National Science Day 2026 (28th February) is being celebrated with focal theme “Women in Science: Catalyzing Viksit Bharat,” highlighting the critical role of women in science and technology.
Role and Status of Women in Science
- Leadership by Women
- Historical: From Vedic scholar Gargi Vachaknavi to mathematician Lilavati, women contributed to science in ancient and medieval India.
- Modern Leadership: Modern pioneers like Kalpana Chawla (Space Science), Tessy Thomas (Missile Project Head), Ritu Karidhal Srivastava (Space Engineer), etc.
- Female STEM Enrolment: rose from 38.4% (2014-15) to 42.6% (2021-22);
- Global share: 42.7% of total female STEM graduates are from India (as per All India Survey on Higher Education).
- Rising Participation: Share in extramural R&D increased from 13% (2000-01) to 28% (2018-19); Female researchers rose from 13.9% (2015) to 18.7% (2018).
Challenges Faced By Women in Science
- Structural Barriers to Entry: E.g. while STEM enrollment is rising, only about 27% of the actual STEM workforce is female.
- Sectoral gaps persist: E.g., Engineering (14.5%) vs. Health Sciences (24.5%) in STEM enrollement.
- Work–Life Balance Constraints: Disproportionate caregiving responsibilities causing career breaks and slower progression in STEM fields.
- Leadership Underrepresentation: Low presence in decision-making roles and the glass ceiling effect limiting advancement and visibility.
Government Initiatives
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