Lok Sabha Question No. 4674 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-29
Subject: Inclination of Girls towards Science
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Sarmistha Sethi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

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

UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 4674

TO BE ANSWERED ON 29.3.2023

## INCLINATION OF GIRLS TOWARDS SCIENCE

## 4674. SHRIMATI SARMISTHA SETHI:

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

- (a)  whether  any  scheme  is  being  implemented  to  increase  the  interest  and inclination of girls towards science;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c)  whether  any  scheme  is  being  run  by  the  Government  to  encourage  girl scientists in the country; and
- (d)  if  so,  the  State-wise details of  girl  scientists who have been encouraged during the last three years?

## 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) Yes Sir. The Department of Science and Technology is implementing Vigyan Jyoti  programme  to  increase  the  interest  and  inclination  of  girls  towards science.
- (b) & (c) Vigyan Jyoti Programme aims to encourage meritorious girl students of  Class  9-12  to  pursue  higher  education  and  career  in  STEM  (Science Technology Engineering Mathematics) particularly in the areas where women

are underrepresented.  The  3 rd   phase  of  Vigyan Jyoti  Programme  is  in implementation in 200 districts of the country. Various year-round activities such  as  Science  Camps,  special  lectures/classes,  counselling  of  studentsparents and interaction with role models are being conducted to increase the interest of girls towards STEM. Further, special sessions on curriculum based experiential learning namely, C-STEM for class IX-X girls and Sparkle series for Class XI-XII girls are also being organized for better understanding of principles and  concepts.  The  tinkering  activities  are  also  being  conducted  under  the programme along with access to the Atal Tinkering Labs (ATLs), where ever available.  Some  other  activities  such  as  Cyber  Security  Workshops,  PyCode sessions,  coadethon,  and  Science  Quizzes  have  been  organized  for  better inclination of girls towards science. Selected girls are also getting opportunity to visit nearby scientific institutions and industries.

In addition to Vigyan Jyoti Programme,  another  programme  'PRAGATI Scholarship' of Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) support girl child to study technical education. Further, University Grant Commission (UGC) is also implementing 'Post-Graduate Indira Gandhi Scholarship for Single Girl Child' with an aim to compensate direct costs of girl education to all levels. Another programme 'Begum Hazrat Mahal National Scholarship' of Ministry of Minority Affairs is recognizing, promoting and assisting girl students belonging to  National  Minorities  who  cannot  continue  their  education  due  to  lack  of financial support.

(d)  More than 30000 girls have been encouraged through various interventions under Vigyan Jyoti since the inception in 2019-20. The States and UTs wise number  of  beneficiary  girl  scientists  under  Vigyan  Jyoti  Programme  is mentioned below:

| State/UTs            | Phase-1   | Phase-1              | Phase-II   | Phase-II             | Phase-III   | Phase-III            |
|----------------------|-----------|----------------------|------------|----------------------|-------------|----------------------|
| State/UTs            | Districts | No. of girl students | Districts  | No. of girl students | Districts   | No. of girl students |
| Andaman and Nicobar  | -         | -                    | 1          | 100                  | 1           | 100                  |
| Andhra Pradesh       | -         | -                    | 3          | 298                  | 7           | 692                  |
| Arunachal Pradesh    | 1         | 50                   | 1          | 95                   | 4           | 276                  |
| Assam                | 2         | 100                  | 4          | 399                  | 11          | 935                  |
| Bihar                | 3         | 150                  | 5          | 499                  | 8           | 671                  |
| Chandigarh           | 1         | 50                   | 1          | 100                  | 1           | 99                   |
| Chhattisgarh         | 2         | 100                  | 4          | 385                  | 8           | 779                  |
| Dadar, Nagar Haveli, | 1         | 50                   | 2          | 200                  | 2           | 200                  |
| Delhi                | 1         | 50                   | 1          | 99                   | 2           | 197                  |
| Goa                  | 1         | 50                   | 1          | 100                  | 1           | 97                   |
| Gujarat              | 1         | 50                   | 4          | 400                  | 10          | 797                  |
| Haryana              | 1         | 50                   | 3          | 297                  | 6           | 586                  |
| Himachal Pradesh     | 2         | 100                  | 4          | 400                  | 8           | 733                  |
| Jammu and Kashmir    | -         | -                    | 2          | 134                  | 5           | 378                  |
| Jharkhand            | 2         | 100                  | 4          | 399                  | 9           | 644                  |
| Karnataka            | 3         | 150                  | 5          | 500                  | 9           | 891                  |
| Kerala               | 2         | 100                  | 3          | 302                  | 7           | 690                  |
| Ladakh               | -         | -                    | 1          | 96                   | 1           | 88                   |
| Madhya Pradesh       | 2         | 100                  | 5          | 493                  | 10          | 977                  |
| Maharashtra          | 3         | 150                  | 5          | 496                  | 11          | 1038                 |
| Manipur              | 1         | 50                   | 2          | 200                  | 4           | 271                  |
| Meghalaya            | 1         | 50                   | 2          | 200                  | 3           | 222                  |
| Mizoram              | -         | -                    | -          | -                    | 1           | 43                   |
| Nagaland             | 1         | 50                   | 1          | 95                   | 1           | 54                   |
| Odisha               | 2         | 100                  | 4          | 400                  | 8           | 778                  |
| Puducherry           | -         | -                    | 1          | 100                  | 4           | 400                  |
| Punjab               | -         | -                    | 4          | 394                  | 7           | 683                  |
| Rajasthan            | 4         | 200                  | 6          | 599                  | 10          | 967                  |
| Sikkim               | 1         | 50                   | 1          | 100                  | 2           | 200                  |

| Telangana     | 2   | 100   |   3 |   299 |   5 |   493 |
|---------------|-----|-------|-----|-------|-----|-------|
| Tripura       | -   | -     |   1 |   100 |   3 |   213 |
| Uttarakhand   | 3   | 150   |   5 |   494 |   7 |   671 |
| Uttar Pradesh | 4   | 200   |   8 |   797 |  14 |  1279 |
| West Bengal   | 2   | 150   |   4 |   399 |  10 |   940 |
| Total         | 50  | 2500  | 100 |  9869 | 200 | 18082 |

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