulates the program intent and is capable of being offered by many universities worldwide for academics and/or teaching positions, DBAs are not recognized as programs offered by Indian universities under the UGC. Ever since the UGC has not forwarded the DBA as an acceptable degree considered academically equivalent to a Ph.D., it thereby is disqualified for purposes like being a professorship in institutions recognized under UGC regulations without clients attaching further add-on requirements (UGC Regulations, 2016). Nonetheless, DBAs are well accepted in corporate sectors if earned from institutionally accredited institutions (for instance, AACSB, AMBA).

Surveys conducted in 2025 shows that DBAs of foreign universality, for example, those offered by S P Jain or joint programs with IIM Sambalpur, hold international recognition and develop employability, with 70% of graduates obtaining leadership or consulting positions; contrastingly, only 20% may take an academic path where PhD equivalence really matters. Such acceptance is very high, and hence, an HT survey (2022) suggested that 65% of Indian employers consider DBA for strategic positions, giving salaries 20%–40% higher than those offered to MBA holders (25–50 lakhs per annum).

How Elite Institutions Offer DBA in India Despite UGC:

In India, a Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA) is not recognized by the University Grants Commission (UGC) as equivalent to PhD for academic purposes. The reason is, that UGC regulations emphasize traditional and research-based doctoral programs, such as the PhD, offered by Indian universities. But top institutions in the country, such as the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and the Indian School of Business (ISB), offer DBA or similar programs in partnership with foreign universities.

These courses are usually framed as professional doctorates as they lean towards applied business research instead of academic theory, and mostly enabled by foreign institutions that are not under the UGC jurisdiction. For example, this IIM Sambalpur has a joint degree Executive PhD and DBA with Bordeaux University School of Management on a global perspective than the UGC-approval. 

Autonomous functioning institutions partner with internationally accredited universities recognized by bodies such as AACSB or WES. DBA programs are made available through top-notch institutions.

Rather, the degrees targeted toward working professionals with the advancement of skills for industry leadership, consultancy, or executive roles toward those academic teaching positions in UGC-recognized universities. The non-recognition by UGC, however, does not lessen their credibility worldwide, for with regard to any such qualification worthy for the name, Indian employers in the corporate sector are likely to give it credit deeming it from institutions of repute.

Doctor of Business Administration Doctor of Business Administration in India