Government Boosts Women's Participation in STEM Through WISE-KIRAN and Other Initiatives

Government Boosts Women’s Participation in STEM Through WISE-KIRAN and Other Initiatives

Govt's WISE-KIRAN scheme promotes women in STEM via fellowships, IPR training & startups support. Initiatives like Vigyan Jyoti, BioCARe & GATI boost gender equality in science. Check details Here

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The Indian government is taking big steps to encourage more women to join science and technology fields. Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh recently shared details in the Rajya Sabha about the ‘Women in Science and Engineering-KIRAN (WISE-KIRAN)’ scheme. This initiative by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) aims to support women scientists, researchers, and entrepreneurs through fellowships, training, and funding.

What is STEM

STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. These subjects help us solve real-world problems and create new inventions. They’re important for good jobs in fields like computers, medicine, and space science. But there’s a problem – not enough women work in STEM. Programs like India’s WISE-KIRAN help women get education and jobs in these fields through special training and support.

WISE-KIRAN Initiative for Women STEM Leaders

The WISE-KIRAN scheme offers comprehensive fellowship programs to support women researchers at all career stages in STEM fields. These initiatives address key challenges like career breaks, funding gaps, and re-entry into research, while promoting gender equality in science and technology. The programs range from PhD support to post-doctoral opportunities and career revival initiatives, collectively empowering thousands of women scientists across India.

WISE-KIRAN Fellowship Programs at a Glance

India’s WISE-KIRAN initiative represents a transformative approach to gender equity in STEM, offering a complete career lifecycle support system for women researchers. These programs address critical gaps in scientific education, research funding, career continuity, and leadership development. From school-level interventions to senior scientist support, the scheme has already empowered thousands of women, resulting in 5,000+ research publications and creating India’s next generation of women science leaders.

Program	Target Group	Key Benefits	Unique Feature	Impact Metrics
WISE-PhD	Aspiring researchers	Full research funding	Prevents dropouts	Supports 500+ annual scholars
WISE-PDF	Post-PhD scientists	Post-doctoral grants	Career transition support	300+ fellows since inception
WIDUSHI	Senior/retired scientists	Career revival grants	Age-no-bar policy	45% returnees to active research
WISE-SCOPE	Emerging tech researchers	Specialized funding	Focus on AI/clean energy	120+ cutting-edge projects
WISE-IPR	Tech/commercialization	1-year IPR training	Patent agent pathway	40% become registered agents
Vigyan Jyoti	Class 9-12 girls	STEM mentorship	Early intervention	15% increase in STEM enrollment
NIDHI	Women entrepreneurs	Startup incubation	Market-linked support	200+ women-led startups
GATI	Research institutions	Policy reform toolkit	Institutional change	30+ participating institutes

Benefits of Women STEM Initiatives

Increased Research Participation: Over 2,076 women scientists benefited under WOS-A, with 5,000+ research papers published.
Skill Development: IPR training enhances employability; 40% of WOS-C trainees are now registered Patent Agents.
Career Continuity: Fellowships help women pursue PhDs and postdoctoral research without financial barriers.
Entrepreneurship Growth: NIDHI and TBIs support women-led startups with funding and incubation.
Early STEM Engagement: Vigyan Jyoti inspires young girls to take up STEM careers.
Institutional Reforms: GATI ensures gender equality in research organizations.
Biotech & Innovation Leadership: BioCARe and WISE-IPR empower women in high-tech fields.