Latest news with #IITGandhinagar
India Today
30-05-2025
- Business
- India Today
IIT Gandhinagar starts e-masters in data science for decision-making
IIT Gandhinagar has rolled out a new e-Masters in Data Science for Decision Making (DSDM), aimed at professionals looking to upgrade their skills in data science with a decision-making edge. The course combines technical knowledge with practical business application, helping students make smarter data-driven to graduates from engineering, science, business, economics and other fields, the programme doesn't require a GATE second batch is now open for admissions, and the last date to apply is June 20, ONLINE STRUCTURE WITH INDUSTRY-FOCUSED TRAINING The two-year course is fully online, with 100% live sessions and small batch sizes for better interaction. Students will complete six modules across 54 credits, with each module running for 12 also a short residency component and access to career development support and one-on-one need at least 60% marks (or 6.0 CPI) in fields like statistics, maths, computer science, technology, economics, or AND DISCOUNTS AVAILABLEThe total fee for the programme is Rs 9.6 lakh, including a Rs 1.5 lakh registration fee (payable after selection) and Rs 8.1 lakh tuition fee (in six instalments). The application fee is Rs 1, a fee waiver offer till July 5 -- sponsored candidates get Rs 45,000 off the registration fee, and self-sponsored candidates can save Rs 30, TO APPLY FOR DSDM AT IIT GANDHINAGARVisit on 'Apply Now'Fill out the application form with required detailsUpload the necessary documentsPay the application fee of Rs 1,000Submit your applicationStudents will also get IITGN alumni status, making this course a solid step for anyone looking to grow in the data science field.
Indian Express
28-05-2025
- Health
- Indian Express
IIT Gandhinagar researchers claim breakthrough in fight against treatment resistance in prostate cancer
A research team from Indian Institute of Technology (IIT Gandhinagar) Cancer Chemical Biology Lab has recently identified a molecule that targets a key survival mechanism used by cancer cells to resist standard therapies. 'Typically, cancer cells activate a protein called Tousled-like kinase 1 (TLK1), which acts like a molecular repair crew,' explained Dr Sivapriya Kirubakaran, corresponding author of the study and a Professor at IITGN's Department of Chemistry. Traditional therapeutics using TLK1 inhibitors have been limited to a small class of compounds known as phenothiazines. The study has been published in the Bioorganic Chemistry journal. 'Initially developed as antipsychotic drugs, they show limited specificity and potency in prostate cancer therapeutics and are associated with undesirable side effects. The IITGN team sought to address this gap by creating a new class of inhibitors with better safety and effectiveness. We designed novel drug variants by modifying J54, our in-house designed phenothiazine-based TLK1 inhibitor,' said Dr Delna Johnson, the first author of the study and a postdoctoral fellow at the lab. J54, which was developed by former researchers of the lab, has shown effective action against mCRPC (metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer) in previous studies. 'We replaced J54's core structure and systematically modified its other parts to create new molecules capable of forming stronger interactions with the TLK1 protein,' she added. 'By retaining J54's morpholine-based side chain, a common chemical structure in many drugs, and adding an amide linker, our team sculpted a molecular decoy that disables the protein's function without disturbing the rest of the cellular machinery,' noted Dr Vijay Thiruvenkatam, senior author of the study and an Associate Research Professor at IITGN's Department of Biological Sciences and Engineering. The research team synthesised two series of molecules and performed a comprehensive set of experiments to evaluate their biological activity. In in vitro (test tube) assays, several compounds showed promising inhibition of TLK1, with one molecule, named 5n, standing out as the most potent. 'Molecule 5n could inhibit TLK1 significantly better than J54, and, crucially, it did so without competing with ATP, the cell's primary energy molecule,' according to the research team. To assess whether these molecules would work in living systems, the researchers tested their compounds on the LNCaP cell line, a human prostate cancer cell line that still responds to hormones. The cells, routinely used as a testing model for early-stage prostate cancer, responded strongly to 5n. 'In combination with Bicalutamide, a commonly used anti-androgen drug, 5n showed a six-fold improvement in reducing cancer cell survival. Additional experiments revealed that this dual treatment triggered significant DNA damage in the cancer cells and activated apoptosis, a self-destruct mechanism reserved for when a cell recognises its own irreparable flaws. Importantly, 5n demonstrated far less toxicity toward healthy, non-cancerous cells, suggesting that it selectively targets cancer cells, which is critical for reducing side effects in potential therapies,' the researchers claimed. 'By targeting a key protein involved in therapy resistance and designing a new class of molecules with precision and purpose, we have opened a new avenue for treating one of the most challenging forms of cancer,' says Prof Kirubakaran. The study shows how interdisciplinary research can set new benchmarks for cancer therapeutics, according to the research team. The future direction of this research will involve further preclinical studies to assess safety and effectiveness in animal models, followed by potential clinical trials, they added.
