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artificial intelligence, education, technology, training

IIT Delhi Opens Registration For Second Batch Of Certificate Programme In Applied Data Science & AI

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IIT Delhi Launches Second Batch of Certificate Programme in Applied Data Science & Artificial Intelligence

The Indian Institute of Technology Delhi has announced the second batch of its Certificate Programme in Applied Data Science & Artificial Intelligence: From Fundamentals to Deployment. This comprehensive programme is designed to equip learners with the skills to write production-grade Python code, engineer and analyze data, build and validate machine learning (ML) and deep learning models, and deploy responsible AI solutions using MLOps. The course culminates in an industry-relevant capstone project, ensuring practical, hands-on experience.

Programme Highlights

Offered under IIT Delhi’s Continuing Education Programme (CEP), this six-month course provides a strong foundation in ML and AI principles and their real-world applications. These technologies are becoming increasingly central across sectors such as healthcare, finance, retail, manufacturing, education, transportation, and entertainment.

Key aspects of the programme include:

  • Hands-on Python programming and data manipulation
  • Exploratory data analysis, regression, classification, clustering, and dimensionality reduction
  • Advanced techniques in deep learning, reinforcement learning, and natural language processing (NLP)
  • Model deployment using Docker and cloud platforms
  • MLOps practices and application of responsible AI principles
  • Industry-grounded projects and a culminating capstone project

Curriculum and Learning Format

The curriculum is thoughtfully designed to guide learners from fundamental concepts to advanced applications, including:

  • Python programming, data manipulation, and exploratory data analysis
  • Machine learning techniques such as regression, classification, clustering, and dimensionality reduction
  • Deep learning, reinforcement learning, and natural language processing
  • Model deployment, cloud computing, and MLOps strategies
  • Application of responsible AI principles through hands-on projects and capstone

The programme employs a Direct-to-Device (D2D) delivery model comprising:

  • 72 hours of live, interactive online lectures
  • 40-hour industry-relevant capstone project
  • Practical tutorials and asynchronous learning modules
  • Optional short campus immersion at IIT Delhi for in-person experience

Upon successful completion, participants will earn e-Certificates from CEP, IIT Delhi, subject to fulfilling all programme requirements.

What the Faculty Says

“At IIT Delhi, we’ve built this program around doing, not just knowing,” said Prof. Ankur Gupta of the Centre for Applied Research in Electronics during the programme’s unveiling. “After practicing Python, deep learning, and current machine learning techniques, learners use MLOps and responsible AI principles to deploy their models in production. The capstone, industry examples, and mentoring ensure participants graduate with deployable solutions and the confidence to leverage data science effectively across industries.”

Who Should Apply?

This programme is ideal for:

  • Aspiring data scientists and AI enthusiasts
  • Technology and analytics professionals seeking to upskill or pivot careers
  • Engineers and technologists implementing AI solutions in industry settings
  • Students and researchers aiming to deepen their expertise in applied AI and data science

The Growing Demand for AI Skills

According to McKinsey’s The Data-Driven Enterprise of 2025, data will be ubiquitous across business processes by 2030, requiring leaders to adopt a ‘data and AI first’ approach. The World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025 highlights that 86% of employers expect AI to transform their operations by 2030. However, 63% of these employers cite skill gaps as a major barrier to adoption. Additionally, approximately 39% of current skill sets are projected to become obsolete within five years, underscoring the urgent need for upskilling.

This certificate programme by IIT Delhi offers a timely opportunity for professionals and learners to bridge this gap and prepare for the future of AI-driven industries.

https://www.freepressjournal.in/education/iit-delhi-opens-registration-for-second-batch-of-certificate-programme-in-applied-data-science-ai

general

Jannik Sinner says ‘changing a lot’ after US Open loss to Alcaraz

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Jannik Sinner said Wednesday he has been making changes to his game and “reflecting a lot” ahead of his first appearance since losing the US Open final to Carlos Alcaraz.

The Italian failed to defend his title in New York this month after Alcaraz emphatically overpowered him in four sets and snatched back the world No. 1 ranking.
https://sports.inquirer.net/641628/jannik-sinner-says-changing-a-lot-after-us-open-loss-to-alcaraz

children, education, law, policy, public safety

Eleven-Year-Old Disarms Potential School Shooter, Gets Expelled for It [WATCH]

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An 11-year-old student in Michigan has been expelled from school after disarming a classmate who brought a loaded gun into a school bathroom. This incident has raised questions about how zero-tolerance policies are being applied in school districts.

The event took place earlier this month in the Lansing School District. According to reports, the boy witnessed another student displaying a firearm in the bathroom. Acting quickly, the 11-year-old lunged toward the classmate and successfully removed the gun before it could be used. Fortunately, no shots were fired, and no injuries were reported.

