## Vigyan Jyoti Programme: Policy Summary
This document summarizes the Vigyan Jyoti Programme, an initiative of the Ministry of Science and Technology, Department of Science and Technology, Government of India. Initiated in 2019, the programme aims to encourage meritorious girls to pursue higher education and careers in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields, promoting gender parity through year-round activities.
**Key Objectives:**
* Encourage girls to pursue higher education and careers in STEM.
* Promote gender parity in STEM fields.
* Enhance interest and inclination of girls towards science through experiential learning, interactions with role models, laboratory visits, career guidance, and counselling.
**Financial Details (Last Five Years):**
The following table details the funds allocated and disbursed under the Vigyan Jyoti Programme (in Rupees crores):
| Year | Fund Allotted | Fund Disbursed |
| :------- | :------------ | :------------- |
| 2021-22 | 18.83 | 9.00 |
| 2022-23 | 35.54 | 20.00 |
| 2023-24 | 47.37 | 28.00 |
| 2024-25 | 55.97 | 35.00 |
| 2025-26 | 55.95 | 39.00 |
**Implementation in Kerala:**
Yes, select districts in Kerala have been selected under the Vigyan Jyoti Programme.
**Districts Selected in Kerala:**
Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Wayanad, Idukki, Kasaragod, Kollam, Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam, Kottayam, and Palakkad.
**Benefits in Kerala:**
The Vigyan Jyoti Programme has benefitted approximately 2,800 girl students from the selected districts in Kerala through academic support, mentoring, financial assistance, exposure visits, and coaching, with the goal of encouraging them to pursue careers in STEM fields.
Key Entities Referenced
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Parliament of India.
Vigyan Jyoti Programme: A programme initiated in 2019 to encourage meritorious girls to pursue higher education and careers in STEM fields.
Ministry of Science and Technology: The Indian government ministry responsible for science and technology policy and administration.
Department of Science and Technology: A department under the Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India.
Kerala: A state in India where the Vigyan Jyoti Programme has been implemented.
STEM: An acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics fields.
Jitendra Singh: Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Science and Technology and Earth Sciences.
Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Wayanad, Idukki, Kasaragod, Kollam, Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam, Kottayam, Palakkad: Districts in Kerala selected under the Vigyan Jyoti Programme.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2924
ANSWERED ON 06/08/2025
VIGYAN JYOTI PROGRAMME IN KERALA
2924. SHRI SHAFI PARAMBIL:
Will the Minister of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY be pleased to
state:
(a) the major objectives of the Vigan Jyoti Programme initiated in
2019;
(b) the details of the total funds allocated and disbursed for the
Vigan Jyoti Programme during the last five years;
(c) whether any districts of Kerala has been selected under the
Vigan Jyoti Programme;
(d) if so, the details thereof; and
(e) the details of the benefit of the Vigyan Jyoti Programme in
Kerala?
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) The major objectives of the Vigyan Jyoti Programme, which was
initiated in 2019, is to encourage meritorious girls to pursue higher
education and careers in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering,
and Mathematics) fields. The programme promotes gender parity in
STEM through various year-round activities such as hands-on
experiential learning sessions, interactions with scientific role
models, visits to R&D and industrial laboratories, career guidance
workshops, and student-parent counselling sessions. These
activities are designed to enhance the interest and inclination of girls
towards science.
Page 1 of 2(b) The details of the total funds allocated and disbursed under the
Vigyan Jyoti Programme during the last five years are as follows:
Year Fund Allotted Fund Disbursed
(Rs. in crores) (Rs. in crores)
2021-22 18.83 9.00
2022-23 35.54 20.00
2023-24 47.37 28.00
2024-25 55.97 35.00
2025-26 55.95 39.00
(c) to (d): Yes Sir. The districts in Kerala selected under the Vigyan
Jyoti Programme are Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Wayanad, Idukki,
Kasaragod, Kollam, Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam, Kottayam, and
Palakkad.
(e) The Vigyan Jyoti Programme has benefitted nearly 2,800 girl
students from Kerala by providing academic support, mentoring,
financial assistance, exposure visits, and coaching to encourage
them to pursue careers in STEM fields.
*****
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