IIM-Bangalore will not be awarding gold medals to two of its students this year after it emerged that they had indulged in unethical practices.

The development comes days before the institute’s 40th annual convocation, which will be presided over by Dr Devi Shetty, Chairman of the Narayana Group of Hospitals.

The student who was placed second in the two-year post graduate management programme was not awarded the gold medal as a probe revealed he was marking attendance despite not being in class. Another student who topped the executive MBA programme was not given the gold medal after it was found that he had plagiarised a part of his project.

An enquiry panel was constituted and once its report indicated that both the students were guilty of compromising on the institute’s ethics, it was decided not to give them any awards. The decision was taken at the faculty meeting held early this week.

Responding to a query, an IIM spokesperson said the award of gold medals to graduating students every year is decided by a faculty vote. “When they vote, the faculty members consider not just the eligibility criteria of students but pay attention to the fact that as brand ambassadors of IIM-B, they must have a spotless record,” the spokesperson told BusinessLine.

“This year, the faculty body voted not to award the two gold medals,” the spokesperson pointed out. IIM-Bangalore, has had a near exemplary record with regard to its students. It is considered among the top management schools in India and Asia according to several rankings.

During the placement season earlier this year, its students received lateral offers that were 25 per cent higher than last year. Some of the students were placed with international banks such as Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan and Citibank.