Legends of Artificial Intelligence (Marathi)

Source: Loksatta dated 4 March 2019

Skills needed for future job market

India finds itself at a unique advantage when compared to other nations due to its young population. However, a young population is both an opportunity as well as a problem depending on how the advantage is utilised to boost the economy. The rapidly growing population indicates the urgent need for skill development in order to enable the growing population to have meaningful employment. An education that places an emphasis on imparting skills over rote learning and memorisation is necessary to ensure that the youth are gainfully employed.

For India to maintain its stature of being the largest provider of skilled programmers and technologists, we will have to ensure that its populace is skilled accordingly so as to remain competitive in the global arena. What follows are five important skills that will continue to be in high demand in the Indian job market in the years to come.

CODING

Coding or programming in languages such as Javascript or Python has consistently been a skill that is in high demand. Many companies in the past few years have produced both hardware and software that feature augmented reality and machine learning. Individuals who possess the skills required to create, design and refine applications that make the most of these technologies and application programming interfaces, will be able to consistently secure rewarding employment.

MACHINE LEARNING

Machine learning (ML) being a branch of Artificial Intelligence (AI), has proved itself to be one of the most important technological developments in the last few years as it facilitates algorithms and programes to continually learn and improve their efficiency with time. Individuals possessing a sound understanding of machine learning will ensure that they become integral components of both emerging and established corporations.

MOBILE DEVELOPMENT

Companies are constantly in need of mobile applications that make their product or service accessible to the growing target audience. An exciting direction in which mobile applications are currently headed in is integrating technologies such as augmented reality like Pokémon Go. Applications such as these blend elements from the environment around users making the content appearing on screen more engaging.

SEO/SEM

Companies are constantly on the lookout for individuals with digital marketing skills in order to be able to better their presence and visibility across the internet. This skill has an obvious advantage as greater exposure to users across the internet would result in more customers and thus revenue.

CYBER-SECURITY SPECIALISTS

It is no surprise that cybersecurity and information security are one of the highest paying and most wanted skillsets. Ransomware attacks such as WannaCry along with hardware vulnerabilities that were exhibited in MeltdownandSpectrehave become the new norm in modern society. As the world continues its reliance on outsourcing services such as cloud computing providers, coupled with internal networks that are vulnerable, the need for businesses to staff a skilled security team is of utmost importance.

These emerging skillsets will be evolving at an exponential pace and wrapping one’s head around them to stay ahead of the curve is essential. A young population can only become an asset if sufficient job opportunities are created and the youth is skilled enough to meet the aspirations of the populace.

The government has struck the right cords with ‘Skill India’ and ‘Make in India’ as well as providing the policy framework under ‘Ease of Doing Business’. However, a lot more needs to be done if we are to fully utilise youth potential. With focus on acquiring the required skillsets, the possibilities that lie before a youthful India are unlimited.

(The author is founder of Indian Institute of Digital Education)

Source: The Time of India dated March 4, 2019

Centre plans to colour code generic medicines

In a move to promote low-cost generic medicines, the government plans to colour code such drugs to enable consumers to differentiate between generic medicines and other drugs and take an informed decision while purchasing them from chemists. Apart from colour coding, the government is also considering use of symbols to make generic medicines easily identifiable.

The proposal to colour code generic medicines was discussed at a recent Drugs Consultative Committee meeting. The coding system is likely to be similar to that used in food products to differentiate between vegetarian and non-vegetarian food. The government is expected to soon draw a detailed proposal on the matter, which will be put out for stakeholder consultations.Of late, the health ministry has taken various measures to encourage the sale of generic medicines over branded ones. For instance, it has made it mandatory for pharmacies to have separate shelves for displaying generic drugs and asked doctors to prescribe drugs by generic names in legible handwriting. The drug regulator has also asked companies to print generic names on their labels in a font which is two font sizes larger than the brand name. The government is also strengthening the backend supply chain to promote Jan Aushadhi stores, which sells only generic drugs. At present, there are over 3,000 such stores across the country.

Estimates show that more than 70% of the Rs 1 lakh crore local pharmaceutical market is dominated by branded generics, whereas patented medicines constitute around 9%.

