From tracking macros and calories in Indian thalis to helping culinary enthusiasts understand the nuances of different types of biryanis, researchers at IIITH are using computer vision to conserve food culture and traditions. If you’re someone who has been tracking your food intake via an app, you are already aware of the challenges it poses. Especially when it comes to traditional Indian meals. Understanding an Indian meal is far more complex than analysing a burger or a sandwich – and that challenge is now at the heart of a growing research effort that is using AI to decode Indian food, cooking and culture. Researchers from the Center for Visual Information Technology, IIITH are developing tools to understand a typical Indian thali – a plate that often contains multiple dishes such as rice, dal, roti, chutney, curd – with mixed textures and overlapping ingredients. As Prof. CV Jawahar, who has been leading the project asks, “If you are given a full plate of typical Indian food that not only has multiple dishes, but mixed ones like rice topped with dal, a roti hidden under a papad.… how do you understand what is there on a plate and eventually its nutritional value?”

IIITH’s Division of Flexible Learning (DFL) is launching the 2nd edition of the online degree program: MS in Data Science. The two-year, UGC-approved Masters program is designed to provide rigorous academic training in data science while offering the flexibility of a fully online format. The program is tailored to meet the needs of working professionals and learners who cannot attend on-campus classes, enabling them to upskill without disrupting their careers. The program is designed to be flexible, allowing those enrolled up to 4 years to graduate. Data Science program does not require an entrance examination, opening the door for a wider pool of talented learners from diverse backgrounds. The curriculum combines sound theoretical knowledge with real-world applications, preparing graduates for high-demand roles in the rapidly evolving data science industry. Commenting on the new online Masters program, Prof Sandeep K. Shukla said, “IIITH’s UGC approved Masters degree program in DS will enable students from all over India, as well as anywhere in the world to get skilled in DS and be effective in the field – either in research or in their jobs.

Even as high-rises and independent houses in Hyderabad’s IT corridor grapple with acute water shortages and spend thousands on tankers every summer, two educational institutions located in the same area — the International Institute of Information Technology, Hyderabad (IIITH) and Maulana Azad National Urdu University (MANUU) — have emerged as models of water self-reliance through groundwater recharge and recycling.While IIITH has ordered hardly any water tankers over the past 15 years, MANUU has drastically cut its tanker dependence. With daily water consumption of around 4.5 lakh litres, the university’s additional summer expenditure on tankers, which earlier stood at around Rs 20 to Rs 25 lakh, has now come down to about Rs 2 lakh. In 2024, we developed a biodiversity pond on campus, and since then our dependence on tankers has reduced drastically,” said Sk Ishtiaque Ahmed, registrar, MANUU. “Used water from lawns and other areas is diverted to this pond, which can store water up to 20 feet deep and helps recharge groundwater. We clearly saw the impact last summer.