Education Leaders | Top Interviews

Malik Riaz Hussain is Pakistani real estate mogul, is the founder of Bahria Town It is Pakistan's largest privately owned development company.

He was born into a middle-class family, his father was a private contractor. His father was a businessman, but his business failed. So Riaz had to drop out of school after matriculation. He began working as a clerk with the Military Engineering Service (MES) in Rawalpindi. Besides this job Riaz also worked part-time as a painter.

In 1995, he founded his own construction firm, Hussain Global, and entered into an agreement with the Pakistan Navy's benevolent trust, Bahria Foundation. It was to construct a gated community for the Navy. But the agreement was terminated in 2000.

When Malik Riaz's deal with the army expired, the Bahria Foundation of the Navy sent a legal notice to Riaz and requested him not to use terms such as Bahria, Maritime, and Navy in his company's construction work.

In 2001, the Supreme Court of Pakistan passed a landmark judgment in his favor, legalizing the use of the name 'Bahria'. Bahria Town has since then developed large-scale projects in Lahore, Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Murree, and Karachi. Bahria Town Karachi 2 is presently the biggest private development project in Pakistan.

As per media reports, Malik Riaz's net worth is estimated to be over $2.5 billion as of 2025. His portfolio and working projects within Bahria Town add to his wealth. 

Malik Riaz has twice been married. His first wife died when he was still young, and after some time, he married Beena Riaz. The two have one son and four daughters. His son, Ahmed Ali Riaz, born in 1978, is the CEO of Bahria Town.

In an era where women are progressively escaping from stereotypes and traditional roles, Shobha Gupta Ray is an outstanding representation of entrepreneurial vigor and will. The proud holder of the 2025 Goa Woman Entrepreneurs Award, Shobha has shown the world that if one works diligently, shows endurance, and remains willing to learn, women can accomplish anything in the most masculine sectors.

When questioned on how she acquired the skills and confidence to be successful, Shobha stressed the value of learning by doing. "I had to learn how the business operates, the market, how things operate from scratch, how paint operates, and how long it lasts."

As a female in a traditionally male industry, Shobha has experienced her share of obstacles. "There are many," she admitted. "From loans to paperwork to little file maintenance, all of it had to be done. That's a big challenge in itself." Despite these challenges, Shobha is dedicated to her business and determined to open doors for other women.

When questioned about some of the popular myths regarding women in business in her field, Shobha did not hesitate. "Anyone can own any business," she declared. "The issue is that clients are usually more at ease conversing with men. We must change that attitude – 'maalkin nhi maalik hona chahiye' (Owner of any business is always a male figure never a female)." Shobha feels that society must overcome some of its prejudices and become more actively supportive of women entrepreneurs.

Having gained from guidance and mentorship herself, Shobha is keen to pay it forward. "Yes, I can take it forward," she asserted, expressing her willingness to help and empower other women in her field.

Balancing personal and professional life is a challenge faced by many women entrepreneurs. Shobha recognized this dilemma, mentioning that "we always feel that somewhere something is missing. We need to keep chasing time." But she also highlighted the sharing of workload and responsibility, saying that "if every work is shared, then women can easily do anything."

When questioned regarding self-care habits, Shobha admitted that she doesn't worry about much, but there is one thing – credit. "The only stress component is that," she laughed.

Looking ahead, Shobha voiced her dreams about her business. "I hope to break loose and expand my capacity as a dealer," she explained. She also stressed calling for a paradigm shift in attitudes towards business and promoting small-sized businesses to benefit from the same facilities as high-capital owners.

Her determination, resilience, and commitment to empowering other women entrepreneurs make her a true role model. As she continues to break barriers and push boundaries, there's no doubt that Shobha will inspire countless others to follow in her footsteps.

ASSOCHAM Rajasthan organized a crucial roundtable "Bridging the Skilling Gap: Aligning Education with Industry 4.0" at The Lalit Hotel, Jaipur. Policymakers, industry captains, educators, and skill development professionals congregated for the roundtable to ponder over the urgent requirement to align education with the changing needs of contemporary industries.

The subject of much deliberation was XenHire's launch, a platform powered by AI that helps to revolutionize interview preparation as well as the evaluation of candidates. XenHire, a technology partner to the event, highlighted its disruptive solutions for preparing candidates and facilitating recruitment.

With XenHire, students receive real-life video simulations of interviewing, enabling applicants to rehearse and perfect answers in a virtual setting. The platform offers

AI-created questions specific to certain positions, automated interview configurations, and in-depth resume analysis. Through the use of sophisticated AI, XenHire provides customized feedback, allowing users to recognize strengths and weaknesses.