Last year, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) had raised concern about the high trade margins included in prices of branded medicines. Highlighting the role of intermediaries in increasing prices, the anti-trust regulator had asked the government to find mechanisms to promote generic medicines.

In a policy note, the CCI said high margins were a form of incentive and an indirect marketing tool employed by pharma companies.

Even international agencies like the WHO has said increased use of generics can reduce the burden of out of pocket expenditure on healthcare. Currently, essential medicines constitute over 60% of out of pocket expenditure on healthcare in India.

In addition to colour coding, the government is also considering the use of symbols to make generic medicines easily identifiable

Source: The Times of India dated March 4, 2019 

Indian dress for Degree Distribution Ceremony

Source: https://epaper.loksatta.com/c/37269844

Now, companies are deploying robots to decode CVs

As robots tread their way into every industry from hotels to healthcare, how could human resources (HR) and recruitment remain far behind?

With automation gradually seeping into various levels within organisations, resumes are getting increasingly scanned by robots, or rather specialised applicant tracking systems (ATS).

According to TopResume.com, a leading global resume service provider, about 95% of Fortune 500 companies today use ATS software in their recruitment process, with Greenhouse and Bullhorn being some of the most popular ATS that are used. The global industrial robotics market is predicted to reach $41.23 billion by 2020, as per a report by Grand View Research, and robotics in resume scanning is expected to gain greater credence.

In India, however, the usage of ATS by HR departments is rising at a gradual pace. “ATS is not used thoroughly in India as yet. We observe large organisations who undergo recruitment volumes of over 300-500 candidates in a year for junior level positions utilising ATS. Advanced recruitment companies who use technology as a differentiation factor have adopted these platforms too,’’ says Nicolas Dumoulin, managing director, Michael Page India.

“Resumes are being read by tools using natural language processing techniques and software tools,’’ says Aditya Narayan Mishra, CEO, CIEL HR Services.

Experts believe as ATS seeps into the recruitment process, it is becoming vital for job seekers to make their resumes ATS=complaint. According to Nida Shahid, associate director – advisory, SHRM India, resumes in India are often not well optimised for ATS as they weigh low in grammar and formatting.

“Even a LinkedIn profile that is not recently updated may not support an ATS to make the correct decisions. The algorithm works basis the data it is fed and analysed in a format that is readable by the software,” adds Shahid. Experts say ATS is designed to pick out keywords in the resume and analyse if the keywords match with the job description. “Earlier, we would advise candidates to highlight important points, niche skills, experience and education. Now, as a machine will scan through the data, candidates should use keywords that match with the job description,” explains Shahid.  

For example, if the job description says “time management’’, the same keyword should reflect in the resume, instead of something like “managing time’’. 

Moreover, job titles should match those in the job description. If the job requirement reads as “Brand Manager’’, then a resume using the fancier “Brand Evangelist’’ might find no favour with the ATS.

Secondly, the resume should be clear and simple while quantifying the work, as the algorithm gets confused by the use of jargon, says Shahid.

Moreover, candidates should include key information in a concise manner and avoid long narratives, adds Dumoulin. Experts add that neither do the tools undervalue a concise resume that uses keywords sparingly but intelligently, nor do they give more importance to resumes that overuse keywords.

ATS carries a host of benefits for HR teams and organisations. “On an average, one job posting receives about 250 resumes. It’s impossible for an HR person to go through and vet each resume minutely. 

In fact, almost 75-88% of resumes that are received do not qualify for the job that is available. ATS reduces human intervention and thus cuts down the cost to the company. We weave in AI and human insights to predict absolute quality in recruits,” says Umasanker Kandaswamy, joint director and chief operating officer, Bruhat Insights Global.

Kandaswamy explains that ATS optimises the turnaround time for recruiters. He says that companies invest up to Rs 50,000 per hire, which also includes 23 working hours taken to thoroughly screen each resume. 

“The biggest shocker is that a candidate stays up in the market for only 10 days, as they are gulped down by other hungry recruiters.”

Besides optimising the cost of hiring and the time taken, ATS enhances recruiter efficiency by as much as 20%, says Mishra. 