Despite preventing what could have been a tragedy, the district confirmed that the student who intervened would face disciplinary action, including expulsion, under its zero-tolerance policy. District officials explained that the rules make no distinction between possessing a firearm and physically handling one, regardless of the circumstances.

The Lansing School District issued a brief statement, noting that all incidents involving weapons are reviewed under the same framework. “We are committed to maintaining a safe and secure learning environment for all students. Our policies are applied evenly in accordance with state law and district guidelines,” the district said.

Parents and community members have voiced frustration at the decision, saying the boy should have been recognized for his quick actions rather than punished. Several local residents told reporters they were shocked that a student who acted to protect others from harm is now being treated as if he posed the same threat as the classmate who brought the weapon to school.

Education experts note that many districts nationwide maintain strict zero-tolerance policies that leave little room for discretion by administrators. These policies were widely adopted in the 1990s in response to increasing concerns about school safety and firearm-related incidents on campuses.

However, critics argue that such policies can lead to disproportionate or unreasonable outcomes, as seen in this case.

Law enforcement officials in Lansing confirmed they are investigating how the classmate obtained the firearm and whether charges will be filed against the student or their parents. Police said the gun was loaded at the time it was brought onto school grounds. Authorities described the 11-year-old’s disarming of the weapon as preventing a potentially very dangerous situation.

The boy’s family has not made public comments beyond confirming the disciplinary action.

Advocacy groups are already calling for the district to reconsider its decision, arguing that punishing a student for preventing violence undermines efforts to encourage responsibility and courage among young people.

Legal analysts suggest that the case may draw wider attention to whether school districts should reevaluate blanket zero-tolerance policies that equate self-defense or protective actions with violations of firearms rules. “These policies were designed to keep weapons out of schools,” one education law expert said, “but when a student prevents harm by intervening, the policies may conflict with common sense and fairness.”

The Lansing School District has not indicated whether the expulsion could be reversed upon appeal. Meanwhile, the boy remains out of school while his family considers its options.

This case has fueled ongoing debate about how schools balance safety, discipline, and student decision-making in emergencies. While officials maintain that uniform enforcement of the rules is essential, critics argue that failing to recognize individual circumstances risks discouraging students from acting to protect themselves or others in dangerous situations.

For now, the 11-year-old student who disarmed a classmate will not be returning to class, even as many in the community describe his actions as heroic.
https://www.lifezette.com/2025/09/eleven-year-old-disarms-potential-school-shooter-gets-expelled-for-it-watch/

general

Frances Tiafoe smashes racket in first-round loss at Tokyo Open

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TOKYO — Frances Tiafoe experienced a tough start at the Japan Open on Wednesday, suffering a first-round loss to qualifier Marton Fucsovics. The eighth-seeded American struggled with his first serve throughout the match, which ended 3-6, 6-1, 7-5 in favor of Fucsovics.

Frustrated by his performance, Tiafoe smashed his racket against the court during the match. In addition to Tiafoe’s upset, Denis Shapovalov also faced an early exit from the tournament, adding to the day’s surprising results.
https://sports.inquirer.net/641622/frances-tiafoe-smashes-racket-in-first-round-loss-at-tokyo-open

conflict, dignity, government, politics, security

Crisis is BJP govt`s own creation: Congress on Ladakh violence

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Congress’ media and publicity department head Pawan Khera described the loss of precious lives in Ladakh as tragic. He said, “It’s a grim reminder of the government’s failed promises. In 2019, from the floor of Parliament, the nation was assured that the humiliation being inflicted on the people of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir then would usher in peace. Six years later, the trouble has only deepened.”

Khera further stated on X, “Far from restoring normalcy in the valley, the Centre’s shortsightedness has pushed Jammu and Ladakh also into an incinerator of violence. This crisis is the BJP government’s own creation—one it now seeks to unfairly ignore.”

He emphasized that Ladakh’s demand for inclusion under the Sixth Schedule, for dignity and the protection of their identity, is both legitimate and just. According to the Congress leader, it deserves not neglect but compassion and statesmanship.

On Wednesday, groups of youths engaged in arson and vandalism, targeting the headquarters of the BJP and the Hill Council. They also set ablaze vehicles. Police and paramilitary forces, deployed in strength across the town, lobbed teargas shells to bring the situation under control, officials said.

The Centre alleged that the mob violence was instigated by “provocative statements” from climate activist Sonam Wangchuk. It added that certain “politically motivated” individuals were unhappy with the progress made in the ongoing talks between government representatives and Ladakhi groups.

In a statement, the Union Home Ministry said that barring a few unfortunate incidents that occurred early on Wednesday, the situation was brought under control by 4 pm. The ministry also urged everyone not to circulate old and provocative videos on media and social platforms.

At least 50 people were detained as police and paramilitary forces strictly enforced curfew on Thursday in the violence-hit Leh.

