Education Leaders | Top Interviews

Prominent scientist and head of the Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (CAIR), Dr. S. P. Panigrahi  at the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in India explained about the 'Army of None' on the future of warfare in a media interview.

According to him, the 'Army of None' reflects a future wherein warfare would no longer be strictly anchored around human soldiers physically fighting on the battlefield; instead, robotic-centered autonomous systems would dominate conflicts-smart machines which could operate independently without direct human intervention.

"From land, sea, and air, warfare has grown into the new domains of space, cyberspace, and electromagnetic spectrum. The objective too is different. It used to be territorial gain. Now we have 'cognitive warfare', wherein the idea is to affect cognition, thinking and decision-making of human beings to shape their perception in order to influence outcomes without necessarily a physical confrontation," he explained.

Speaking about such autonomous systems and their work he mentioned, "These autonomous machines are fitted with advanced sensors and AI capabilities which enable them to sense, detect and engage the adversary in real time. For instance, underwater vehicles can operate for extended periods independently, intelligent tanks can go across battlefields and make decisions on firing on their own, and drones can conduct missions of surveillance as well as attack without human pilots. In general, they go through cycles of detection, decision-making, and action-all on their own."

Explaining on how does such a change portend for military strategy and defense, Dr. Panigrahi said,"Needless to say, the military needs to evolve toward multi-domain warfare-integrating space and cyber, and the cognitive domain with traditional battlefields. Command structures will evolve to manage fleets of autonomous systems, their ethics framework of operation, and retain control if necessary. This too requires state-of-the-art research and development of advanced artificial intelligence and robotics technologies within the Indian defense ecosystem."

Human creativity, intuition, and moral judgment are unmatched, even though robots are superior in terms of processing speed, pattern recognition, and autonomous operations. "Seeing humans push boundaries, create technologies that improve defense capabilities, and open up new frontiers for innovation is fascinating."   

So far, our challenge has been to synergize human cognitive capabilities with AI and robotics in building smarter and ethical systems. The 'Army of None' is representative of a paradigm shift toward reducing human casualties and redefining how security will be maintained globally.

What began in 2001 as a fledgling tutorial in the basement of a Jodhpur building has today grown into one of the most impressive EdTech success stories for India. That classroom belonged to Sagar Joshi, a young lawyer who believed law deserved the same kind of structured preparation and professional respect akin to medicine or engineering.

From being a small coaching centre catering to the aspirations of local students in preparing for law entrance exams, LPT Edtech has grown into a pan-India education brand, with 40-plus centres in 17 states mentoring thousands of aspirants seeking admission to CLAT, Judiciary, CAT, IPMAT & CUET.

Legal education in India was still looking for its moorings two decades ago, and most students did not look at law as the first choice for a career. But not so for Sagar Joshi, who had done his B.Sc. and LLB.

He started taking classes of a few students in a basement rented in Jodhpur with limited resources but an unlimited determination.

It was the year 2008 that brought a turning point in Sagar Joshi's life when the CLAT was introduced-a common entrance test for all NLUs.

Whereas many educators were still coming to grips with the new format, Law Prep Tutorial had already begun to actually prepare students to meet the challenges of CLAT. It was amongst India's first specialized coaching centres for CLAT, offering structured material, mock tests, and mentorship to meet the demands of this innovatively framed examination.

The results started pouring in from then onwards. Students from Law Prep Tutorial repeatedly secured top ranks and started getting into the best law schools in the country. What had started as a small coaching class at home now had gained national recognition.

But then, after the phenomenal success in Jodhpur, Sagar Joshi opened his second centre in Jaipur. Scaling was not the aim; maintaining quality was. Every new centre had to adhere to the same teaching standards, mentoring system, and student-care model that made Jodhpur successful.

Results from Jaipur further validated the model. Students there, too, started achieving top ranks in CLAT, proving that the approach could work anywhere. That confidence laid the foundation for nationwide expansion.

When the pandemic hit in 2020, traditional coaching faced a crisis. Many institutes closed their doors. Sagar Joshi flipped that challenge into an opportunity.

