A.P. Students Win 4 Gold, 14 Silver in National Quantum Computing Course
Andhra Pradesh students have secured four gold and 14 silver medals in a national-level quantum computing course conducted by the National Programme on Technology Enhanced Learning (NPTEL). NPTEL is a collaborative initiative of the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), offering free online certification courses across multiple disciplines.
The four-week course, titled 'Quantum Algorithms and Qiskit', was designed and taught by experts from IIT Madras and IBM Research. It covered quantum algorithms and the practical use of Qiskit, an open-source quantum computing framework developed by IBM. The course curriculum included lectures and hands-on exercises, enabling students to gain both theoretical knowledge and practical skills.
Quantum computing is an evolving field with potential applications in cryptography, drug discovery, and artificial intelligence. Training programmes such as this aim to build a skilled workforce in a domain that is expected to witness significant growth in the coming years.
The response from Andhra Pradesh was particularly large. According to data, 1,04,220 applications were received from the state, nearly matching the 1,04,565 applications from the rest of the country. This indicates a high level of interest among students in the state for advanced technology training.
Around 19,000 candidates from Andhra Pradesh appeared for the examination, compared to 11,000 from other states. Among the qualified candidates, 2,839 were from Andhra Pradesh, while 2,700 were from the rest of India.
The results reflect the state's strong performance. Andhra Pradesh secured four of the eight gold medals and 14 of the 30 silver medals awarded nationally. Students from other states took the remaining four gold and 16 silver medals.
Seven of the 14 silver medals won by Andhra Pradesh students were secured by students of Rajiv Gandhi University of Knowledge Technologies (RGUKT), Nuzvid. The four gold medal winners are Ch. Rama Soujanya of Visakhapatnam, T. Soumya Sri of Vijayawada, Anil Srinivas of West Godavari district, and Yashwanth of Rajamahendravaram. All are B.Tech students.
The course has already started creating employment opportunities for the winners. At least six medal winners have secured jobs in quantum computing companies, including three who have been hired by a quantum computing firm located at Meda Towers.
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu met the medal winners at the Secretariat on Monday and congratulated them on their achievement. He had earlier highlighted the large number of applications from the state for the skill course. Mr. Naidu reiterated the government's goal of creating one lakh quantum computing professionals in Andhra Pradesh. He had also announced that he would personally meet the gold and silver medal winners to recognise their performance.
NPTEL, funded by the Union Ministry of Education, has been offering online certification courses in engineering and science for several years. The platform provides lectures by experts from IITs and IISc, with certification exams conducted across the country. The quantum computing course, developed in collaboration with IBM Research, is one of the many initiatives aimed at equipping students with cutting-edge skills. The high participation from Andhra Pradesh underscores the growing interest in quantum technologies and the state's commitment to developing expertise in this field.
