Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Science and Technology addresses Lok Sabha question 519 regarding the participation of women in Research and Development (R&D). The government has implemented several schemes to increase women's involvement in STEM fields across all states and Union Territories. These schemes are supported by financial allocations and have shown a positive impact on women's interest in science and technology.
Key Points / Main Content:
Government Initiatives:
A number of schemes have been launched to increase women's participation in R&D.
Department of Science and Technology (DST) - WISEKIRAN Initiative:
* WISEPh.D.: Supports women in doctoral research in basic and applied sciences.
* WISEPDF and WISESCOPE: Encourage women in postdoctoral research and translational research.
* WISEIPR: Provides on-the-job training in Intellectual Property Rights.
* WIDUSHI: Enables senior retired or retiring women scientists to continue their scientific careers.
* CURIE: Strengthens research infrastructure in women's universities.
* GATI: Encourages institutions to implement policies to retain women in STEM careers up to leadership positions.
* STW: Enhances women’s livelihoods and promotes social entrepreneurship through Women Technology Parks (WTPs).
Department of Biotechnology (DBT):
* BioCARe Fellowship Program: Aims to increase the participation of women scientists in biotechnology and allied areas.
Department of Health Research (DHR):
* Women Scientist Scheme (WSS): Supports women researchers returning to biomedical and health research after career breaks.
Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR):
* Technology Development and Utilization Programme for Women (TDUPW): Promotes technology adoption and training among rural and peri-urban women and self-help groups.
Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR):
* ASPIRE: Launched in 2023, it sanctioned 301 R&D projects exclusively to women scientists.
Funding:
The details of funds allocated/utilized for the said schemes during the last five years is given below:
Scheme|FY 2020-21|FY 2021-22|FY 2022-23|FY 2023-24|FY 2024-25
---|---|---|---|---|---
DST-WISE KIRAN|79.1 Crore|95.0 Crore|96.8 Crore|79.72 Crore|77.59 Crore
DBT-BioCARe Fellowship|4.44 Crore|3.90 Crore|0.50 Crore|10.36 Crore|5.70 Crore
DHR-WSS|5.3 Crore|4.2 Crore|6.77 Crore|6.79 Crore|13.46 Crore
DSIR-TDUPW| | | | |8.525 Crore
CSIR-ASPIRE| | | | |34.23 Crore
Impact:
These schemes have increased women's interest in science and technology.
* Women's participation in extramural R&D projects has risen from 13% in 2000-01 to 18.6% in 2023.
* Women constitute 41% of total Ph.D. enrollments in science, engineering, and technology disciplines (AISHE Report 2021-22).
Impact Analysis:
Women Scientists and Researchers:
* Impact: Increased opportunities for research funding, career advancement, and reentry into STEM fields after career breaks.
* Action Required: Explore and apply for relevant schemes and programs to support their research and career goals.
Academic and Research Institutions:
* Impact: Opportunity to strengthen research infrastructure and implement gender-inclusive policies.
* Action Required: Implement evidence-based policies to support and retain women in STEM careers and utilize schemes like CURIE and GATI to improve research infrastructure.
Government Agencies (DST, DBT, DHR, DSIR, CSIR):
* Impact: Responsibility for implementing and monitoring the effectiveness of the schemes.
* Action Required: Continue to allocate funds, refine programs based on performance, and promote the schemes to relevant stakeholders.
Rural and Peri-Urban Women and Self-Help Groups:
* Impact: Access to technology adoption and training programs to enhance livelihoods and promote social entrepreneurship.
* Action Required: Participate in training programs offered under schemes like TDUPW to improve skills and economic opportunities.
Key Entities Referenced
Maharashtra State: A state in India, specifically mentioned as a region where the Government aims to increase women's participation in research and development.
Department of Science and Technology (DST): A department under the Ministry of Science and Technology, responsible for launching and implementing various schemes such as WISE-KIRAN to encourage women's participation in STEM fields.
Women in Science and Engineering-KIRAN (WISE-KIRAN): An initiative by the DST to encourage women's participation in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields at various career stages.
Department of Biotechnology (DBT): A department under the Ministry of Science and Technology that initiated the Biotechnology Career Advancement and Re-orientation (BioCARe) Fellowship Program.
Biotechnology Career Advancement and Re-orientation (BioCARe) Fellowship Program: A special scheme initiated by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) to increase the participation of women scientists in biotechnology and allied areas.
Department of Health Research (DHR): A department under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare that implements the Women Scientist Scheme (WSS) to support women researchers and scientists.
Women Scientist Scheme (WSS): A scheme implemented by the Department of Health Research (DHR) under the Central Sector Scheme titled Human Resource Development for Health Research, designed to support women researchers who have experienced a career break.
Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR): An organization that launched A Scheme for Promotion of Innovation, Rural Industries and Entrepreneurship (ASPIRE) in 2023, under which research and development projects were sanctioned exclusively to women scientists.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 519
ANSWERED ON 23/07/2025
PARTICIPATION OF WOMEN IN RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
†519. SHRI BALWANT BASWANT WANKHADE:
Will the Minister of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government has launched a number of schemes to increase
the participation of women in the field of research and development in various
States including Maharashtra State;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) the details of funds allocated for the said schemes during the last five
years;
(d) whether these schemes have increased the interest of women in science
and technology, if so, the details thereof; and
(e) if not, the reasons therefor?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE
MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND EARTH SCIENCES
(DR. JITENDRA SINGH)
विज्ञान और प्रौद्योगिकी तथा पथ्ृ िी विज्ञान मंत्रालय के राज्य मंत्री (स्ितंत्र प्रभार)
(डॉ. जितेंद्र स हं )
(a) to (b): Yes sir, the Government has implemented various schemes to
increase the participation of women in research and development across all
States and Union Territories, including Maharashtra. The Department of
Science and Technology (DST) has launched the ‘Women in Science and
Engineering – KIRAN (WISE-KIRAN)’ initiative to encourage women’s
participation in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics)
fields at various career stages. Under WISE-KIRAN, the WISE-Ph.D. program
supports women pursuing doctoral research in basic and applied sciences.
The WISE-PDF and WISE-SCOPE programs encourage women to engage in
post-doctoral research, lab-based studies, and translational research from lab
Page 1 of 3to land, respectively. The WISE Internship in Intellectual Property Rights
(WISE-IPR) program provides one-year, on-the-job training to develop expertise
in Intellectual Property Rights. The WIDUSHI (Women's Instinct for Developing
and Ushering in Scientific Heights & Innovations initiative) enables senior
women scientists who are retiring within a year or have already retired to
continue and advance their scientific careers. In addition to fellowship
programs, DST also provides institutional and policy support through
initiatives such as CURIE (Consolidation of University Research for Innovation
& Excellence in Women Universities), which strengthens research
infrastructure in women’s institutions to enhance participation in research and
development; GATI (Gender Advancement for Transforming Institutions)
which encourages institutions to implement evidence-based policies to retain
women in STEM careers up to leadership positions; Science & Technology for
Women (STW), which enhances women’s livelihoods and promotes social
entrepreneurship through Women Technology Parks (WTPs).
The Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science & Technology, had
initiated a special scheme “Biotechnology Career Advancement and Re-
orientation (BioCARe)” Fellowship Program, which aims to increase the
participation of women scientists in biotechnology and allied areas.
The Department of Health Research, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare,
implements the Women Scientist Scheme (WSS) under the Central Sector
Scheme titled ‘Human Resource Development for Health Research’. This
initiative is specifically designed to support women researchers and scientists
who have experienced a career break due to motherhood, family
responsibilities, or similar reasons. The program aims to encourage their
return to active research by providing opportunities in the field of biomedical
and health research. Its primary objective is to reintegrate talented women
scientists into mainstream research.
The Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR), Ministry of
Science & Technology, implements the Technology Development and
Utilization Programme for Women (TDUPW) scheme to promote technology
adoption and training among rural and peri-urban women and self-help groups
(SHGs). In 2023, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) launched
“A Scheme for Promotion of Innovation, Rural Industries and Entrepreneurship
(ASPIRE)”, under which 301 R&D projects were sanctioned exclusively to
women scientists.
Page 2 of 3(c) The details of funds allocated/utilized for the said schemes during the
last five years is given below:
Scheme FY 2020-21 FY 2021-22 FY 2022-23 FY 2023-24 FY 2024-25
(Rs. in (Rs. in (Rs. in (Rs. in (Rs. in
Crore) Crore) Crore) Crore) Crore)
DST-WISE- 79.1 95.0 96.8 79.72 77.59
KIRAN
DBT-BioCARe 4.44 3.90 0.50 10.36 5.70
Fellowship
DHR-WSS 5.3 4.2 6.77 6.79 13.46
DSIR- TDUPW 8.525
CSIR-ASPIRE - - - - 34.23
(d) to (e): Yes sir, these schemes have increased women's interest in science
and technology. This is evident from the significant rise in women’s
participation in extramural R&D projects from 13% in 2000–01 to 18.6%, as
reported in the Research & Development Statistics 2023 by the Department of
Science and Technology (DST). This growth can be attributed to the various
initiatives undertaken by the Government in the science and technology
sector. Furthermore, the All India Survey of Higher Education (AISHE) Report
2021–22 indicates that women now constitute 41% of total Ph.D. enrolments
in science, engineering and technology disciplines, reflecting the growing
interest and engagement of women in science and technology.
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