He oversaw a number of investments in technology for the company LPT, building an effective Learning Management System, a mobile learning application, and an AI-driven test analytics platform.

This service allowed students from all over India to prepare for CLAT and other exams using interactive online sessions, video lectures, and intelligent test analysis tools.

What began in a basement classroom would eventually become a fully thriving national EdTech ecosystem.

Beyond the Law

While CLAT remained its core focus, Law Prep Tutorial did not stop at that. In 2023, the Institute started Law Prep Judiciary, a specialized program catering to civil judge exams in various states like Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Gujarat, and many others.

The results turned out to be phenomenal: more than 100 aspirants cleared the RJS 2024 exam in the very first year and set a new benchmark for judicial preparation.

Building on that momentum, Sagar Joshi diversified further in 2024 into coaching for CAT, IPMAT, and CUET under LPT Edtech. And within the very first year itself, the platform produced some stellar results —

• CAT 2024 Rajasthan topper Ayush Biyani (99.70 percentile)

•  Himanshu Agarwal (99.64 percentile)

• Top ranks in IPMAT 2025: AIR 9, AIR 22, AIR 24

These achievements proved that the LPT model worked beyond law-it worked anywhere excellence mattered.

Sagar Joshi has obtained several prestigious honours such as the Education Excellence Award, International Glory Award-IGA, Pride of Rajasthan Award, Marwar Gaurav Samman, and Academic Excellence Award 2024 for the contribution of Law Prep Tutorial in Indian education.

But more than the awards, it's the consistent results-a total of five All India Rank 1s in CLAT in the past eight years and over 1000 NLU selections every year-that prove a testimony to the brand's credibility and result-oriented commitment. A True National Success Story The journey of Sagar Joshi from a small classroom to becoming a nationwide EdTech brand is indeed a great example of how great ideas don't need big cities but big vision. Today, Law Prep Tutorial stands out as one of the most trusted names in India for legal and management exam preparation, and its story continues to inspire educators and entrepreneurs across the country. What began in the heart of Jodhpur has reached every corner of India … and it's only the beginning.

Madan Dilawar on crumbling infrastructure in the state's schools, on changes in the syllabus and also on some schools opposing the government's decision to have the same uniform across educational institutions

A few days ago, a Class 4 girl reportedly committed suicide in a private school. You sent education department officials to investigate, but they were not allowed in. The report of the committee is awaited and further action against the school body depends on it.

You earlier mentioned that the uniform would be similar in private and government schools, while recently some of the private schools have opposed it.

Colours of the school uniform will be the same so that a differentiation between private and government schools is not made. In fact, thousands of private schools are in support. All over Rajasthan, I have received support. If some schools oppose it, we will consider their objections if they are genuine. But if schools think that because of their status they can oppose government rules, that will not be acceptable.

Recently, opposition leader Tikaram Jully raised the issue of state government providing Rs 600 for school uniforms to SC/ST students in Rajasthan. He said that is not enough and the state discriminates against poor students.

Somebody should ask the Congress leaders how much they distributed during their tenure. For most of their tenure, they didn't give any money, and even when they did, it was Rs 600. Clothes are priced from Rs 50 per meter to Rs 5,000 per meter. It is about necessity and affordability. We have already transferred the money to the parents' accounts, and no one has raised a complaint.

There had been visuals of teachers selling milk powder and milk that were supposed to be given to the students in mid-day meals. What steps has the government taken?

After receiving information, some teachers were suspended, and then action was taken. Corruption will not be tolerated in the department.

The collapse of the building of a government school in Jhalawar killed thirteen students. What steps has the government taken so far, with what money allocation, to repair dilapidated buildings?

We have sanctioned Rs 1.5 crore for a new building in Jhalawar, and the school's rooms will be named after the children who died. A monument will also be made in their memory. The previous government should have taken measures to repair these buildings. According to our report, about 85,000 classrooms in Rajasthan's government schools are dilapidated. We are gradually repairing them. 

