Women Empowerment in IITs

The Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) have witnessed a significant rise in female student enrollment due to a 20% supernumerary quota introduced in 2018. This initiative has gradually increased female representation across various IITs over the past six years.

Implementation of Supernumerary Quota

• In 2018, IITs set aside extra seats specifically for women, following recommendations from a committee led by Timothy Gonsalves.
• Most IITs initially implemented a 14% quota in 2018-19, which increased to 19% by 2019-20, and reached 20% by 2021-22.
• Data from 21 of the 23 IITs indicates a steady increase in female student numbers.

Notable Increases in Female Enrollment

• IIT-Kanpur: Female representation rose from 908 in 2017 to 2,124 in 2024, a 133% increase.
• IIT-Roorkee: Numbers increased from 1,489 in 2019-20 to 2,626 in 2024, a 76.36% jump.
• IITs Chennai, Mumbai, Guwahati, and Kharagpur also showed similar growth.
• IITs Delhi and Bombay surpassed the 20% threshold even before the quota's official implementation in 2017.

Institutional Changes and Initiatives

• IIT Bombay introduced orientation sessions for girls and their parents, boosting female enrolment from 570 in 2017 to 694 in 2024.
• IIT Delhi hosted open house sessions to encourage female student participation.
• IIT Madras shifted its women’s hostel locations for better accessibility, reflecting increased female presence and participation.
• Institutes are promoting gender sensitization and inclusive environments; IIT Roorkee installed security cameras and increased women guards.

Challenges and Areas for Improvement

• Despite progress, stereotypes, mentorship gaps, and lack of inclusive spaces persist.
• At IIT Kanpur, space allocation for women's hostels led to concerns over reduced sports facilities.
• Some male professors at IITs remain unaware of behaviors that may make women uncomfortable.
• Institutions are working to improve physical infrastructure, including more residences and washrooms for women.

Impact on Campus Life

• Gender sensitization workshops are now mandatory at IIT Bombay.
• There is an increased female sports culture, with IITs Delhi and Bombay forming their own women's football teams.
• The enhanced diversity has shifted classroom dynamics and perspectives.

Future Directions

• Efforts are ongoing to create more inclusive academic and social environments at IITs.
• Studies are being conducted on women's experiences in STEM fields to further understand and address challenges.

18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) Convention

The 18th edition of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) convention will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Bhubaneswar on January 9. It is a significant government initiative to connect and engage with the Indian diaspora.

Key Highlights

• The President of Trinidad and Tobago, Christine Carla Kangaloo, will address the gathering virtually as the chief guest.
• President Droupadi Murmu will deliver the valedictory address on January 10 and confer the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award.
• The award recognizes contributions in fields such as social work, humanitarian efforts, and enhancing India’s global standing.
• This year, 27 individuals and organizations will be honored, from countries including the US, Fiji, Guyana, Mauritius, and more.

Significance of January 9

• January 9 is celebrated as Pravasi Bharatiya Divas to mark Mahatma Gandhi’s return from South Africa to India in 1915.

Event Details

• The event is scheduled for January 8-10, with the Youth Pravasi Bharatiya Divas on January 8.
• Participants will include overseas Indians, top businessmen, entrepreneurs, and economists from over 50 countries.
• Theme: "Diaspora’s Contribution to a Viksit Bharat".

Objectives

• Offers a platform for dialogue between the Indian government and its overseas citizens.
• Discussions on policies affecting the diaspora, such as visa regulations, investment opportunities, and community welfare.
• Showcases India as a hub for investment, innovation, and collaboration.

Exhibitions

• An exhibition titled ‘Vishwaroop Ram — The Universal Legacy of Ramayana’ will be inaugurated by the PM.
• Another exhibition on the diaspora’s contribution to technology and Viksit Bharat.
• A third exhibition will display rare documents of people who migrated from Mandvi in Gujarat to Muscat in Oman.

Growing Strength of Indian Diaspora

• The Indian diaspora now numbers over 35.4 million, with 19.5 million Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) and 15.8 million NRIs.
• The largest groups reside in the US and the UAE, with over 2 million PIOs in the US and more than 3.5 million NRIs in the UAE.
• These communities play a crucial role in India's economy and solidifying ties with these nations.

Inauguration of the Delhi-Meerut RRTS

Prime Minister inaugurated the first section of the Delhi-Meerut Rapid Rail Transit System (RRTS) and interacted with children aboard the Namo Bharat Train. The newly opened section connects New Ashok Nagar to the operational segment between Sahibabad and Meerut.

Infrastructure Development

Over the past decade, the Indian government's primary focus has been on infrastructure development.

• Ten years ago, the budget for infrastructure was around Rs 2 lakh crore, now it exceeds Rs 11 lakh crore.
• Emphasis on modern connectivity within and between cities to ensure a dignified life for all citizens, especially the poor and middle class.

Metro Network Expansion

PM  inaugurated a 2.8-km stretch of the Delhi Metro’s Magenta line between Janakpuri West and Krishna Park stations.

• India will have the second-largest Metro network in the world.
• From just 248 km in 2014, the Metro network has expanded by over 752 km in the last decade.
• Foundation stone laid for the Rithala-Narela-Kundli Metro corridor, a future long section of the network.

Economic Development and Public Transport

Delhi CM emphasized the significance of the new projects in advancing economic development.

• Delhi is seen as a model of public transport for India and the world.
• The RRTS is a collaborative project involving the Centre and the governments of Delhi, UP, and Haryana.
• The Delhi government has invested Rs 1,260 crore in the RRTS line to boost the city’s economic development.

Central Ayurveda Research Institute

PM laid the foundation stone for constructing a new state-of-the-art building for the Central Ayurveda Research Institute in Rohini, costing Rs 185 crore.

Badge Engineering in the Automotive Industry

Badge engineering, a prevalent strategy in the automotive industry, involves sharing a vehicle platform between different brands. This strategy has been notably successful for Toyota Kirloskar Motor and Maruti Suzuki in India.

What is Badge Engineering?

Badge engineering entails the use of a shared platform or vehicle between manufacturers, allowing them to release similar cars with different brand identities.

• The shared vehicles maintain core design and mechanical elements, with tweaks for brand distinction.
• This allows manufacturers to avoid the costs of designing a new model from scratch.

Historical Context and Examples

• Early Examples: General Motors (GM) started sharing platforms among its brands like Oakland, Oldsmobile, Buick, and Cadillac as early as 1909.
• In India: The Hindustan Motors Ambassador was a rebadged Morris Oxford. Tata's Indica was sold as the Rover CityRover in the UK.

Benefits of Badge Engineering

• Cost Efficiency: Sharing platforms helps in reducing production costs and increasing economies of scale.
• Market Penetration: Allows brands like Maruti Suzuki to reach premium segments and Toyota to access the lower-end market.
• Consumer Choice: Consumers can choose based on brand loyalty, warranty, and dealership convenience.