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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,
Page 1 of 4and 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,
Page 2 of 4Nitte 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
Page 3 of 4and 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.
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