Also, we have introduced new guidelines to mark each building with its construction date and the expected period after which it will require maintenance again. This will help the authorities to repair them on time. There is speculation about the reshuffle of the Rajasthan cabinet. Do you think that your portfolio will change? 

A decision would be taken by Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma and whatever he decides, we would follow. Anta bypoll on November 11: Do you expect a win in this by-election as the BJP candidate is not known? 

Our candidate is a pradhan with a clean image. It doesn't matter if he is not a mass leader. The public will vote for the party and on the basis of his image select him as a leader. Popularity can be gained in later stages. When I contested elections, I didn't know anyone, my community doesn't have many voters, but I still won the seat. It's all about the work you are doing. The Election Commission is going to carry out SIR of the voter list in Rajasthan. The Congress terms it a method of ‘Vote Chori’. "Vote chori" is the most pathetic excuse made by opposition leaders. They have no proof. SIR is a routine process… Why should Bangladeshi and Rohingya get voter ID cards and vote in our elections? 

This is a way to filter non-Indians and include the names of deserving Indians. Is it not a waste of state resources that in Rajasthan, both Congress and the BJP change the school syllabus according to their ideology whenever they come to power? If you buy poison by mistake, will you drink it knowing it is poison? 

I know the costs for changing the syllabus are very high, but we must give our children the right education. Akbar was a rapist, a lootera, and a robber who kidnapped Hindu women… Why should he be glorified in our textbooks? We should teach children about the real contributions of our heroes. We will make changes whenever necessary, no matter the cost.

Prof Dibyendu Das from IISER Kolkata, the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award-winning Scientist, is pushing the envelope in the Systems Chemistry world by doing something incredible: giving "life-like" behaviour to lifeless chemicals. This recognition, he says, is not just a milestone in his life but an acknowledgement of his department and the fast-emerging field of Systems Chemistry per se.

Das works with simple chemical substances that, in their natural form, show no signs of life. However, under specific chemical processes, these inert molecules start to act like living organisms — they grow, self-organize, divide and eventually break down. This is reminiscent of how life is presumed to have first taken root on Earth. The experimental materials his team creates are essentially “life-like matter”, made from simple chemical building blocks.

During the next 15 years, his aspiration is to significantly progress this work to understand in much greater detail the chemical origins of life. The field he leads, Systems Chemistry, is at the junction between chemistry, physics, biology, and engineering. Indeed, such a goal is basic and philosophical: to learn about how life arose, how living systems evolved into the complex organisms that populate the world today. This is an approach which requires that a scientist be a polyglot of many scientific languages.

While artificial intelligence is rewriting the future of work and cognition, Das believes in a natural convergence between AI and artificial life. While artificial life originally comes from chemistry and AI from technology, he thinks that the two will complement each other in times to come: the chemical design of life-like systems may one day underpin novel forms of AI, and AI in turn will be required for further advances in chemical life-modelling. However, he points out, the dream of actually replicating human-like emotional intelligence or behavior still remains far away. Human emotions are deeply rooted in the complex architecture of the brain, and artificial life research stands only at its foundational stage.

Even so, he foresees powerful medical applications well before that. One day, these life-like materials could act as smart therapeutic agents inside the body, recognizing biological needs and delivering active drugs only when necessary. Unlike today's conventional medicines, which flood the body and produce side effects, these could store excess medication and release it precisely where and when it is needed, improving treatment and reducing drug toxicity. Das also comments on the research infrastructure and funding in India. In fact, government support for scientific research had increased, and funding from the Anusandhan National Research Foundation managed to strengthen the ecosystem. Where once financial constraints prevented experimental research, Indian scientists-who have been pushing the boundaries of discovery-now see conditions improving.

By Ms. Likhitha V K 
Assistant Professor &
Program Co-ordinator 
Department of Forensic Science

The Edinbox team recently spoke with Ms. Likhitha V K, Assistant Professor and Program Coordinator at the Department of Forensic Science, Soundarya Institute of Management & Science, Bangalore, to uncover how the institution ensures students graduate not just with degrees but with real-world readiness. Through skill-focused learning, industry-linked training, and a strong mentorship culture, Soundarya Institute of Management & Science  is empowering students to confidently step into their professional journeys.

