Lok Sabha Question No. 1094 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-02-07
Subject: Gender Participation in STEM Fields
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Dr. T. Sumathy (a) Thamizhachi Thangapandian

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No.1094 TO BE ANSWERED ON 07/02/2020

## GENDER PARTICIPATION IN STEM FIELDS

1094.   DR. T. SUMATHY (a) THAMIZHACHI THANGAPANDIAN:

## Will the Minister of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY वान और ौयोगक मंी be pleased tostate:

- (a) whether the Government is aware that there is a gap between the proposals and outcomes of various schemes of Young Scientists and Technologists;
- (b) if  so,  the  number  of  men  and  women  scientists  benefited  through  the  said  scheme  along  with  the records of the gender participation in STEM fields; and
- (c) the steps taken by the Government to encourage women in STEM fields?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE; MINISTER OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY; AND MINISTER OF EARTH SCIENCES (DR. HARSH VARDHAN) वाय और परवार कयाण मंी ; वान और ौयोगक मंी ; और पृ वी वान मंी

## डॉ . हष वधन

- (a) & (b): The gap between the proposals and outcomes of various  schemes  of Young Scientists  and Technologists has increasingly been reduced in recent years due to concerted efforts of the Government and stakeholders by prioritizing and making research work more focused, relevant and of translation potential. The  proposed  deliverables  are  monitored  through  Group  Monitoring  Workshops  (GMWs).  Mid-term correction  is  suggested  in  case  of  deviation  to  achieve  the  proposed  goal.  Under  the  Scheme  for  Young Scientists  and  Technologists  (SYST)  of  Department  of  Science  and  Technology  (DST),  77  women  and  99 male  scientists  were  supported  during  2015-2019  through  grant-in  aid  for  conducting  Research  and Development  (R&D)  or  adaptive  R&D  for  addressing  societal  challenges  and  improving  quality  of  life. Innovation  in  Science  Pursuit  for  Inspired  Research  (INSPIRE)  Faculty  Fellowship  Scheme  of  DST  has provided R&D support to 625 men and 301 women scientists since 2014 to pursue a career in R&D. A total of 1506 young women scientists and 3454 young men received R&D support through Early Career Research Award & National Postdoctoral Fellowship schemes of Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB) during the last three years (2016-19).
- (c) Government  has  taken several steps to encourage  women  in STEM  fields. This includes implementation of women exclusive schemes like 'Knowledge Involvement Research Advancement through Nurturing (KIRAN)', 'Consolidation of University Research through Innovation and Excellence in Women Universities  (CURIE)'  of  DST,  'Biotechnology  Career  Advancement  and  Re-orientation  Programme (BioCARe)' of  Department  of Biotechnology  (DBT),  National  Award  for  Women  Scientist  of  Ministry of Earth  Sciences,  Women  Excellence  Award  of  SERB  etc.  In  2016-17,  'Mobility'  component  has  been introduced  under  KIRAN  to  address  relocation  issue  of  working  Women  Scientists.  In  2017-18,  DST launched a  programme 'Indo-US Fellowship for Women in STEMM' (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics & Medicine) to provide opportunities to Indian Women Scientists, Engineers & Technologists to undertake international collaborative research in premier institutions in USA for durations of 3-6 months. During 2019-20,  a new scheme  'Vigyan Jyoti' for girl students  of  Class  9  to  12  in  order  to  increase  the number of women in STEM education has been implemented. Under the scheme, age relaxation of 5 years is given to young women scientists for participating in SYST and other R&D schemes. These women specific programmes and other measures help in improving the participation of women in R&D in the country.
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