Latest news with #AbhimanyuSaxena
Time of India
24-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
AI coding tools enter tech interviews
Bengaluru: This isn't a cheat sheet—AI-assisted coding is becoming part of the interview process, and some Indian companies may be among the first to embrace it. Design platform Canva, for instance, encourages engineering candidates to use AI tools like Copilot, Cursor, and Claude during their technical interviews. "Rather than fighting this reality and trying to police AI usage (which is increasingly difficult), we made the decision to embrace transparency and work with this new reality. We want to see how well candidates collaborate with AI to solve problems," Canva said in a blog post. This approach isn't a shortcut; it's a smarter, fairer way to see how candidates perform in a real-world coding environment. As AI tools become part of everyday development, using them in interviews could soon be the new normal—making hiring faster, fairer, and more relevant. Canva said that engineering work involves far more code reading and comprehension than writing code from scratch. "With AI tools generating initial code, a critical skill is the ability to read, understand, and improve that code. Our traditional interviews gave us no signal about these essential capabilities." Mastercard, for instance, on its careers page, said that for certain roles, candidates may be invited to use AI as part of the technical assessment process, and the interviewee will be given clear guidelines for the use of the appropriate AI tools. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free P2,000 GCash eGift UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo Viral Shah, co-creator of Julia Computing, said, "If the engineers are going to use AI tools for their jobs anyway, why not use them in the interview? The process of software development is transitioning from developers writing first principles programs to instead giving high-level clear directions to the AI agents and then doing design and code review. Indian firms, whether services or products, will need to hire for those skills. I believe this transition will be existential for some of the firms, and firms that adapt to the new realities will scale to new heights." Abhimanyu Saxena, founder of upskilling platform Scaler, said for senior roles such as an architect and senior developer, the company is allowing prospective candidates to use AI tools like ChatGPT in technical interviews. "Prompting is treated as a skill—asking the right questions to AI is as valuable as coding itself. But it doesn't end there. Top candidates go beyond just generating code; they validate its security, completeness, and quality, anticipate issues, and iterate using AI to improve outcomes. This applies not only to engineers but also to roles like product managers who might generate and refine product documents with AI." Prashanth Chandrasekar, CEO of Stack Overflow, said the real question is whether you trust the tool enough to let it bring out your best in an interview. "For me, it can be reminiscent of when I was first allowed to use a calculator in a classroom setting. It helped me speed up some tasks and get to the questions that required more analytical thinking—but at the end of the day, I still needed to understand math. It is the same scenario with these tools being leveraged in an interview; some may think candidates are 'cheating', but the reality is they still need to understand coding principles. The human being is still responsible for vetting and understanding that the work is accurate and worth putting his or her name on it." He also said the answer is somewhere in between—companies are likely going to require developers to know both how to code fundamentally and how to code faster and more efficiently with GenAI tools, as they improve in their efficacy. "The interview processes will likely reflect this dichotomy," Chandrasekar said.