Q: How does your university prepare students for a smooth transition from college to career?

We integrate career readiness into our curriculum through skill-based learning, industry-oriented training, internships, and regular career workshops. Students receive guidance on resume building, communication skills, and interview preparation. Additionally, industry experts and alumni are invited for interactive sessions to help students align academic learning with professional expectations through guest lecturers and modular teaching. 

Q: What partnerships or collaborations (academic, industrial, or international) does your university currently have?

Our university collaborates with several reputed academic institutions, research centers, and industries such as Forensic science laboratories , private agencies in city limits ,nodal research facilities. These partnerships facilitate student exchange programs, joint research initiatives, industrial training, and curriculum enrichment. Such collaborations help students gain global exposure and hands-on experience in emerging fields.

Q: How does your university support students’ mental health and overall well-being?

We prioritize the mental health and well-being of our students through regular counseling sessions, wellness workshops, and stress-management programs. Our campus has a Student Wellness Centre with trained counselors who provide confidential support especially from NIMHANS Bengaluru.  Additionally, cultural, sports, and recreational activities promote a balanced and healthy campus life.

Q: What unique opportunities are available to students that help shape their overall personality and professional growth?

Students are encouraged to engage in leadership roles through clubs, student councils, and social outreach programs. Personality development workshops, entrepreneurship training, research projects, and community service activities help them build confidence, empathy, and professionalism, qualities essential for success in today’s world.

Q: How do extracurricular activities and student clubs contribute to student development? Is there a dedicated department or structure overseeing these activities?

Yes, we have a dedicated  Student Council Team called Daksha that coordinates various clubs and societies focusing on arts, culture, technology, sports, and social service. This collaborated with all department clubs with various roles and provided  platforms to help students explore their interests, build teamwork, leadership, and organizational skills, and foster a strong sense of belonging and community on campus.

Q: Does your university support innovation and entrepreneurship among students? If yes, in what ways?

Absolutely. Our Innovation and Entrepreneurship Cell E-cell  encourages students to transform creative ideas into viable ventures. We conduct start-up boot camps, hackathons, business plan competitions, and mentorship programs with successful entrepreneurs. Students also receive support in patent filing, funding assistance, and incubation facilities.

Q: What role does mentorship play in the academic and career development of your students? Are there any formal mentorship programs in place?

Mentorship plays a vital role in our academic ecosystem. Each student is assigned a faculty mentor who guides them throughout their academic journey, helping with academic planning, personal growth, and career decisions. 

Ms. Likhitha’s insights underscore how Soundarya Institute’s comprehensive programs, industry collaborations, and emphasis on student well-being prepare graduates to excel beyond classroom learning. With a focus on practical skills, mentorship, and global exposure, Soundarya Institute of Management & Science   continues to be a leading institution shaping the future workforce. Their holistic approach ensures students are not just job-ready but life-ready, ready to face tomorrow’s challenges with resilience and innovation.

The conversation about mental health is not merely a matter of sympathy, but of evidence, opines Edinbox Editorial Head, Nibedita Speaks. During an EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW with Dr. Sumita on synthesis of science and sensitivity she brings together the scientific precision of neuroscience and the empathetic depth of therapy.

Dr. Sumita, Clinical Hypnotherapist and Neuroscientist (PhD, Postdoc), MA Clinical Psychology. She's rewritten the rules on how to "heal" today. She applied her research in her new practice where her integrated holistic approach combines Clinical Hypnotherapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), and body-based regulation techniques, working with individuals and couples through emotional barriers, anxiety, burnout, and relational disconnection.

While speaking on mental illness illnesses that are not just psychological, but are deeply rooted in the biology of the brain's functioning, Dr Sumita stressed on disorders such as depression and anxiety. According to Dr. Sumita, it develops out of imbalances of neurotransmitters like serotonin, dopamine, and GABA, and altered activity in regions of the brain such as the amygdala, prefrontal cortex, and hippocampus. Explaining Burnout, she reflects chronic stress that dysregulates the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis, leading to cortisol imbalances and neuroinflammation. Understanding these mechanisms, she asserts, dispels stigma and allows for whole-person, mind-body interventions.

