**Executive Summary**
On July 13, 2026, the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) organized "ASPIRE-SHAKTI" to celebrate women in STEM and release a compendium of research accomplishments under the CSIR-ASPIRE scheme. The event marked the commencement of mid-term project review sessions and outlined the scheme's next phase, which focuses on inclusion, innovation, and technology translation. Key upcoming objectives include the commercialization of 20–30 outstanding projects and enhanced outreach to the North-East region and Ladakh.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Scheme Performance and Achievements**
* **Launch and Scope:** Launched on International Women’s Day 2023, the scheme is a dedicated research program for women researchers in STEM.
* **Selection Statistics:** Out of 2,878 proposals from 969 institutions, 301 women researchers were selected as independent Principal Investigators, representing a 10% selection ratio.
* **Disciplinary Distribution:** Funded projects include Life Sciences (152), Engineering Sciences (54), Inter/Transdisciplinary Sciences (37), Chemical Sciences (34), and Physical Sciences (25).
* **Research Output:** The scheme has resulted in over 253 SCI-indexed publications, 15+ patent filings, and the training of more than 300 research fellows (JRFs, SRFs, and Research Associates).
**Future Focus and Strategic Vision**
* **Commercialization:** Identifying 20–30 outstanding projects for support beyond research to facilitate the translation of innovations into market-ready technologies.
* **Partnerships:** Connecting ASPIRE researchers with relevant start-ups and innovation partners.
* **Inclusivity Goals:** Increasing participation from the North-East region, Ladakh, and Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities through targeted outreach and awareness initiatives.
**Project Monitoring and Evaluation**
* **Compendium Release:** The ASPIRE-SHAKTI Compendium was released as a documented record of the scheme’s research milestones.
* **Review Sessions:** Subject Area Committees have initiated sessions to assess mid-term progress and guide the translational trajectories of funded projects.
**Impact Analysis**
**Women Researchers (Principal Investigators and Fellows)**
**Impact**
They gain access to independent funding, specialized training, and a pathway for advanced scientific careers. Outstanding performers will receive additional support for technology commercialization.
**Action Required**
Participate in mid-term project review sessions and align research outcomes with market-ready technology goals.
**CSIR and CSIR-HRDG**
**Impact**
These bodies are responsible for the conceptualization, implementation, and future expansion of the scheme under the Capacity Building and Human Resource Development (CBHRD) umbrella.
**Action Required**
Implement targeted outreach programs for underrepresented regions (North-East and Ladakh) and facilitate industry-researcher networking.
**Subject Area Committees**
**Impact**
These committees are responsible for the rigorous peer-evaluation and selection process that maintains the scheme's standards.
**Action Required**
Conduct mid-term progress assessments and provide guidance to researchers on the translational trajectories of their projects.
Key Entities Referenced
CSIR-ASPIRE Research Scheme: A research grant scheme launched exclusively for women researchers in STEM to support independent Principal Investigators across various scientific disciplines.
Capacity Building and Human Resource Development (CBHRD): The overarching cabinet-approved umbrella program under which the ASPIRE scheme is situated as a key instrument for scientific human capital.
CSIR-Human Resource Development Group (CSIR-HRDG): The specific division of CSIR responsible for the conceptualization, implementation, and management of the ASPIRE scheme and research fellowships.
ASPIRE-SHAKTI: A dedicated initiative and compendium documenting the research accomplishments and celebrating the contributions of women researchers under the ASPIRE scheme.
Dr. N. Kalaiselvi: Director General of CSIR and Secretary of DSIR, responsible for presiding over the scheme's review and steering its next phase toward technology commercialization.
