IIM Rohtak Shines at Tata Steel-a-thon 2025 as Team ‘Pathfinders’ Wins the Growth Track

Rohtak, November 11. 2025: The Indian Institute of Management Rohtak has added another laurel to its name with its team, Pathfinders, winning the Growth Track in the 12th edition of Tata Steel’s flagship annual business challenge, Steel-a-thon 2025. 

The grand finale was held on 7th November 2025 in Kolkata and saw participation from over 11,400 students representing 34 premier B-schools across India, including IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Calcutta, IIM Kozhikode, IIM Lucknow, FMS Delhi, XLRI Jamshedpur, MDI Gurgaon, IIFT Delhi, IIT Kharagpur, and IIM Mumbai. 

Prof. Dheeraj Sharma, Director, IIM Rohtak, congratulated the winning team and commended their achievement as a reflection of IIM Rohtak’s emphasis on experiential learning, strategic thinking, and leadership excellence. He noted that this success highlights the institute’s commitment to developing future business leaders who combine analytical depth with ethical decision-making and teamwork. 

Prof. Sharma also appreciated the efforts of faculty mentors and program coordinators who guided the students throughout the competition, helping them apply classroom knowledge to real-world strategic challenges with confidence and creativity. Tata Steel-a-thon Season 12 was organized under the theme “Redefining Tomorrow’s Steel with ONE Tata Steel.” 

The national-level challenge encouraged young business minds to design strategic and sustainable solutions for real-world problems faced by the steel industry. The competition had three tracks: Growth, Value Chain, and People, giving participants an opportunity to apply their analytical and managerial skills to practical business cases. 

Team Pathfinders, consisting of Anirudh Saha, Aditya Pratham, and Ashwin R. S., second-year MBA students from the Integrated Programme in Management (BBA + MBA), showcased outstanding business acumen and creativity in the Growth Track. Their strategy focused on innovation and long-term growth and stood out for its clarity, depth, and strong alignment with Tata Steel’s business vision. The team’s remarkable performance earned them the first position in the Growth Track and a cash prize of INR 2,50,000. 

The jury, comprising senior executives from Tata Steel, praised the team for their comprehensive and practical approach to business problem-solving. They also appreciated their ability to present fresh, implementable ideas that addressed key challenges in the steel industry. Winners of Tata Steel-a-thon 2025 received Pre-Placement Offers (PPOs) from Tata Steel, while all national finalists were offered exclusive interview opportunities, opening exciting career prospects with one of India’s most respected organizations.