Lok Sabha Question No. 6005 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-04-01
Subject: Participation of Women in STEM Fields
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Shri Bhartruhari Mahtab, Shri P C Mohan, Dr. K Sudhakar, Shri Yogender Chandolia, Dr. Nishikant Dubey, Shri P P Chaudhary, Shri Bibhu Prasad Tarai, Smt. Sanjna Jatav

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

## DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 6005

## ANSWERED ON 01/04/2026

## PARTICIPATION OF WOMEN IN STEM FIELDS

†6005. SMT. SANJNA JATAV:

SHRI P P CHAUDHARY:

SHRI P C MOHAN:

SHRI YOGENDER CHANDOLIA:

SHRI BHARTRUHARI MAHTAB:

DR. NISHIKANT DUBEY:

DR. K SUDHAKAR:

SHRI BIBHU PRASAD TARAI:

Will  the  Minister  of  SCIENCE  AND  TECHNOLOGY  be  pleased  to

state:

- (a) the  number  of  women  beneficiaries  supported  under  various programmes  of  the  Government  aimed  at  promoting  participation  of women  in  STEM  fields  as  of  February  2026  including  those  from Karnataka and particularly Pali and Bharatpur Lok Sabha Constituency in Rajasthan;
- (b) whether the Government has implemented special initiatives  to encourage girls and women to pursue education and research careers in STEM disciplines and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether universities, research institutions and scientific organisations in Karnataka, particularly in Bengaluru, are collaborating with the Ministry  for  mentoring,  training  or  fellowship  programmes  for women researchers in STEM fields and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  bridge  the  gap  between women's enrolment in STEM education and their participation in research and development activities; and
- (e) whether any targeted programmes or support mechanisms have been introduced in leading research hubs such as Bengaluru to increase women's participation in scientific research and innovation?

## ANSWER

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

- (a)  The  Government  is  implementing  various  programmes  across multiple  ministries  and  departments  to  promote  the  participation  of women in higher education and in Science, Technology, Engineering,

and Mathematics (STEM). The Department of Science and Technology (DST), through initiatives such as the Women  in Science and Engineering-KIRAN (WISE-KIRAN) programme, has supported approximately 1,000 women scientists over the last three years, as well as around 82,813 girl students across the country (up to February 2026). During  this  period,  73  women  beneficiaries  in  Karnataka  and  24  in Rajasthan  including  one  in  the  Bharatpur  constituency  have  been supported under WISE-KIRAN. Additionally, the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), through the Biotechnology Career Advancement and Re-orientation  (BioCARe)  scheme,  has  supported  49  women beneficiaries  in  Karnataka  and  3  in  Rajasthan.  Furthermore,  the University  Grants  Commission  (UGC)  has  supported  21,654  women beneficiaries under the NET Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) and 858 beneficiaries  under  the  Savitribai  Jyotirao  Phule  Single  Girl  Child Fellowship (SJSGC). The UGC also promotes qualitative improvements in  higher  education  for  all  categories,  including  women,  through initiatives such as the scheme on the 'Development of Women's Studies in  Indian  Universities  and  Colleges.'  Under  this  scheme,  financial assistance is provided for establishing Women's Studies Centres (WSCs) in universities and colleges, focusing on teaching, research, curriculum development, training, and outreach activities.

(b) The Ministry is implementing special initiatives to encourage girls and  women  to  pursue  education  and  research  careers  in  STEM disciplines. These initiatives span the entire academic and professional pipeline from school education to post-doctoral research and include the provision  of  scholarships,  fellowships,  mentorships  and  internships under programmes such as Vigyan Jyoti; WISE-Doctoral of Philosophy (PhD); WISE-Post Doctoral Fellowship (PDF); WISE-Intellectual Property Rights (IPR); Women's Instinct for Developing and Ushering in Scientific Heights  &  Innovation  (WIDUSHI);  CURIE  (Consolidation  of  University Research for Innovation and Excellence in Women Universities), which strengthens Research and Development (R&D) infrastructure in women institutions. In addition, the DBT supports women's career progression through the BioCARe Fellowship, which facilitates re-entry and sustained participation of women in the biotechnology sector.

(c) Universities, research institutions, and scientific organisations in Karnataka,  including  those  in  Bengaluru,  are  collaborating  as  host institutions  and  knowledge  partners  under  various  schemes  of  the Ministry of Science and Technology. These include premier institutions such  as  the  Indian  Institute  of  Astrophysics,  the  Indian  Institute  of Science,  the  Raman  Research  Institute,  the  CSIR-Fourth  Paradigm Institute,  the  National  Institute  of  Technology  Surathkal,  CHRIST (Deemed  to  be  University),  JSS  Science  and  Technology  University,

Nitte University Centre for Science Education and Research (NUCSER), Yenepoya (Deemed to be University), Institute for Stem Cell Science and Regenerative  Medicine,  Manipal  Institute  of  Regenerative  Medicine (MIRM), Tumkur University, National Aerospace Laboratories, Mangalore University,  University  of  Agricultural  Sciences,  Bengaluru,  Central Manufacturing Technology Institute (CMTI), Jyoti Nivas College, Centre for Nanoscience and Engineering, CSIR-National Aerospace Laboratories,  GSSS  Institute  of  Engineering  and  Technology,  and Karnataka State Akkamahadevi Women's University, Vijayapur. These institutions facilitate mentoring, training, fellowships, research projects, and capacity-building programmes for women researchers in STEM fields.

- (d) The  Government  has  undertaken  several  targeted  measures  to bridge the gap between women's enrolment in STEM education and their participation  in  research  and  development  activities.  A  dedicated programme, namely the WISE-KIRAN aims to reduce financial barriers and  encourage  continued  participation  and  career  progression  of women in STEM disciplines. The programme specifically addresses the transition from education to research by providing structured support mechanisms and opportunities. In addition, enabling provisions such as career counselling, maternity benefits, structured mentoring, exposure visits,  and  interactions  with  role  models  have  been  incorporated  to facilitate continuity in women's education and research. These measures help minimize attrition and promote sustained engagement of women in STEM careers. Complementing these efforts, the DBT supports women's  career  progression  through  the  BioCARe  Fellowship,  which facilitates re-entry and  sustained participation of  women  in  the biotechnology sector.
- (e) Dedicated  programmes  and  support  mechanisms  have  been introduced  in  leading  research  hubs  such  as  Bengaluru  to  enhance women's participation  in  scientific  research  and  innovation.  National level initiatives, such as the Women in Science and Engineering-KIRAN (WISE-KIRAN) programme of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), serve as flagship interventions for promoting women in science. Under  this  programme,  38  women  scientists  have  been  supported  in Bengaluru over the last three years. In addition, DST has established 11 incubation centres in Bengaluru to provide comprehensive support to startups,  helping  them  progress  from  ideation  to  commercialisation. Under the National Initiative for Developing and Harnessing Innovations (NIDHI)- Promoting and Accelerating Young and Aspiring Innovators and Startups (PRAYAS) programme, 63 women innovators and startups in Bengaluru have been supported. Further, the Department of Biotechnology  (DBT),  through  its  Biotechnology  Career  Advancement

and  Re-orientation  (BioCARe)  initiative,  has  supported  13  women  in Bengaluru. These women-centric programmes are implemented through premier academic  and  research  institutions, offering fellowships, mentoring, capacity building, infrastructure support, and career advancement  opportunities.  Collectively,  they  play  a  crucial  role  in strengthening the participation and leadership of women in scientific research and innovation.

*****