Lok Sabha Question No. 519 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-23
Subject: Participation of Women in Research and Development
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Shri Balwant Baswant Wankhade

## MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 519 ANSWERED ON 23/07/2025

## PARTICIPATION OF WOMEN IN RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

## †519. SHRI BALWANT BASWANT WANKHADE:

Will the Minister of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has launched a number of schemes to increase the participation of women in the field of research and development in various States including Maharashtra State;
- (b)
- if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the details of funds allocated for the said schemes during the last five years;
- (d) whether these schemes have increased the interest of women in science and technology, if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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

विज्ञान और प्रौद्योगिकी तथा पृ थ्िी विज्ञान मंत्रालय क े राज्य मंत्री ( स्ितंत्र प्रभार) ( डॉ. जितेंद्र स ंह )

(a) to (b): Yes sir, the Government has implemented various schemes to increase the participation of women in research and development across all States  and  Union  Territories,  including  Maharashtra.  The  Department  of Science  and  Technology  (DST)  has  launched  the  'Women  in  Science  and Engineering -KIRAN (WISE-KIRAN)' initiative to encourage women's participation in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields at various career stages. Under WISE-KIRAN, the WISE-Ph.D. program supports women pursuing doctoral research in basic and applied sciences. The  WISE-PDF  and  WISE-SCOPE  programs  encourage  women  to  engage  in post-doctoral research, lab-based studies, and translational research from lab

to  land,  respectively.  The  WISE  Internship  in  Intellectual  Property  Rights (WISE-IPR) program provides one-year, on-the-job training to develop expertise in Intellectual Property Rights. The WIDUSHI (Women's Instinct for Developing and  Ushering  in  Scientific  Heights  &  Innovations  initiative)  enables  senior women scientists who are retiring within a year or have already retired to continue  and  advance  their  scientific  careers.  In  addition  to  fellowship programs, DST  also provides institutional and policy support through initiatives such as CURIE (Consolidation of University Research for Innovation & Excellence in Women Universities), which strengthens research infrastructure in women's institutions to enhance participation in research and development;  GATI   (Gender  Advancement  for  Transforming  Institutions) which encourages institutions to implement evidence-based policies to retain women in STEM careers up to leadership positions; Science & Technology for Women  (STW),  which  enhances  women's  livelihoods  and  promotes  social entrepreneurship through Women Technology Parks (WTPs).

The  Department  of  Biotechnology,  Ministry  of  Science  &  Technology,  had initiated  a  special  scheme  'Biotechnology  Career  Advancement  and  Reorientation  (BioCARe)'  Fellowship  Program,  which  aims  to  increase  the participation of women scientists in biotechnology and allied areas.

The  Department  of  Health  Research,  Ministry  of  Health  &  Family  Welfare, implements  the  Women  Scientist  Scheme  (WSS)  under  the  Central  Sector Scheme  titled  'Human  Resource  Development  for  Health  Research'.  This initiative is specifically designed to support women researchers and scientists who have experienced a career break due to motherhood, family responsibilities,  or  similar  reasons.  The  program  aims  to  encourage  their return to active research by providing opportunities in the field of biomedical and health research. Its primary objective is to reintegrate talented women scientists into mainstream research.

The  Department  of  Scientific  and  Industrial  Research  (DSIR),  Ministry  of Science & Technology, implements the Technology Development and Utilization  Programme  for  Women (TDUPW)  scheme  to  promote  technology adoption and training among rural and peri-urban women and self-help groups (SHGs). In 2023, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) launched 'A Scheme for Promotion of Innovation, Rural Industries and Entrepreneurship (ASPIRE)',  under  which  301  R&D  projects  were  sanctioned  exclusively  to women scientists.

(c) The details of funds allocated/utilized for the said schemes during the last five years is given below:

| Scheme                 | FY 2020-21 (Rs. in Crore)   | FY 2021-22 (Rs. in Crore)   | FY 2022-23 (Rs. in Crore)   | FY 2023-24 (Rs. in Crore)   |   FY 2024-25 (Rs. in Crore) |
|------------------------|-----------------------------|-----------------------------|-----------------------------|-----------------------------|-----------------------------|
| DST-WISE- KIRAN        | 79.1                        | 95.0                        | 96.8                        | 79.72                       |                      77.59  |
| DBT-BioCARe Fellowship | 4.44                        | 3.90                        | 0.50                        | 10.36                       |                       5.7   |
| DHR-WSS                | 5.3                         | 4.2                         | 6.77                        | 6.79                        |                      13.46  |
| DSIR- TDUPW            | 8.525                       | 8.525                       | 8.525                       | 8.525                       |                       8.525 |
| CSIR-ASPIRE            | -                           | -                           | -                           | -                           |                      34.23  |

(d) to (e): Yes sir, these schemes have increased women's interest in science and  technology.  This  is  evident from  the  significant  rise  in  women's participation in extramural R&D projects from 13% in 2000-01 to 18.6%, as reported in the Research & Development Statistics 2023 by the Department of Science and Technology (DST). This growth can be attributed to the various initiatives  undertaken  by  the  Government  in  the  science  and  technology sector. Furthermore, the All India Survey of Higher Education (AISHE) Report 2021-22 indicates that women now constitute 41% of total Ph.D. enrolments in  science,  engineering  and  technology  disciplines,  reflecting  the  growing interest and engagement of women in science and technology.

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