*This story has been sourced from a third-party syndicated feed and agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability, and data of the text. Mid-day management and mid-day.com reserve the sole right to alter, delete, or remove (without notice) the content at their absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.*
https://www.mid-day.com/news/india-news/article/crisis-is-bjp-govts-own-creation-congress-on-ladakh-violence-23595754

disaster, exams, politics, public service

Pune: Stranded By Floods, MPSC Aspirants Demand Postponement Of Sept 28 Prelims

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Aspirants preparing for the exams conducted by the Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) are demanding the postponement of the State Services Exam’s preliminary test, scheduled for September 28. The reason behind this plea is the widespread floods across the state that have caused significant logistical issues, with many candidates losing their study materials.

Students from various parts of Maharashtra are pressing for the postponement, especially after the Directorate of Medical Education and Research (DMER) exam, initially scheduled for September 25 and 26, was also postponed.

Rohit Narayankar, a resident of Solapur, shared his concerns: “Incessant rains in Solapur, Jalgaon, and the Marathwada region have caused floods, and many residents and civil services aspirants are suffering too, as they have lost their study material.”

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds reaching speeds of 30-50 kmph between September 25 and 28. These conditions are expected to bring heavy downpours, waterlogging, and slower transportation flow due to generally cloudy skies.

Akshay Killedar, an MPSC aspirant, highlighted the impact on connectivity: “Beed, Dharashiv, Latur, Nanded, Solapur, Parbhani, and other parts of Maharashtra have been suffering from floods, and their road connectivity has been disrupted. Key routes such as Pune-Solapur and Kolhapur-Solapur have been affected due to the floods. We therefore request the MPSC to postpone the prelims, keeping in mind the hardships faced by aspirants.”

Support for the postponement has also come from political leaders. NCP (SP) MP Supriya Sule tweeted in solidarity with the students, stating:

“The ongoing heavy rains across the state have caused great damage to students academically. Libraries are closed, and study materials have been damaged. Apart from this, the transport system is disrupted, and vehicles cannot reach many places. Despite this, the Maharashtra Public Service Commission State Service Examination is scheduled for September 28.

It is unlikely that students from Marathwada will be able to reach the examination centres on time. Therefore, the students are demanding that the examination be postponed until the situation returns to normal. I request the government to consider the students’ views and make a decision regarding postponing the examination.”

As the floods continue to hamper normal life across Maharashtra, the fate of the MPSC preliminary exam remains uncertain, with aspirants and authorities awaiting a decision that takes the prevailing difficulties into account.
https://www.freepressjournal.in/pune/pune-stranded-by-floods-mpsc-aspirants-demand-postponement-of-sept-28-prelims

defense, india, international, military, technology

India test-fires Agni Prime missile from rail-based mobile platform

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The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), in collaboration with the Strategic Forces Command (SFC), successfully launched the intermediate-range Agni-Prime missile under a full operational scenario on Wednesday, the defence ministry announced. The location of the test-firing has not been disclosed.

This “first-of-its-kind” launch was carried out from a specially designed rail-based mobile launcher, which has the unique capability to move on a rail network without any pre-conditions. It allows users to have cross-country mobility and enables missile launch within a short reaction time, explained Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.

“This successful flight test has placed India in a select group of nations with the capability to develop a canisterised launch system from a moving rail network,” Singh said on social media platform X.

The ministry highlighted that the missile is equipped with independent launch capabilities, including state-of-the-art communication systems and advanced protection mechanisms. The missile’s trajectory was carefully tracked by various ground stations, and the launch was described as a textbook execution that met all mission objectives.

“This successful launch will pave the way for the induction of futuristic rail-based missile systems into the armed services,” the ministry added.

The test launch was witnessed by senior DRDO scientists and officers from the Strategic Forces Command. Notably, the “road mobile” variant of Agni-Prime has already been inducted into the armed forces after completing a series of successful flight trials.

The recent test-firing comes just over four and a half months after the four-day military conflict between India and Pakistan.

In related developments, on Tuesday, Rajnath Singh underscored India’s vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India), emphasizing that the goal is not only to manufacture for domestic needs but also to develop capabilities that position India as a credible source of advanced technology and high-quality products globally.

During the same day, Singh and his Moroccan counterpart, Abdelatif Loudyi, jointly inaugurated Tata Advanced Systems Limited’s (TASL) state-of-the-art defence manufacturing facility in Berrechid, Morocco. Singh described this event as a historic moment in the evolving strategic partnership between India and Morocco.
https://www.mid-day.com/news/india-news/article/india-test-fires-agni-prime-missile-from-rail-based-mobile-platform-23595727

climate, politics, protests, security, urban development

Ladakh protest: LG reviews security situation in Leh, calls for vigilance

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The situation in Ladakh remains extremely concerning amid ongoing protests that have resulted in four deaths and over 80 injuries. The incident occurred during widespread clashes amid a shutdown in the region.