FINDING A MATCH

·         Large organisations who recruit over 300-500 candidates in a year for junior level positions utilising ATS  

·         Resumes in India not well optimised for ATS as they weigh low in grammar and formatting

Source: Daily News and Analysis dated 28 February 2019
URL: https://www.dnaindia.com/business/report-now-companies-are-deploying-robots-to-decode-cvs-2724840 (Accessed on March 4, 2019)

New Arrivals of Periodicals: February 2019

Name	Vol. No.	Iss. No.	Issue Date
ABHIGYAN: QUEST FOR EXCELLENCE	36	3	Oct-Dec 2018
BUSINESS TODAY	28	4	18/2/2019 - 5/3/2019   [SOPONOMICS]
COORDINATES	XV	2	Feb 2019   [Real Time Kinematic relative positioning accuracy in Brazil]
CURRENT SCIENCE	116	3	31/1/2019 - 15/2/2019   [Experiments in skill building for science communication Transfer of research centres in information science Recovery of precious metals from e-waste]
DATAQUEST	XXXVII	1	1/1/2019   [Digital Leadership Conclave and Awards: Recognising CIOs and Industry Excellence IT Person of the year 2018: Ritesh Agarwal, Founder, Oyo Rooms Taking Cybersecurity to the next level The Future is here Delivering learning outcomes at scale: Re-skilling imperatives for creating the next generation of digital talent Top 5 Cybersecurity predictions for 2019]
DIGIT FAST TRACK	14	2	Feb 2019   [Photoediting 101]
DIGIT: YOUR TECHNOLOGY NAVIGATOR	19	2	Feb 2019   [PC Power 70+tips and tricks to make you a power user Recruitment startups are making hiring an easy experience for recruiters and candidates True wireless IEMs compared: picking the best of the IoT, sans wires Introducing flutter: Google's new mobile application development SDK FOreign satellites launched by India]
ELECTRONICS FOR YOU	50	14	Feb 2019   [The IoT, an explosion of connectivity and possiblities AI for industries: using intelligence in real time AI and the IoT: leveraging digital disruption Internet of Things: a guide to the essential protocols for the IoT]
EXAMINER,THE	63	8	19/2/2019
FORBES INDIA	11	4	7/3/2019 - 22/3/2019   [The class of 2018]
FRONTLINE	36	2	4/2/2019 - 19/2/2019
IETE JOURNAL OF RESEARCH	64	1	Jan-Feb 2018
IETE TECHNICAL REVIEW	35	2	Mar-Apr 2018
IUP JOURNAL OF COMPUTER SCIENCES,THE	XII	1	Jan-Apr 2019
IUP JOURNAL OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS,THE	XI	1	Jan 2019
OPEN SOURCE FOR YOU (LINUX FOR YOU)	7	5	Feb 2019   [Top Open Source Tools for AI and ML Top open source tools for Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning The ten best open source tools for librarians Ten trending open source projects of 2018 A quick look at open source tools and services for IoT The best Machine Learning Libraries in Julia]
PC QUEST	32	2	Feb 2019   [Setting a trend: IoT machines dispense chai AI based face recognition aids billing AI speaks: a call with the disruptor As we say BYE to 2018, BAI (Blockchain, AI and IoT) says hello! Implementations of AI in 2019 Industrial Automation, AI must to transform India into A $1 trillion economy by 2025 How is Machine Learning used in Stock Market Hurdles on the IoT highway Finance yet to embrace AI #AI for all]
RESONANCE: JOURNAL OF SCIENCE EDUCATION	24	2	Feb 2019   [The life and work of E C G Sudarshan Reversing Climate Change The Tree TRavelogues Brachistochrone-the path of quickest descent The fundamental theorem of Algebra Rubber as an aid to teach thermodynamics]
SMALL MEDIUM ENTREPRENEUR			Feb 2019   [IS AI the future of everything?]
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS	27	1	Jan 2019   [Composite structures]
UNIVERSITY NEWS	57	4	28/1/2019   [Quality and excellence concerns in higher education Problem of plagiarism in India: review of recent University Grants Commission Regulation Gujarati Bhavai as Performing Arts: Folk Theatre Drama Effect of guidance in lesson preparation and presentation on performance of student teachers To make quality healthcare affordable: an urgent need of the country]
VOICE AND DATA	25	13	Jan 2019   [The road to Right of Way (RoW): The time is now to fast track and regularize telecom infrastructure roll-outin states which need to align with RoW guidelines]