In the years to come, Dr. Sumita predicts we shall be living in the age of "precision mental health" as neuroimaging, genetics, and computational modeling come together to help tailor treatments for brain profiles. She mentions the promise of non-invasive brain-stimulating methods like TMS and tDCS, and the therapeutic implications of psychedelic-assisted therapy and gut–brain axis research. Artificial intelligence, she says, will soon be assisting early diagnosis and tailored treatment, long before symptoms become overwhelming.

Trauma and stress, Dr. Sumita goes on to say, neurologically rewire brain structure. "The amygdala fires too much, the prefrontal cortex loses control, and the hippocampus, which handles memory and context, gets smaller," she says. This rewiring disables individuals into hypervigilance and exhaustion cycles. Early trauma-informed therapies, mindfulness, and compassionate relationships can, however, rewire neural equilibrium and facilitate healing through neuroplasticity—the brain's capacity to rewire itself. Each repetition lays down new neural pathways for new practice, behavior, or thought, which will ultimately overwrite maladaptive patterns. "Healing is not fixing the broken," she underscores. "It's retraining the brain for new sensations of safety, connection, and calmness.".

Lifestyle, in turn, influences the brain directly and dramatically, states Dr. Sumita. "Sleep, diet, exercise, and mindfulness are the most accessible types of brain medicine," she adds. Adequate sleep clears the body of metabolic toxins, diet affects the gut–brain axis through microbiome activity, exercise spurs neurogenesis, and mindfulness aids emotional regulation and grey matter development. Put together, these become habits that yield increased emotional resilience and mental clarity.

Blending psychotherapy with neuroscience, she says, makes therapy more like an art with a biological basis. "If we understand how emotions are controlled in the nervous system, then we can use breath, body awareness, and cognitive reappraisal to aim at specific neural circuits," she says. Other integrative practices such as meditation and yoga work along with these interventions by modulating the autonomic nervous system and enhancing vagal tone.

Debunking popular myths, Dr. Sumita explains that mental illness is not a "broken brain." The brain, however, continues to be strong and self-healing throughout life. She also warns against dependence on willpower because emotional distress is complex—biological, psychological, and social. "Mental wellness isn't about controlling the mind," she reinforces. "It's about caring for the whole system—brain, body, and environment."

Even as technology and AI can aid in mental health—via mood monitoring, biofeedback, and stress detection—Dr. Sumita maintains that contact with another human being cannot be replaced. "Technology should supplement, not substitute, compassion and presence," she maintains. The future, she predicts, will belong to hybrids that incorporate digital assistance with compassionate care.

To stressed-out students and young professionals, Dr. Sumita invites to her rehabilitation center Ananta Alaya. She reminds us with a simple yet potent message: "Rest is not laziness—it's neural maintenance." She prescribes regular sleep, digital detoxes, exercise, and real human contact, citing that resilience develops from recovery and rest, not relentless work.

As a strong sympathizer, Dr. Sumita sees more uses of integrative neuroscience that integrates psychology, physiology, and contemplative science. Preventive psychiatry, she foresees, will increasingly be coupled with brain-based diagnosis and nutrition, behavioral guidance, and mindfulness. On the horizon are new fields like neuroaesthetics, gut–brain medicine, and meditation biofeedback, which are already on the horizon for broadening the definition of wellness. "Ultimately," she summarizes, "the brain doesn't heal by itself—it heals through connection, environment, and meaning. True mental wellness begins when we can learn to live in sync with all three.".

Rehabilitation vs. Preventive / Transformative Retreats

It’s important to clarify how what Dr Sumita’s venture offers are different from rehabilitation or mental health clinics.

Ananta Alaya retreat is not a substitute for rehabilitation or crisis intervention. Rather, it is a preventive / regenerative space: a place to intervene early, before patterns become entrenched, and to integrate body, mind, soul in an aligned space.