Lok Sabha Question No. 4188 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-26
Subject: Women participation in STEM
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Ms Sayani Ghosh

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

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4188 ANSWERED ON 26/03/2025

## WOMEN PARTICIPATION IN STEM

## 4188. Ms SAYANI GHOSH:

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

- (a) the  schemes  and  policies  that  have  been  introduced  to  increase women's participation in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education and careers;
- (b) the details of the total financial assistance that has been allocated for women-led research projects under Government schemes;
- (c) the  data  on  the  percentage  of  women  enrolled  in  STEM  courses  at undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral levels in India during the last five years;
- (d) the percentage of women  employed in STEM-related fields in Government and private sectors; and
- (e) the number of women holding senior research positions and leadership roles in premier scientific institutions such as ISRO, DRDO, IITs and CSIR etc.?

## 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) The  Department  of  Science  and  Technology  (DST)  is  implementing  a comprehensive  scheme  'Women  in  Science  and  Engineering-KIRAN  (WISEKIRAN)' to encourage women's participation in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) fields. The WISE Fellowship for Ph.D. (WISEPhD)  program  supports  women  pursuing  research  in  basic  and  applied sciences.   WISE-Post  Doctoral  Fellowship  (WISE-PDF)  and  WISE-Societal Challenges with Opportunities (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) provides one-year, on-the-job training to build expertise in Intellectual Property Rights. In  addition, the  Women's Instinct for Developing and Ushering in Scientific Heights & Innovation program (WIDUSHI) enables senior women scientists retiring in a year or already retired in continuing and advancing their scientific careers.

Besides, fellowship programs, DST also provides institutional/ policies support through initiatives such as:

- i. CURIE (Consolidation of University Research through Innovation and Excellence), which strengthens research infrastructure in women's institutions to enhance participation in Research & Development.
- ii. GATI  (Gender  Advancement  for  Transforming  Institutions),  which encourages  institutions  to  implement  evidence-based  policies  to retain women in STEM careers up to leadership positions.
- iii. Science & Technology for Women (STW), which enhances women's livelihoods and social entrepreneurship through Women Technology Parks (WTPs).

Department  of  Biotechnology  (DBT)  support  DBT-BioCARe  Fellowship programme  which  aims  to  increase  participation  of  women  scientists  in Biotechnology and allied area.

The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) offers doctoral and  postdoctoral  research  fellowships  to  support  students  in  advancing research in science and technology. To encourage more women to pursue careers in STEM fields, including engineering, medical, and pharmaceutical sciences, CSIR provides a five-year relaxation in the upper age limit for female candidates applying for research opportunities.

All  India  Council  for  Technical  Education  (AICTE)  launched  a  Pragati Scholarship Scheme exclusively for undergraduate female students to provide an opportunity for higher education and empowering women through technical education.

- (b) The total financial assistance allocated for women-led research projects under Government schemes during the financial year 2024-2025 is Rs. 502.47 Cr.
- (c) The percentage of women enrolled in STEM courses at undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral levels in India during the last five years (20182022) is around 43.2 percent as per All India Survey on Higher Education, GoI.
- (d) The  percentage  of  women  employed  in  STEM-related  fields  in  the Government  and  private  sector is  around  18.6%  as  per  Research  & Development Statistics -2023, DST.
- (e) The number of women holding senior research positions and leadership roles  in  premier  scientific  institutions  such  as  ISRO,  DRDO,  CSIR  and  DST autonomous Institutions is around 1062.

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