Govt Expands Efforts to Boost Women’s Participation in STEM: Dr. Jitendra Singh

New Delhi: The Indian government is taking significant steps to enhance women’s participation in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields through the Women in Science and Engineering-KIRAN (WISE-KIRAN) scheme, Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh informed the Rajya Sabha today.

In a written response, Dr. Singh, who holds multiple key portfolios including Science and Technology, Earth Sciences, and Atomic Energy, outlined several initiatives under WISE-KIRAN aimed at empowering women in research, entrepreneurship, and intellectual property rights.

Key Initiatives Under WISE-KIRAN

Fellowship Programs for Women in Research

• WISE-PhD Fellowship – Supports women pursuing research in basic and applied sciences.
• WISE-Post Doctoral Fellowship (WISE-PDF) & WISE-SCOPE – Encourages women to continue research post-PhD.
• WIDUSHI Programme – Assists senior women scientists, including retired and unemployed professionals, in resuming their research careers.

Empowering Women in Intellectual Property Rights (IPR)

• WISE-IPR Internship – Offers a one-year on-the-job training program in Intellectual Property Rights for women.

Encouraging Young Girls to Join STEM

• Vigyan Jyoti Programme – Mentors meritorious girls in Classes IX-XII, motivating them to pursue STEM education and careers.

BioCARe Fellowship for Women in Biotechnology

• This initiative by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) supports women in biotechnology and allied fields, helping them build strong research careers.

Supporting Women-Led Startups in Technology

• National Initiative for Developing and Harnessing Innovations (NIDHI) – Provides capacity building, incubation facilities, mentorship, and early-stage funding.
• NIDHI-Seed Support Program (NIDHI-SSP) – Offers financial assistance to early-stage startups, including those led by women entrepreneurs.

Technology Business Incubators (TBIs) in Women’s Universities

To promote women’s entrepreneurship, DST has established TBIs in:

• Indira Gandhi Delhi Technical University for Women (IGDTUW), Delhi
• Sri Padmavati Mahila Visvavidyalayam (SPMVV), Tirupati
  Additionally, an Inclusive Technology Business Incubator (iTBI) has been set up at Delhi Technological University (DTU) to focus on gender, caste, and geographical inclusivity in entrepreneurship.

GATI: Advancing Gender Equality in Research Institutions

The Gender Advancement for Transforming Institutions (GATI) program promotes gender-sensitive policies to increase women’s representation in STEMM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Medicine).

Women Scientist Scheme (WOS): Reviving Careers and Driving Research

• WOS-A – Supports women returning to research in basic and applied sciences.
• WOS-B – Helps women scientists provide S&T solutions for societal challenges.
• WOS-C – Trains women in IPR, with 523 women trained in the past decade, 40% of whom are now registered Patent Agents.

Impact of These Initiatives

Dr. Singh revealed that 2,076 women scientists have benefited under WOS-A, with 40% completing PhDs and publishing over 5,000 research papers.

“These initiatives collectively empower women to excel in STEM, research, and entrepreneurship, creating a more inclusive scientific ecosystem in India,” Dr. Singh emphasized.

The government’s commitment to strengthening women’s presence in STEM is a crucial step toward building a more diverse and innovative scientific workforce, aligning with India’s long-term vision for technological and economic progress.