A day of ideas, intensity, and instinct. The School of Management at CMR University’s OMBR Campus hosted INCENDIUM 2026 on 10th April. One day, one theme, over twenty events and a campus that moved with the kind of energy that takes months to build and only hours to ignite.
A campus charged with intent
From the first hour, the energy was clear. Formal and focused teams walked in prepared. Conversations moved quickly from strategies to last-minute revisions. Across spaces, screens lit up with presentations, case notes, and pitch decks. On the main stage, rehearsals blended into performances. In classrooms, discussions sharpened into decisions.
There is something particular about a management fest organised entirely by students. Every event briefed and scheduled, every last-minute shift handled without pause. INCENDIUM 2026 carried that rhythm. The BBA and MBA students of the School of Management did more than just participate in it; they built the day, ran it, and sustained it across every space on campus.
INCENDIUM 2026, the flagship intercollegiate management fest, unfolded as a full-scale engagement with what management education looks like in practice. Participants from multiple institutions stepped into a fast-moving environment shaped by competition, collaboration, and constant decision-making. The theme, Dragonic Flame, came through in pace more than presentation. Every event carried momentum. Every round demanded clarity, speed, and presence of mind.
As Akshita, MBA student and Student Engagement Network Coordinator, noted,
“INCENDIUM is an intercollegiate fest that brings together participants from multiple colleges across Bengaluru. It creates a dynamic environment that encourages students to step forward, build confidence, and develop leadership skills.”
What the day held
The day proceeded across event formats, each one testing a different layer of thinking. INCENDIUM spread across the entire campus, AV halls, classrooms, common spaces, and the main stage, each zone carrying its own intensity. The flagship events pushed participants into situations that mirrored real decision-making setups.
In the Best Management Team event, participants moved through quizzes, crisis scenarios, and a final pitch in which strategy, marketing, and revenue models had to come together without external support. In Best Manager, individuals faced a sequence of challenges, from analytical rounds to high-pressure interviews, testing composure when it mattered most.
Leadership Lab added a unique dimension. Situation analysis, decision challenges, and communication rounds demanded participants to articulate their thinking clearly, often under time pressure. Elsewhere, ideas took centre stage. The Product Launch Competition and Startup Investment Arena saw participants build, validate, and pitch business concepts with clarity and conviction, financials, scalability, and market logic shaping every presentation.
Then came the unpredictable rounds. Council Wars demanded coordination and strategy. MAD Ads compressed creativity into minutes, teams building and performing campaigns with almost no preparation time. Some of the sharpest thinking of the day surfaced in those compressed moments.
Adding to the energy on the ground, Nishant, a participant from St. Joseph’s College, shared, “The response has been overwhelming. The venue is packed, and there’s a strong sense of enthusiasm throughout. Events like MAD Ads, in which we’re participating, seem especially exciting. We are given a product on the spot and plan and enact a skit within a limited time. Teams are confident, creative, and quick to turn ideas into engaging performances.”
Beyond the competition rooms, the main stage held its own rhythm. Group dance, group singing, fashion, and beatboxing brought movement and presence into the mix. The Fashion Show, in particular, closed the stage with powerful visual storytelling; at the same time, parallel events, from debates and mock auctions to JAM and rapid-fire challenges, kept the rest of the campus in constant motion.
Reflecting on the experience, Jennifer Deepak, MBA student and Club President, shared, “Being part of the inauguration as a host was a great experience. The event has been smooth, engaging, and well-coordinated. From the formal proceedings to segments like the DJ session, the idea is to create an experience that brings people together and gives them a space to unwind after a demanding day.”
Adding to this, Anantika, an MBA student, observed, “With participation from several colleges, the event feels vibrant and energetic. The presence of diverse teams adds to the atmosphere, making it more engaging and collaborative for everyone involved.”
What it reflected
INCENDIUM reflects how CMR University approaches learning.
The university is committed to creating, building, and delivering value through teaching, training, research, consultancy, and entrepreneurship, within and beyond the curriculum, supported by infrastructure and resources that enable students to reach intellectual depth.
At the same time, CMR continues to focus on providing a well-rounded education that builds values, scientific thinking, and social responsibility, preparing students as professionals and contributors to progress. Events like INCENDIUM bring this approach into action. Students are not just participants; they take ownership, plan, organise, execute, and lead. Managing multiple events, coordinating teams, handling contingencies, and maintaining pace across the day becomes its own form of learning.
For those competing, the experience moves beyond results. It involves making decisions within a limited time, working within teams, presenting ideas with clarity, and responding to real-time challenges. It showcases the kind of thinking that extends beyond the classroom and into professional settings.
The conversations extended beyond the competitions. Guest speakers Shravan H. Rajani and Subhash brought in perspectives shaped by discipline, consistency, and lived experience.
Shravan spoke about the role of discipline in shaping outcomes.
“Building a strong physique takes consistency, discipline, and control. That same mindset applies to everything else in life. If you can commit to that process, you can achieve anything.”
Subhash reflected on consistency and long-term effort.
“I’ve been training for over a decade, working out twice a day without skipping. Growth doesn’t happen overnight; it comes from showing up every single day.”
On mindset, Shravan addressed the importance of focus at an early stage.
“This is the time to work hard and push yourself. The effort you put in now defines what comes later.”
Subhash brought in a personal dimension, speaking about mental well-being.
“Having something to care for, even a pet, can help you stay grounded. It gives you stability when things feel uncertain.”
Their journeys also reflected what sustained effort can build over time.
“I started small and built everything step by step. Today, it’s not just about numbers; it’s about the team and the people who grow with you.”
The message remained consistent: discipline, adaptability, and consistency shape long-term growth.
As Director of the School of Economics (SOEC), Prof.Bhupendra Tiwari, put it, “Students today often face pressure from academics, careers, and personal responsibilities. Events like INCENDIUM create space for them to step away from that stress, engage, and grow holistically. The value lies not just in winning, but in the learning, whether it is managing an event, working as a team, or building confidence for the future. There is also a misconception that AI is taking away jobs. In reality, it is only changing how we work. New opportunities are being created across fields like marketing, HR, and finance. The real advantage lies with those who are willing to adapt, because the ultimate winner is the one who evolves with time.”
The day closed. Scores were tallied. Conversations carried forward. INCENDIUM 2026 did what it set out to do: it pushed and tested, leaving everyone sharper than when they walked in.
