Women Scientists in India

Q. Why is this in News?

A. Data compiled by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) shows that 28% of participants in extramural Research & Development projects in 2018-19 were women, up from 13% in 2000-01 due to various initiatives taken by successive governments.

• The ministry aims to raise women’s participation in S&T to 30% by 2030.
• The recent appointment of Dr N Kalaiselvi as the first woman director general of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) underlined a significant trend of participation of women in science research.

Q. What are the Key Findings?

A. 

• DST Findings:
  • The number of women principal investigators in R&D had risen more than four times from 232 in 2000-01 to 941 in 2016-17.
  • The percentage of women among researchers went from 13.9% in 2015 to 18.7% in 2018.
  • While the overall data show an upward trend, women researchers in engineering and technology are fewer than in natural sciences, health and agriculture.
    • The percentage of women researchers in the social sciences and humanities is, however, much higher at 36.4%.
  • At the post-doctoral level, there are fewer women researchers than the global average.
  • Participation (of women) is healthy till the postgraduate level.
    • But there is a drop at the post-doctoral level, where most of the research takes place. Even though this too has increased, it is still far less than the 30% global average
• All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) 2019:
  • According to AISHE, 53% participation of women in science education at Bachelor’s and 55% at Master’s levels respectively.
    • But at doctoral level, women graduates at 44% lagged behind men at 56%.

Q. What is the Overall State of Women Participation in the Science Sector?

A. 

• National Figure:
  • Number of science researchers in India has doubled from 30,000 in 2014 to over 60,000 in 2022.
  • Women’s participation is the highest in biotechnology at 40% and medicine at 35%.
• Department of Science and Technology:
  • Out of the 97 scientists in the Department of Science and Technology (DST), 35 are women.
  • The big achievement is that 11 out of 18 divisions in the DST are now headed by women, that is 61%, probably the largest percentage of women in leadership in any government department.
• Other Institutions:
  • Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) has 18%, NIPER Hyderabad 21%, and the Defence Bio-Engineering and Electro-Medical Lab (DEBEL) in Bangalore has 33%.
  • Delhi University has 33% women’s participation, while Tezpur University in Assam has 17%.

Q. What Initiatives has the Government Taken for Women in Science?

A. 

• Gender Advancement for Transforming Institutions (GATI):
  • The Gender Advancement for Transforming Institutions (GATI) was launched by the Department of Science & Technology (DST).
  • It will develop a comprehensive Charter and a framework for assessing Gender Equality in STEM (Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics).
  • In the first phase of GATI, 30 educational and research institutes have been selected by DST, with a focus on women’s participation in leadership roles, faculty, and the numbers of women students and researchers.
• Vigyan Jyoti Scheme:
  • Vigyan Jyoti Scheme is launched by the Department of Science & Technology (DST).
  • It is intended to create a level-playing field for the meritorious girls in high school to pursue Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) in their higher education.
  • It also offers exposure for girl students from the rural background to help to plan their journey from school to a job of their choice in the field of science.
• Indo-US Fellowship for Women in STEMM (WISTEMM) program:
  • Women scientists can work in research labs in the US.
• Consolidation of University Research for Innovation and Excellence in Women Universities (CURIE) Programme:
  • Improving R&D infrastructure and establishing state-of-the-art research facilities in order to create excellence in S&T in women universities.