Mint
07-06-2025
- Business
- Mint
Edtechs Simplilearn, UpGrad and Emeritus bank on B2B revenue as AI and GCC demand rises
As the edtech sector grapples with waning interest in its core, consumer-focused online learning courses post-pandemic, major edtech and upskilling companies like Simplilearn, upGrad, and Emeritus are strategically shifting gears towards enabling enterprise learning. Even as companies say that the conventional consumer model is still very much in vogue, they are working towards building their B2B (business to business) businesses, backed by corporations racing to upskill employees for the artificial intelligence (AI) age, and by the expansion of global capacity centres (GCCs) in India. The goals are lofty. Mumbai-based upGrad, a traditionally consumer-facing business, expects 30-35% of its business coming from B2B in the next few years, from 20% currently. Simplilearn, which has offices in the US, Singapore and Bengaluru, and offers courses ranging from AI to digital marketing, gets 30% of its revenue from its enterprise segment, and expects a 50:50 split in two to three years. And Bengaluru-based Scaler, which focuses on software development and data science courses and introduced a B2B vertical this year, expects it to contribute 10-20% of revenues in the first fiscal year (FY26). The details Let's start with Scaler. The startup, traditionally a direct-to-consumer player, is focusing its B2B business towards companies with a headcount of 2,000-20,000 employees and those that have set up a GCC in India. 'Most large enterprises outsource their software needs, and it lands in an Indian GCC," said Abhimanyu Saxena, co-founder of Scaler, identifying the training of GCC staff as a key revenue stream. 'In the first year, revenue from enterprise will be sizeable," Saxena said, adding that the company has already signed deals with a few Fortune 500 companies, but declined to share the names. Scaler closed FY24 with ₹384.5 crore in operating revenue, up from ₹316.6 crore in FY23, according to documents sourced from business insights provider Tofler. Scaler also slashed its losses in FY24 to ₹138.8 crore, down from ₹330.2 crore in FY23. Also Read | Staffing firms find it more profitable putting employees in GCCs than IT firms 'If edtechs are able to win contracts from GCCs, which have the potential to give big-ticket deals, they can end up becoming really profitable for companies," said Amit Nawka, technology deals partner at PwC India. Meanwhile, upGrad has been slowly building its muscle for enterprise-facing solutions through mergers and acquisitions over the past three years. While the edtech acquired Work Better and Centum Learning in 2022 to build its B2B segment, it was only in April 2024 that the company brought its B2B offerings under one banner, upGrad Enterprise, the company said. Srikanth Iyengar, chief executive officer of upGrad Enterprise, said B2B will help the company accelerate its growth in international markets through partnerships with global organisations. 'While consumer programmes typically allow individuals to learn at their own pace, enterprise learning is built on speed and precision–where organizations need their talent to acquire and apply skills to drive performance." upGrad clocked ₹1,875 crore in non-Indian Accounting Standards gross revenue in FY24, up ₹1,530 crore in the previous financial year, according to data shared by the company with Mint. It trimmed Ebitda (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization) losses to ₹79 crore,down from ₹500 crore in the previous fiscal. Some of upGrad's B2B vertical clients are Reliance Retail, Hexaware Technologies, HCL Technologies and Walmart Global Tech India, according to the company. Pivotal role As for Simplilearn, company founder Krishna Kumar told Mint In an interview last year that the company would focus on reskilling for professionals and its B2B segment. 'We should reach a 50-50 split between our consumer and enterprise business in the next two to three years," Kumar said. According to data from the company's FY24 revenue announcement release, Simplilearn clocked ₹773 crore in revenue and trimmed Ebitda losses by 75% to ₹51 crore. Most of Simplilearn's enterprise business comes from four segments: IT and ITES, GCCs, public sector undertakings (PSUs) and government institutions, and manufacturing and BFSI (banking, financial services, insurance). The startup's B2B clients include Indian IT firm Mphasis and Swiss technology company Temenos. 'At IT and ITES companies, they hire fresh graduates who can't be put on projects from day one," Kumar said. 'They need extensive training that is part of their onboarding programme and we work with them to make sure they can be deployed on projects." On the other hand, at GCCs, the focus shifts to upskilling and reskilling the workforce, Kumar added. Post-pandemic shifts To be sure, edtech's troubles started to grow in 2022 as the pandemic waned and students began to return to their classrooms. Startups in the sector faced slower growth and looked to pivot to more viable options. Additionally, Byju's collapse hurt the ecosystem, in terms of both valuations and investor faith in the space. Also Read | Byju's startup lesson: Don't get carried away with winner-takes-all dreams While several edtech companies switched to an offline model, others have turned to B2B for consistent revenue. Yet, companies told Mint their D2C business is still alive and kicking. 'If you look at the higher education segment, I don't see any downturn. Even if you look at the players in the upskilling and reskilling segment, I don't see any of the players struggling," said Simplilearn's Kumar. In fact, PhysicsWallah is among the few profitable edtechs that has stuck by its D2C business. Increasing AI demand The change in the edtech revenue mix comes as AI increasingly takes centre stage and enterprises look to plug holes in this space, from both an adoption and staffing perspective. 