Prateek Jain, co-founder of XenHire, added, "XenHire is a member of the elite NACE (National Association of Colleges and Employers, USA) and has been providing this platform to universities. The feedback from pilot runs in universities has been very positive, with over 44 points rise in the confidence levels of students."

The event also anticipated the forthcoming 17th National Education Leadership and Skill Development Conference 2025, to take place on March 26, 2025, in New Delhi. The conference, on the theme of "Role of Education and Skill Development in Creating Viksit Bharat 2047," was to deliberate upon fostering innovation within higher education, investigating Artificial Intelligence in Indian schooling, and expanding employment and entrepreneurship through skill building programs.

As industries keep on changing with automation, AI, IoT, and digital transformation, the importance of platforms such as XenHire keeps on growing. By harmonizing education according to the demands of Industry 4.0, and by offering innovative skills development and evaluation tools, stakeholders can make the workforce competent, competitive, and able to sustain economic growth in the future as well.

The transition to renewable energy is a priority all over the world, opening up job opportunities globally. Nevertheless, to attain a sustainable and socially just transition, there has to be a multidisciplinary and data-based strategy. Prof. Pradip Swarnakar, initiator and coordinator of the Just Transition Research Centre (JTRC) at IIT Kanpur, underlines the necessity for educational institutions to adjust to this changing scenario. During a workshop conducted by the Earth Journalism Network and JTRC, he discussed the importance of a just transition in India and the contribution of young professionals toward a green future. Here are edited excerpts from the interview:

The Vision Behind JTRC

Established in 2021 within the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, JTRC operates across three key domains: academic and policy research, capacity building, and impact assessment for policies and projects. The Centre began by concentrating on coal and thermal power plants via the Climate and Energy Policy Research Lab (CEPRL) but has now widened its research scope to include electric vehicles, agriculture, and renewable energy. The multidisciplinary team consists of Ph.D. and post-doctoral researchers, scientists, and research associates with varying backgrounds.

The Need for a Multidisciplinary Approach in Renewable Energy

Most people think that the renewable energy industry needs mostly high technical-level specialists. Technical skill is important, but Prof. Swarnakar contends that to effectively make a sustainable shift, professionals with a multidisciplinary approach are needed.

"Along with their technical skills, those involved in this profession must possess a basic knowledge of science as well as humanities to get renewable technologies socially embedded and accepted by everyone," he maintains.

Environmental scientists, economists, and policymakers are needed to solve the environmental, social, and economic issues that can slow down the development of renewable energy. JTRC promotes interdisciplinarity by involving students from philosophy, sociology, political science, psychology, and literature in climate and energy research.

Defining Just Transition for India

The idea of a just transition was developed in the West and varies substantially in the Indian context because of differences in economic development, sources of energy, and fossil fuel dependence. While in other countries, oil and gas have played crucial roles, coal has been India's main source of energy and has fueled its economic growth.

As a coal-reliant nation, the initial step is to determine the effect of a phase-down of coal on the huge workforce and communities that depend on this industry," Prof. Swarnakar elucidates.

India has to redefine the just transition based on filling gaps in key data and knowledge necessary to create a framework specific to its challenges. Diversifying coal-dependent economies should be targeted, with special attention to ensure self-sufficiency for the communities impacted. JTRC's role is to be central in this change through advising policymakers, enabling stakeholder engagement, and creating implementable strategies.

Enabling Youth Participation in the Green Economy

The renewable energy industry holds the promise to create large jobs shortly, hence a desirable field for young adults. Prof. Swarnakar emphasizes three key reasons that India requires youth participation in this shift:

The renewable energy industry has immense employment opportunities. There is a big youth population with urgent employment problems in India. Studies have identified a large skill-aspiration-mismatched unemployment gap, especially in coal-intensive areas.

By investing in skill development programs, India can fill these gaps and incorporate youth into the green energy sector. "A green energy transition can be a powerful solution to youth unemployment, with high-quality jobs and sustainable career opportunities," asserts Prof. Swarnakar.

With strategic interventions, young professionals can drive and gain from the changing energy landscape, promoting a fair and equitable transition for generations to come.

A TV interview with Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan boosted Khushboo Kumari, a Bihari girl who aspired to become a doctor. Pradhan promised government support for her education, leading to a pledge from the Patna District administration for her class 11 science stream admission. The local administration has assured Kumari's admission to class 11 with a specialization in biology in the next academic session, 2025-27, a ray of hope for her family.