Hindustan Times
26-05-2025
- Science
- Hindustan Times
Under Operation Kayakalp, 1.3L govt schools revamped, 96% now meet standards: UP minister
Uttar Pradesh basic education minister (independent Charge) Sandeep Singh, on Monday said the state's school education infrastructure has undergone a large-scale transformation under Operation Kayakalp, with 1,32,852 council schools redesigned so far at a cost of ₹11,000 crore. In 2017, only 36% of schools met the required standards. This figure has now crossed 96%, he said. As part of improving access to girls' education, 746 Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas (KGBVs) have been upgraded to intermediate level. Among these, 683 schools now have smart classrooms, ICT labs, additional rooms, and hostels, Singh said. 'A new initiative called the 'Curiosity Program' in collaboration with IIT Gandhinagar has also been introduced to promote innovative learning.' The minister said that NCERT-based curriculum has been implemented through SCERT, and timely textbook delivery has been ensured. Under the 'Learning by Doing' initiative, students in 2,274 schools are being taught practical skills through four trades using 205 types of tools. Under the 'Nipun Bharat Mission', the government has launched two apps, 'Nipun Lakshya' for Classes 1–2 and 'Nipun Plus' for Classes 3–12. Over 1 crore children have received ₹1,200 each through direct benefit transfer (DBT). Singh said a budget of ₹447.80 crore has been allocated under the Chief Minister Model Composite School Scheme, and the foundation stone for 66 Chief Minister Abhyudaya Vidyalayas has been laid. The minister said Uttar Pradesh has emerged among the leading states in school education and termed the changes a major step towards building an empowered and educated society.
Hindustan Times
23-05-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
DRDO RAC Scientist Recruitment 2025: Apply for 148 posts at rac.gov.in, details here
IIT Gandhinagar launches 2-year e-Masters in Machine Learning for engineers, offering flexible online learning. No GATE required. Targets working professionals with 55% marks in relevant degrees. Total fee ₹ 9,30,000, with early bird discounts available until June 2025.
The Print
06-05-2025
- Politics
- The Print
IIT-Gandhinagar students slam Right-wing swipes at humanities dept—'attack on integrity of our work'
In several posts going viral on X , accounts have alleged that the department has been trying to promote 'Islamisation' on the campus. The claims deal with student theses, accusing the department of promoting 'minority practices'. IIT Gandhinagar, a premier Gujarat-based institute, has been in the eye of a storm, with Right-wing activists and anonymous X users raising questions about the theses of the Humanities and Social Sciences (HSS) department students. New Delhi: The students of Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Gandhinagar have called the online Right-wing narrative around their theses 'baseless', 'unprecedented' and a deliberate misrepresentation of academic work. Speaking to ThePrint, two students from the HSS department expressed their shock at the sudden scrutiny. The course, by nature, is interdisciplinary, and people from all academic backgrounds are free to pursue their academic interests, one of the PhD students from the department explained to ThePrint. 'We have professors with their area of expertise, and we work with them. Some of us work with topics that might reflect values enshrined in society,' she said, adding that students select their theses as a key component of their curriculum. The topics selected over three semesters undergo a rigorous process under the guidance of supervisors, require many ethical clearances, and then three panel defenses. 'What is happening now is aggression reflected by the broader population on X over a few of the academic topics we selected and defended. These are faceless people we can't engage with. So, we feel quite helpless,' she noted. Also Read: JNUSU polls: With a divided Left, ABVP breaks decade-long drought with seat on central students' panel 'Prejudice, discrimination, and insult' The controversy began after one of the X accounts shared a picture, reading, 'IIT Gandhinagar launches India's first AI—Deep Faith'. In the post, the user wrote, 'IIT Gandhinagar has come up with this unique architecture that will beat ChatGPT & Deepseek through the power of Kerala. It's called Deepfaith. Thank you @iitgn for using your taxpayer-funded 'autonomy' just like our Supreme Court to make this country a better place for us all. AI = Ayatollah's Intellect.' Raising concerns about the 'Islamisation' of the institute, the user wrote the project will identify 'kafirs' through the fear in their voice, 'even if they memorise kalma'. After many users reshared the posts, one of the IIT Gandhinagar professors, Nishaant Choksi, wrote an email to students, saying it had come to the attention of the institute that someone was sharing internal emails about project theses in an 'out of context … derogatory, offensive, and potentially dangerous manner on social media'. The move, Choksi wrote, is a breach of honour code, threatening students found posting the internal emails on social media to the Security and Stability Advisory Committee. The same X handle shared a screenshot of Choksi's email, and the person behind the post wrote 'scary'. 