Targeted Initiatives Supporting Women in STEM
Several programs have been launched to promote continuity and career progression for women in STEM:
- Vigyan Jyoti: Inspires and empowers girls to pursue STEM careers, providing mentorship and exposure to leading institutions such as IITs, IISERs, and AIIMS. Over 1 lakh students have benefited in the last five years.
- WISE-PhD & PDF: Fellowship programs for women scientists between 27–45 years, enabling doctoral and post-doctoral research opportunities.
- WISE-IPR: Provides one-year training in Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) management to develop a skilled cadre of women scientists proficient in IPR laws.
- BioCARe Fellowship: Supports career re-entry and sustained participation of women in biotechnology research.
- ASPIRE: Launched by CSIR in 2023, it promotes women-led research and strengthens career growth in scientific domains.
WISE-KIRAN: Empowering Women Researchers
The Department of Science and Technology (DST) implements the WISE-KIRAN program to enhance participation and retention of women in R&D. The scheme is particularly focused on supporting women who have experienced career breaks, enabling them to pursue research in basic and applied sciences and address societal challenges. Specialized leadership development programs, mentoring, and training in administrative and managerial skills further enhance professional advancement.
Additional Measures and Support
To reduce financial and social barriers, the government provides scholarships, internships, hostel accommodations, career counselling, maternity benefits, exposure visits, and interaction with role models. These provisions aim to minimize attrition and promote sustained engagement of women in STEM education and careers.
Women scientists are being nurtured from school to post-doctoral levels, ensuring equitable participation and building a robust pipeline of talent in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics across India.