New Arrivals of Books: February 2019

Department: Computer Engineering

Machine Learning / Anuradha Srinivasaraghavan and Vincy Joseph / Wiley India

Acc. Nos.: 26720 to 26721

Enterprise Resource Planning / Jyotindra Jhaveri / Himalaya

Acc. Nos.: 26722 to 26731

Data Mining: Concepts and Techniques – 3^rd ed. / Jiawei Han and Micheline Kamber / Elsevier

Acc. Nos.: 26732 to 26741

Department: Information Technology

Computer Networks: a top-down approach / Behrouz A. Forouzan / McGraw-Hill Education

Acc. Nos.: 26742 to 26746

Department: Mechanical Engineering

Mechanics of Structures (Strength of Materials) – 32^nd ed., Vol 1 /H. J. Shah and S.B. Junnarkar

Acc. Nos.: 26747 to 26748

Strength of Materials / S.S. Rattan / McGraw-Hill Education

Acc. Nos.: 26749 to 26751

Introduction to Solid Mechanics – 3^rd ed. / Irving H. Shames and James M. Pitarresi / Pearson India

Acc. No.: 26752

Strength of Materials – 4^th ed. / W.A. Nash and Nilanjan Mallik / McGraw-Hill Education

Acc. No.: 26753

A Textbook of Production Technology (Manufacturing Processes) – 8^th ed. / P.C.Sharma / S. Chand

Acc. No. 26754

Material Science and Metallurgy for Engineers – 43^rd ed. / Sushil V. Kodgire and V.D. Kodgire / Everest

Acc. Nos.: 26755 to 26774

CAD/CAM: Computer Aided Design and Manufacturing / Mikell P. Groover and Emory W. Zimmers / Pearson

Acc. Nos.: 26775 to 26779

Machine Drawing-6^th ed. / K.L. Narayana and K. Venkata Reddy / New Age

Acc. No.: 26780

A Textbook of Engineering Drawing / P.J. Shah / S. Chand

Acc. No.: 26781

Department: All

Faculty Induction Programme: 2017-2018 / Deepa Panakkal and Bysani Malakondaiah / St. Francis Institute of Technology

Acc. No.: 26782

Faculty Induction Programme: 2018-2019 / Vipin Kallingal and Rekha Ajikumar / St. Francis Institute of Technology

Acc. No.: 26783

Department: Mechanical Engineering

Advanced Engineering Mathematics – 10^th ed. / Erwin Kreyszig / Wiley India

Acc. No. 26784

Numerical Methods / P. Kandasamy, K. Thilagavathy and K. Gunavathi / S. Chand

Acc. No. 26785

Fundamentals of Mathematical Statistics / S.C. Gupta and V.K. Kapoor / Sultan Chand

Acc. No.: 26786

Applied Mathematics III: Mechanical, Automobile, Production and Civil – 2^nd ed./ G.V. Kumbhojkar / Jamnadas

Acc. Nos.: 26787 to 26806

Department: Electrical Engineering

A Course in Thermal Engineering – 6^th ed. / C.P. Kothandaraman, S. Domkundwar and Anand Domkundwar / Dhanpat Rai

Acc. Nos.: 26807 to 26808

Thermodynamics / C.P. Arora / McGRaw-Hill India

Acc. No. 26809

Engineering Thermodynamics – 6^th ed. / P.K. Nag / McGraw-Hill India

Acc. Nos.: 26810 to 26819

A Textbook of Engineering Thermodynamics – 5^th ed. / R.K. Rajput / Laxmi

Acc. Nos.: 26820 to 26829

Strength of Materials – 3^rd ed./ G.H. Ryder / Macmillan

Acc. No.: 26830

Special Electrical Machines / K. Venkataratnam / Universities Press

Acc. No.: 26831

Electric Machinery – 6^th ed. / A.E. Fitzgerald, Charles Kingsley and Stephen D. Umans / McGraw-Hill Education

Acc. Nos.: 26832 to 26835