The purpose of this study is to characterize the safety, tolerability, drug levels and drug effects of BMS-986196 in healthy participants. In addition, an evaluation of food and formulation effects on BMS-986196 absorption will be performed.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Women not of childbearing potential and men, ages 18 or local age of majority to 55 years, inclusive
• Healthy male and female non-Japanese participants without clinically significant deviation from normal in medical history, physical examination, electrocardiogram (ECG), and clinical laboratory determinations
• Body mass index (BMI) of 18 to 32 kg/m2, inclusive, and total body weight ≥ 50 kg

Exclusion Criteria:

• Known or suspected autoimmune disorder, including but not limited to rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, systemic lupus erythematosus, polymyalgia rheumatica, giant cell arteritis, Behcet's disease, dermatomyositis, MS, moderate to severe asthma, any autoimmune vasculitis, autoimmune hepatitis, or any other active autoimmune disease for which a participant requires medical follow-up or medical treatment
• Any history of known or suspected congenital or acquired immunodeficiency state or condition that would compromise the participant's immune status
• Presence of any factors that would predispose the participant to develop infection
• A history of bacterial or fungal meningitis within 1 year prior to screening
• A history of intracranial or intraspinal bleeding
• Known intracranial space-occupying mass, including meningioma

Other protocol-defined inclusion/exclusion criteria apply