Lok Sabha Question No. 1027 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-02-08
Subject: Participation of Women in Research and Development
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 1027 TO BE ANSWERED ON 8.2.2023

## PARTICIPATION OF WOMEN IN RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

## 1027.   COL. RAJYAVARDHAN RATHORE:

Will the Minister of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ͪव£ान और Ĥौɮयोͬगकȧ मंğी be pleased to state:

- (a)      the  details  of  the  Schemes/initiatives/fellowships  by  the  Government  to increase participation of women in research and development fields;
- (b)      the details of the funds allocated for the above-mentioned schemes in the last three years;
- (c)     whether these schemes have drawn interest of women towards science and technology and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d)     the details of the impact of these schemes in enhancing women's inclusion in  research  and  development  sector,  and  science  and  technology  fields,  in absolute numbers as well as percentage increase of women working in these fields?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR THE MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND EARTH SCIENCES (DR. JITENDRA SINGH)

ͪव£ान और Ĥौɮयोͬगकȧ तथा पृ Øवी ͪव£ान मंğालय क े राÏय मंğी ( èवतंğ Ĥभार) (डॉ . िजतɅġ ͧसंह)

- (a)      The Department of Science and Technology is implementing an umbrella scheme, exclusively for women 'Women in Science and Engineering-KIRAN (WISEKIRAN)'  which  has  various  programmes  to  encourage  and  promote  women  in Research  &  Development  (R&D)  in  Science  &  Technology  (S&T)  domain.  The 'Women Scientist Scheme' under WISE-KIRAN provides opportunities to women scientists and technologists, especially those who had a break in career under its  three  components  namely,  i)  Women  Scientists  Scheme-A  (WOS-A)  for conducting research in Basic & Applied Sciences, ii) Women Scientists SchemeB (WOS-B) for research that entail S&T interventions for societal benefit, and iii) Women Scientists Scheme-C (WOS-C) for internship in Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs). Further, 'Indo-US Fellowship for Women in STEMM' (Science, Technology,

Engineering,  Mathematics  &  Medicine)  programme  provides  opportunities  to women  scientists  &  technologists  to  undertake  International  collaborative research in premier institutions in the USA for 3-6 months. In the year 2023, a new programme 'WISE-Post Doctoral Fellowship (WISE-PDF)' has also been started for women to conduct Post-Doctoral Research in Basic and Applied Sciences.

Besides the fellowship programmes, the Department is also providing institutional support  through  'Consolidation  of  University  Research  through  Innovation  and Excellence (CURIE)' Programme for development of research infrastructure and facilities in women institutions in order to encourage women's participation in R&D activities. In addition to this, Vigyan Jyoti is another unique initiative of DST that encourage meritorious girls of Class IX-XII to pursue higher education and career in STEM (Science Technology Engineering Mathematics) especially in the areas where women are underrepresented.  Moreover, DST is also implementing 'Gender  Advancement  for  Transforming  Institutions  (GATI)'  programme  which aims to transform institutions for more gender sensitive approach and inclusiveness  with  ultimate  goal  to  improve  the  gender  equality  in  STEMM (Science Technology Engineering Mathematics and Medicine).

- (b)     The budget allocation for WISE-KIRAN Scheme is Rs.95 Crore in 2020-21, Rs. 100 Crore in 2021-22 and Rs.125 Crore in 2022-23.
- (c)     Yes, these schemes are highly popular among women scientists. More than 7000 proposals/applications received under different programmes of WISE-KIRAN Scheme.
- (d)     The  programmes  under  WISE-KIRAN  scheme  have  significant  impact  in enhancing women's inclusion in research and development sector in S&T fields. Since the inception in 2014, around 2900 women supported under WISE-KIRAN Scheme for R&D activities. More than 30000 girls of Class IX-XII from 200 districts have been benefitted by various interventions under Vigyan  Jyoti Programme. State-of  the  art  research  facilities  have  been  established  in  25  Women  PG Colleges and 9 Women Universities under CURIE programme which has impacted thousands of girls through quality education and research. In GATI programme, 30 institutions have been selected for implementation of GATI charter in pilot mode.  As  per  the  statistics  available  with  the  Department  of  Science  and Technology, 16.6% women are directly engaged in R&D activities in 2018-19 as compared to 14.3 % in 2011-12.

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