'AI can be adopted well into GCCs because they're highly process-driven organisations with specific turnaround times as well as predictability of work. In that regard, GCCs will be the torchbearers of AI adoption," said Nawka of PwC. upGrad Enterprises' Iyengar said that the division has seen 100% jump in enterprise sign-ups for AI-focused training in the past six months, across India, North America, Europe and the Middle East. 'What's encouraging is that this isn't just a top-down push–we're seeing equal enthusiasm from employees," he added. Also Read | GenAI may pile pricing pressure on customer support and maintenance work of IT services companies Popular courses upGrad Enterprises' most popular courses include generative AI for quality assurance/quality engineering teams and coding agents, and advanced GenAI courses for professionals working with large language models. At Simplilearn, AI and GenAI have become big themes across the four verticals that use its services. It's the same at Emeritus. 'Additionally, topics such as executive presence, communication, and negotiation & influence are in high demand across leadership levels," said Morarji. The increased focus on AI comes as organisations look to automate tasks, putting entry-level jobs at risk. The Future of Jobs report 2025 by the World Economic Forum points out that 85% of the employers surveyed plan to upskill their workforce, while 70% expect to hire staff with new skills. At the same time, 40% of employers are reducing staff as their skills become less relevant and 50% are planning to transition staff to growing roles. 'I can't see a better time for edtechs to target B2B as a segment because AI is disrupting everything and everyone wants to be on top of their game," PwC India's Nawka said.
Indian Express
27-05-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
Central Apprenticeship Council proposes 36% stipend hike for youth: what it means for students
The Central Apprenticeship Council (CAC), on Monday recommended a 36% increase in apprentice stipends under the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS) and National Apprenticeship Training Scheme (NATS). Announced during the 38th CAC meeting chaired by Jayant Chaudhary, Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), the proposal aims to bridge the gap between education and employment while lowering dropout rates and expanding industry participation. Once approved, the stipend would increase from the current Rs 5,000 – Rs 9,000 range to Rs 6,800 – Rs 12,300. This hike is aimed not only at reducing dropout rates, but also improving program attractiveness, and address the financial limitations that prevent many from continuing their apprenticeships. This upward revision would also be automatically adjusted every two years, based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI), aligning with national salary cycles and ensuring that stipends remain relevant in the face of inflation, according to the statement released. 'The Central Apprenticeship Council's stipend increase is a welcome move and a strategic investment in India's human capital, directly addressing key challenges in apprenticeship uptake and retention. This enhanced financial support empowers more youth, particularly those from non-metro cities, to fully commit to rigorous training, reducing financial barriers that often lead to dropouts,' said Abhimanyu Saxena, Co-Founder of Scaler, an online upskilling platform for working tech professionals, focusing on software engineering. The government's proposal comes amid persistent concerns over dropout rates and poor apprenticeship penetration. With India's apprenticeship engagement at just 0.27% of the workforce, compared to 3-4% in developed nations, financial support is seen as a key lever for improving retention and encouraging participation. 'Despite notable progress, India's apprenticeship engagement remains significantly below global benchmarks. The stipend hike is a vital incentive to attract and retain talent in skilling programs,' noted Dr. Nipun Sharma, CEO of TeamLease Degree Apprenticeship, a public-private partnership program that blends academic study with work experience. According to the statement, dropout prevention was central to the CAC's agenda. By making apprenticeships financially viable, especially for students from rural and economically weaker backgrounds, the stipend revision is expected to encourage sustained participation across diverse sectors. Students in both technical and non-technical streams stand to gain. Under schemes like PM-NAPS, over 43.47 lakh apprentices have been engaged across 36 States and UTs, and female participation has touched 20%. The NATS scheme, targeting graduates and diploma holders, enrolled 5.23 lakh apprentices in the year 2024-25 alone. This stipend hike provides greater financial security to continue apprenticeships without interruption, improved job-readiness through exposure to real-world work environments and an overall increased higher appeal of vocational education, especially with rising cost-of-living in cities. 'Efficiency of production in India holds the key to how quickly we surpass global competitors. The skill level in many trades is still below global standards, and this increase is small but a welcome step,' said Dr VP Singh, Program Director at Great Lakes Institute of Management, Gurgaon. A major thrust of the CAC's discussion also focused on enhancing Apprenticeship Embedded Degree Programmes (AEDPs). These integrate classroom learning with structured on-the-job training, offering a credible alternative to purely academic degrees. Reforms also include simultaneous notification of Craftsmen Training Scheme (CTS) and apprenticeship programs, ensuring better curricular alignment and smoother transitions for vocational learners. 'Our vision is to ensure every young person, regardless of background, gets a fair shot at a meaningful career through hands-on learning and industry exposure,' emphasised Minister Jayant Chaudhary, according to the statement.