Ministry of Science & Technology
CSIR celebrates women researchers in STEM at
ASPIRE-SHAKTI
CSIR-ASPIRE Compendium Released, Next Phase of the
Scheme to Focus on Inclusion, Innovation and Technology
translation
Posted On: 13 JUL 2026 8:44PM by PIB Delhi
The Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR), through its Human Resource Development Group
(CSIR-HRDG), today organised “ASPIRE-SHAKTI: Celebrating Women in STEM & Initiating Project
Review Sessions” at the CSIR Headquarters, Anusandhan Bhawan, New Delhi. The function brought
together Principal Investigators (PIs) of the CSIR-ASPIRE scheme, research fellows and members of the
ASPIRE Subject Area Committees from across the country.
Dr. N. Kalaiselvi, Secretary, Department of Scientific & Industrial Research (DSIR) and Director General,
CSIR, presided over the function and released the ASPIRE-SHAKTI Compendium, a documented record
of the scheme's research accomplishments.
In her Presidential Address, Dr. Kalaiselvi recalled the inception of the CSIR-ASPIRE Research Scheme,
acknowledging that the idea of launching a research programme exclusively for the women researchers of
the country was envisioned by Dr Jitendra Singh, Hon'ble Union Minister of Science & Technology, and
implemented by CSIR-HRDG with its launch on International Women's Day 2023.
The DG, CSIR expressed satisfaction with the overwhelming response from women researchers across the
country. However, the DG expressed concern about the comparatively low participation from the North-
East region and Ladakh, and emphasised the need for targeted outreach and awareness initiatives,including broader participation by universities and colleges in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, to make future
calls more inclusive of India's demographics.
Sharing her vision for the scheme's next phase, the DG, CSIR noted that around 20–30 outstanding
ASPIRE projects might be identified and supported beyond research by facilitating the commercialisation
of their innovations. Dr. Kalaiselvi further stated that CSIR would help connect promising ASPIRE
researchers with relevant start-ups and innovation partners, enabling the translation of their research
outcomes into market-ready technologies.
The DG, CSIR conveyed her appreciation to the ASPIRE Research Committee members for their
dedicated efforts in the evaluation and selection process, and to CSIR-HRDG for conceptualising,
implementing, and successfully conducting the CSIR-ASPIRE Scheme and the ASPIRE-SHAKTI event.
The CSIR-ASPIRE scheme has recorded an exceptional national footprint since its launch. Against 2,878
project proposals received from 969 institutions spanning almost every State, 301 meritorious women
researchers have been competitively selected and funded as independent Principal Investigators — a
selection ratio of about 10 per cent — across Life Sciences (152), Engineering Sciences (54),
Inter/Transdisciplinary Sciences (37), Chemical Sciences (34) and Physical Sciences (25). The projects
have so far yielded more than 253 publications in SCI-indexed journals, over 15 patent filings, and 20+
presentations at international conferences, as well as training over 300 research fellows — JRFs, SRFs,
and Research Associates — thereby building a specialised pipeline of women scholars for advanced
scientific careers.
Earlier, the DR R Parthasarathi, Head, CSIR-HRDG, in his welcome address, traced the Group's eight-
decade legacy of building India's scientific human capital — from the research fellowships written into
CSIR's founding resolution to the Capacity Building and Human Resource Development (CBHRD)
umbrella approved by the Cabinet chaired by Honourable Prime Minister in September 2025 and situated
ASPIRE as a named instrument of that continuum. Dr Shweta Pant, Nodal Officer of the ASPIRE scheme,
presented the scheme's highlights and insights. Dr Annapurni Subramaniam, Director, Indian Institute of
Astrophysics, Bengaluru and Chairperson, ASPIRE Physical Sciences Committee, and Prof. Sharmila A.
Bapat, Savitribai Phule Pune University and Chairperson, ASPIRE Life Sciences Committee, shared their
remarks and acknowledged the rigour of the peer-evaluation process.The celebration was followed by the initiation of the Project Review Sessions, in which the ASPIRE
Subject Area Committees will assess the mid-term progress of the funded projects and guide their
translational trajectories.
***
NKR/AK/NM
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