Education Leaders | Top Interviews

In a historic milestone, Ayush Patel, a Physics student of Lucknow University and cadet of the 64 UP Battalion NCC, has been chosen as an officer in the Indian Army. His path, filled with determination and tough training, has been greatly influenced by his National Cadet Corps (NCC) experience. By attending various training camps and tough training at the Officers Training Academy in Chennai, a strong foundation for his army career was established.

This interview reveals his experience, problems, and NCC's contribution to his success.

Q: Congratulations on your selection in the Indian Army! What has been your experience thus far?

A: Right from the initial stages, there was a desire to join the Indian Army. Between 2021 and 2023, I attended different NCC training camps, such as the NCC Combined Army Training Camp, map-reading camps, and weapon training camps. These imparted valuable skills and discipline.

Q: What type of training did you receive to prepare for this chance?

A: At the Officers Training Academy camp, in Chennai, complete training was accomplished. The training helped immensely towards instilling leadership traits, physical strength, and thinking stronger at a strategic level, which all contributed to achieving this success. 

Q: In what manner did NCC shape your path towards the Indian Army?

A: A major role was also played by NCC in this context. By the means of NCC, army discipline, team spirit, and leadership were achieved. The knowledge and experiences gained through camps and training proved helpful in bringing about the confidence and determination necessary for this choice.

Q: What would you like to tell other students who want to become a part of the Indian Army?

A: One must understand that hard work, discipline, and dedication are the keys to success. The opportunities offered by NCC must be made the most of by one's ability, and untiring efforts must be made to improve oneself physically and mentally. Anything is possible with determination.

Harvard University’s Professor Bharat N. Anand recently shed light on how artificial intelligence (AI) could play a transformative role in making education more accessible and affordable. Speaking about the future of education, Anand emphasized the importance of reimagining traditional learning models to reach a broader audience at lower costs.

In the last decade, Harvard has reached exponentially more people outside the walls of its physical classrooms, teaching approximately 15 million students online. That's compared to the 17,000 students that the organization enrolls in its degree programs each year. The worldwide movement towards online learning is a testament to the potential of digital technology, like AI, to equalize the playing field in education.

Anand cited Harvard's AXM program, which is aimed at the 40 million Americans who start college but fail to finish. He noted that technology needs to be utilized to fill the gap and allow more students to finish school. With AI-based learning systems, students are able to receive personalized education based on their own needs, improving learning and ease.

AI has already begun transforming much of the education, from automating back-end processes to more student interaction with adaptive learning technology. Anand pointed out that if institutions implemented AI, they could lower operational expenses, and this would enable them to provide cheaper education without reducing quality.

Although AI presents humongous possibilities, Anand envisaged issues with the process of embracing technology within academia. Institutions were challenged by him to deploy new thinking but not lose touch with the reality that education was interactive, inclusive, and productive. With colleges worldwide grappling with the potential offered by AI, the ideal proportion but yet again needs to be found between using technology and adopting old world pedagogic mechanisms.

Harvard's adoption of leveraging AI and digital media to expand access to learning is one aspect of a broader effort to deliver high-quality learning experiences to students regardless of geography or economic constraints. As institutions are on the move to explore AI-based models, the future of education may be more responsive, personalized, and accessible than ever.

Anand's words are an affirmation of the growing sense that AI is not merely a tool for enriching education but a force behind change in learning delivery and acquisition everywhere in the world. As more breakthroughs take center stage, AI can also be an overarching force behind the next generation of teachers and learners.

At only 14, NRI student Siddharth Nandyala from Dallas has made a tremendous leap in the field of medicine by creating an AI-based app, CircadiaV, to detect heart diseases within seven seconds. His achievement has already impressed Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, who praised his creativity. During an exclusive interview, Siddharth recounts how his innovation came about, what inspired him, and how parents can encourage creativity and innovation in children.

Q: Siddharth, how did you innovate CircadiaV?

I've always been intrigued by the potential of artificial intelligence and how it can be used in medicine. I wanted to do something that would impact people's lives, particularly in regions where heart diseases could be detected earlier and lives could be saved. Realizing the difficulties doctors have in diagnosing heart issues in a timely manner, I asked myself, why not develop an AI system? CircadiaV came into existence based on this idea.

Q: How does CircadiaV work?

CircadiaV applies sophisticated AI algorithms to scan patient data and detect possible cardiac conditions within seven seconds. The application was piloted at Guntur Government General Hospital (GGH), where it demonstrated potential in accelerating diagnosis. Through the quick and accurate analysis, CircadiaV has the potential to enable doctors and medical practitioners to make quicker decisions, which can save lives.

Q: Leaders and Chief Minister Naidu have hailed your achievement. How is it?

It's truly humbling! CM Naidu went to the extent of posting on CircadiaV being a medical miracle on X, which also honored my certifications from Oracle and ARM for AI. It's quite proud-inducing. What I most want people to learn from is that perhaps other kids should also give science and tech a shot.

Q: Most parents wish to foster creativity and innovation in their kids. What do you believe works?

Creativity develops when you're curious, supported, and provided with the proper tools. These are a few things that worked for me and can work for other children as well:

Reading Together: Books inspire creativity! I enjoyed reading about science, and it made me curious. Parents need to read with their children and question them regarding the text in order to build problem-solving skills.

Encouraging Interests: If children love something, encourage them! My teachers and parents supported my interest in AI, and that helped me greatly.

Asking "What If" Questions: I ask myself, "What if this could be improved?" or "What if I could fix this?" This type of thinking promotes innovation. Parents and teachers can contribute by asking these questions consistently.

Being a Role Model: Children learn from grownups. When parents demonstrate their own creative problem-solving and thinking, it encourages children to follow their examples.

Experimenting with Creative Play: Schedule some time for experiments. I began with tiny coding projects, and with time, that motivated me to develop AI models. With science, art, or coding, children must be allowed to experiment and play.

Q: What's next for you?

I want to continue pushing the limits of AI in healthcare. I think that AI has the potential to transform diagnostics into life-saving technology available to all. My next course of action is to continue developing CircadiaV and look for further AI-based medical solutions.

Q: Lastly, tips for young innovators like yourself?

Show interest. Take chances. Don't be scared of failing. Every significant invention starts with a query. You'll be astounded at what you can do if you stay committed and keep learning!

The accomplishment of Siddharth Nandyala shows that, with the right conditions and encouragement, kids can turn their ideas into creative innovations. Parents, educators, and young people with an interest in science and technology will find inspiration in his quest.

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.