'After I exposed Islamic idiocy being studied in @iitgn, this is the mail one of the professors, Nishaant Choksi, sent. He talks about an 'Honour code' as if they are running a mafia organisation & demands secrecy in tax-funded research. Like WTF!,' wrote the user, adding that professors are actively 'going' after Hindu students in the backdrop of the 'Islamisation' of the institute. '… female students are ripe for exploitation under such an environment. How many of these professors are married to students, you think? Just check this professor, and you will know what exactly is going on,' the user wrote, asking the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Gujarat minister Harsh Sanghavi to protect Hindu students. The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) Sunday alleged 'ideological bias and cultural insensitivity' at IIT Gandhinagar, citing a controversy over the student theses shared online, demanding action against the 'responsible faculty members'. In a media statement, the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) claimed the incident reflected 'prejudice, discrimination, and insult' to Hindu students' sentiments, accusing the institute of disproportionately focusing on Islam-related topics. The group also called for transparency, student protection, and an impartial investigation into faculty conduct. 'Even academic work is under fire' Students, however, say the term originated as satire on social media and was, later, misinterpreted as fact. 'They are popularising those terms, as if we are making an AI. And I don't even know what ridiculous things they are perpetuating,' the student said. According to students, the criticism is not only factually incorrect but also undermines the academic rigour of the department. 'These theses go through rigorous vetting and defence processes. They are available in the institute library for anyone to access,' the PhD student said. 'These accusations are not just false—they are an attack on the integrity of our academic work.' The student added that claims of religious bias were also misleading. The theses are diverse. 'They cover everything, from economics and literature to linguistics and history. Even the ones that engage with religion are not limited to any one faith.' When asked whether the incident had left them fearful, the students said the prevailing feeling was not fear. 'It is not fear; it is disillusionment,' said an MA student, who wished to stay anonymous. 'We never imagined that anonymous accounts on Twitter could twist our academic work into something political and malicious.' Unlike other Indian universities, which have seen political mobilisation on campus, IIT Gandhinagar students said that they mostly stay away from activism. 'We do not have the kind of political culture that exists in JNU or Jamia,' the PhD student said. 'This is just academic work. And now, even that, too, has come under fire.' The students' only hope, for now, is that the institute and the broader public will recognise the difference between academic inquiry and online disinformation. 'We do not have the platform or power these anonymous accounts have,' the MA student said. 'All we can do is speak the truth and hope it cuts through the noise.' Mayank Kumar, the associate dean of student development, told ThePrint that IIT Gandhinagar has several departments, with many programmes offered, such as humanities. 'Some students, probably aggrieved with the institute, for some reason, decided to connect with external anonymous social media accounts,' Kumar said. Kumar further said: 'In case of malpractice in academics, questions could have been forwarded to the concerned head, dean, or director. It could have been raised anonymously within the institute itself through the ombudsman. However, to begin with, the issues raised on social media do not appear to have much connection with the text of the abstract, and therefore, lack academic merit.' Kumar added that the leaked emails have led to threats of various kinds. 'We hope that the students are able to get back to their academic pursuits at the earliest.' IIT Gandhinagar is an open culture institute, and the discussion between the faculty, the students, and the staff has, so far, been collaborative. (Edited by Madhurita Goswami) Also Read: What students and faculty say about DU principal who coated classroom walls with cow dung