Time of India
22-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Scaler Innovation Lab ties up with Gahan AI to develop autonomous mobility solutions for mining sector
Scaler Innovation Lab has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Bengaluru-based deep-tech startup Gahan AI to co-develop autonomous navigation systems tailored for the mining industry. The partnership aims to address the challenge of enabling autonomous vehicles to operate in unmapped, off-road environments without prior map data, including under adverse weather conditions. As part of the agreement, Gahan AI will operate from the Scaler Innovation Lab, where it will mentor early-stage startups and participate in regular showcases. Under the collaboration, select students from Scaler School of Technology and Scaler School of Business will work on research and development projects alongside Gahan AI's engineering team to build AI models and systems that can replicate decision-making in unstructured environments, a capability considered essential for operations in hazardous areas and disaster response scenarios. Abhimanyu Saxena, Co-founder, Scaler, said, 'This collaboration is a testament to our belief that real-world impact is the best classroom. We're excited to offer our students the opportunity to solve hard problems that matter, while empowering a homegrown startup like Gahan AI to fast-track innovation.' Gahan AI will conduct workshops and hackathons for Scaler students, as well as offer internship opportunities. Students will engage with real-world autonomous mobility problems and be mentored by Gahan AI's leadership. Mining safety as a priority The initiative is intended to address safety issues in the mining sector . According to the Directorate General of Mines Safety (DGMS), transportation-related incidents account for around 40 per cent of mining fatalities in India. Globally, the International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM) attributes over 70 per cent of surface mining deaths to vehicle interactions in unstructured environments. Uddalok Majumder, Co-founder, Gahan AI, said, 'At Gahan AI, we're committed to solving some of the most complex challenges in autonomous mobility — especially for real-world, unstructured environments like those at mining sites across the globe. Partnering with Scaler allows us to collaborate with some of the brightest young minds in engineering and business. We're excited to work with students who are not just learning theory, but actively building, testing, and innovating alongside us.'
Hans India
13-05-2025
- Business
- Hans India
Advanced AI engineering programme to bridge skill gap in emerging tech
In a move to address the growing demand for professionals skilled in applied Artificial Intelligence, the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee has partnered with edtech soonicorn Scaler to launch an Advanced AI Engineering Programme under the aegis of its Continuing Education Centre (CEC). The collaborative initiative is designed to equip learners with industry-relevant AI and machine learning skills through a practice-oriented curriculum developed jointly by IIT Roorkee faculty and industry experts. The programme, which is open to both tech and non-tech professionals, focuses on imparting real-world knowledge and tools necessary for high-impact roles in the rapidly evolving tech landscape. 'This programme is a step toward shaping the future of technical education by combining academic rigor with real-world application,' said Professor Kaushik Ghosh, Coordinator, CEC, IIT Roorkee. 'The successful rollout of this AI programme marks the beginning of many such initiatives in emerging fields.' The course covers core concepts of machine learning, deep learning, and applied generative AI. Modules include training on large language models (LLMs), tools like GitHub Copilot and Cursor, API integration (OpenAI, ChatCompletion), AI agent development, and sector-specific applications such as diagnostics and drug discovery in healthcare. Delivered through live online classes and hands-on projects, the program also features a two-day campus immersion at IIT Roorkee, allowing learners to access research labs and engage with faculty, peers, and industry leaders. Upon completion, participants receive a joint certificate from IIT Roorkee's CEC and Scaler, validating their expertise for roles such as AI Engineer, Data Scientist, or Software Developer. 'The mission is to build future-ready tech talent,' said Abhimanyu Saxena, co-founder of Scaler. 'This programme is only the beginning of a broader initiative to deliver top-tier education in high-growth tech domains.'