In an effort to bring the situation under control, Lieutenant Governor of the Union Territory, Kavinder Gupta, chaired a security review meeting in Leh on Thursday. During the meeting, Gupta called for heightened vigilance to maintain peace across Ladakh, as reported by news agency PTI.

The shutdown and protest were called by a constituent of the Leh Apex Body (LAB) in support of demands to expedite proposed talks with the Centre regarding the extension of the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution and statehood for Ladakh.

The Lieutenant Governor’s office posted on social media platform X: “A high-level security review meeting assessed the emerging situation across Ladakh, emphasizing the need for heightened vigilance, seamless inter-agency coordination, and proactive measures to safeguard peace, security, and public order across the UT,” according to PTI.

Officials from Ladakh stated that senior officers from the police, CRPF, and civil administration attended the meeting, discussing in detail the prevailing law and order situation in the region.

On Wednesday, hundreds of protesters supporting the movement for Ladakh’s statehood and the extension of the Sixth Schedule turned violent. As reported by PTI, the protest intensified quickly, with demonstrators setting fire to the BJP office in Leh and several vehicles.

In response, authorities imposed a curfew in Leh and its adjoining areas to restore order.

The Centre alleged that the mob violence was incited by “provocative statements” made by climate activist Sonam Wangchuk. The Modi-led party also suggested that some “politically motivated” individuals were unhappy with the progress of ongoing talks between government representatives and Ladakhi groups.

Meanwhile, Sonam Wangchuk, who was leading a hunger strike in Leh to support the twin demands, called off his strike following the violence on Wednesday. He urged people to restore peace throughout Ladakh, according to PTI.

(With inputs from PTI)
https://www.mid-day.com/news/india-news/article/ladakh-protest-lg-reviews-security-situation-in-leh-calls-for-heightened-vigilance-23595753

business, health, investment, market

Indian pharma, healthcare firms eye ₹13,000cr via IPOs

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The industry plans to raise an estimated ₹12,000–13,000 crore over the next six to nine months. According to data compiled by *The Economic Times*, around 15 companies from this sector are likely to enter the primary market soon.

**Market Activity: SEBI Receives DRHPs for Several Companies**

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has received draft red herring prospectuses (DRHPs) from several companies. Notably, Indira IVF refiled in July with an issue size of about ₹3,500 crore, while Sahajanand Medical Technologies filed for a ₹1,500 crore issue. Other significant filings include NephroPlus (approximately ₹2,000 crore), Molbio Diagnostics (₹200 crore), and Cotec Healthcare (₹500 crore).

**Fundraising Plans: Companies That Have Received SEBI’s Nod**

Among the companies that have secured SEBI’s approval are Rubicon Research, aiming to raise ₹1,085 crore, and Corona Remedies, planning to raise ₹800 crore. Additionally, other companies gearing up for initial public offerings (IPOs) include Paramesu Biotech (₹600 crore), Allchem Lifesciences (₹190 crore), Paras Healthcare (about ₹900 crore), Veeda Clinical Research (around ₹500 crore), and Gujarat Kidney and Superspeciality Hospital (₹128 crore). Genetix Biotech is also poised to file for an IPO soon.

**Trends: ART Sector Attracting Investor Interest Due to Strong Fundamentals**

Saurav Chaube, a research analyst at Samco Securities, highlighted a strategic shift in the assisted reproductive technology (ART) sector. He explained that growing investor interest is fueled by strong market fundamentals, such as increasing infertility awareness and favorable demographics.

Chaube further noted that companies like Indira IVF and Gaudium IVF have filed through the confidential route. This approach signals a maturing market where players seek to optimize their public offerings while minimizing early scrutiny and potential opportunist litigation.

**Industry Outlook: Pharma and Healthcare Increasingly in Focus Since COVID-19**

Samir Bahl, CEO of Anand Rathi Advisors, observed that global markets have increasingly concentrated on pharma and healthcare since the COVID-19 pandemic. He pointed out that countries like the US and India are ramping up investments in pharmaceutical and biotech innovation.

Bahl also remarked that Indian pharma companies are commanding high price-to-earnings ratios, reflecting favorable valuations and strong investor interest in the sector.
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/business/15-pharma-healthcare-firms-to-launch-ipos-in-coming-months/story

general

Philippines, Singapore in talks to modernize 48-year-old tax pact

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MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines, through the Department of Finance (DOF), has begun negotiations with Singapore to update the nearly five-decade-old 1977 Double Taxation Agreement (DTA).

This initiative aims to “keep pace with the demands of the modern economy and strengthen bilateral and investment relations that will translate to more jobs for Filipinos,” the DOF said.

https://business.inquirer.net/549112/philippines-singapore-in-talks-to-modernize-48-year-old-tax-pact