In a heartwarming twist of fate, a TV interview changed the life of Khushboo Kumari, a poor girl from Bihar who wanted to be a doctor. Her tale, brought to the limelight by a private news channel, was noticed by Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who promised that government assistance would not let her dreams of education evaporate.

In a touching video interview, Pradhan advised Kumari to concentrate on her studies and reassured her that her parents' financial limitations must not be her burden. The minister's reassuring words were music to her ears, and their moments were flashed across social media, with Kumari seen sitting between her tearful parents, visibly moved by the assurance.

Patna District Magistrate Chandrashekhar Singh assured that the local administration will arrange Kumari's admission to class 11 with a specialization in biology in the next academic session, 2025-27. This is viewed as a ray of hope for the family, assuring that dreams can surpass financial constraints with the right kind of intervention at the right time.

GATE 2025 Results: Kailash Goyal, who topped GATE 2025 while working full-time, shares his preparation strategy, the challenges he faced, and valuable tips for aspirants.

The Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee declared the GATE 2025 results on Wednesday, March 19, 2025. GATE is a national-level examination for admission to postgraduate engineering courses and recruitment in Indian PSUs. Passing the GATE exam is a dream for most engineering students, and getting an All India Rank (AIR) 1 is a remarkable achievement.

This year, Kailash Goyal has become the GATE 2025 Instrumentation Engineering topper with AIR 1 and an AIR 2 in Electrical Engineering. In an interview with News18.com, he tells us his strategy for preparation, the obstacles he overcame, and tips for future aspirants who wish to top one of India's most challenging competitive exams.

Q: Congratulations on your AIR 1 in Instrumentation Engineering! What was your reaction when you first saw your result?

A: Oh thank you so much! The minute I looked at my result and realized that I had achieved AIR 1 in Instrumentation Engineering, I was stunned. For 10-15 seconds, I sat still, allowing the moment to be absorbed. It was really a dreamlike feeling. Then, I thought I would look at my result for Electrical Engineering as well, and to my shock, I had achieved AIR 2 there too! The feeling was euphoric, and all around me people were shouting and congratulating me.

Q: What was your strategy of preparation, and how did you optimize your time?

A: My strategy of preparation was focused on a single goal—getting a top rank in GATE. To balance work and study, I opted to join as a subject expert at PW which complemented my preparation. My job was to immerse myself in GATE subjects, which further strengthened my grip on them. Responding to student questions also helped a lot in knowing and improving upon my weak areas. This regular subject exposure and problem-solving technique were the decisive factors for me.

Q: Did you strictly adhere to some books or web sources that benefited you in scoring high?

A: After finishing my B.Tech, I took admission in a classroom course for systematic learning. I also worked on a large number of question papers of previous years (PYQs) and test series. Whenever I was confused regarding a subject, I consulted more than one source, such as standard books and online lectures. Taking advice from experienced mentors also assisted me in clarifying my concepts.

Q: What were the most significant challenges that you encountered during your preparation, and how did you overcome them?

A: Having passed out from a private college, I had initial poor conceptual understanding, which filled me with so many doubts at the initial stage of my preparation. The other big challenge that I faced was self-doubt. I had been taking GATE but could not make a good rank. It frustrated me to realize where I was making mistakes. But I persisted, worked upon my weaknesses, and perfected my strategy with each attempt.

Q: Revisions and time management are difficulties most aspirants face. What advice would you like to provide to them?

A: Here are some major revision techniques that were helpful for me:

Make revisions of your class notes directly after the class.

Practice PYQs and class problems related to the matter covered in the class.

When you finish studying a subject, prepare short notes to revise easily.

Avoid distractions and remain self-disciplined while learning every day.

For the past 2-3 months, try taking as many mock tests as possible.

Rather than going through the whole syllabus again and again, concentrate on problem-solving and weak areas.

Q: What was the contribution of mock tests and last year's papers in your preparation?

A: Mock tests were essential in targeting weak spots and enhancing time management. In GATE, precision and speed take center stage, and constant practice through mock tests helped me accelerate both. PYQs play a vital role too, as they provide insights into the questions that have appeared in previous tests. Many of the same principles are asked repetitively. I would earnestly suggest covering at least 10-15 years of PYQs to prepare thoroughly.

Q: What are your higher study plans—whether to pursue higher studies, research, or PSU job?

A: I do not think about higher studies, research, or a PSU job now. Instead, I am planning for state government jobs in my hometown and district. Alternatively, I might continue working in the educational sector, mentoring future GATE aspirants.