Latest data released by the Ministry of Education (MoE) reveals that the number of women studying Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) courses have gone up across institutions. The enrolment of girl students in undergraduate courses of Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) has increased from 8 per cent in 2016 to 20 per cent in 2021. Union Minister of State for Education Subhas Sarkar said, “To improve female enrolment in undergraduate programmes in IITs, supernumerary seats were created which increased female enrolment from 8 per cent in 2016 to 20 in 2021-22. Similarly, the enrolment of girls in NITs has increased to nearly 22.1 per cent in 2021-22,” he said.
Supernumerary seats for girls were created in 2017 in order to take in more women students in technical fields, in institutions like IITs and NITs. According to data shared by ministry sources, the number of girl students in IITs went up from 995 in 2017 to 2,990 in 2021. As per the All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) Report, the number of female students enrolled in STEM courses has increased from 41.97 lakh in 2016-17 to 43.87 lakh in 2020-21.
The University Grants Commission also provides special post-graduate scholarships for girl students across the country to encourage them in pursuing higher education and research. Similarly, the All India Council for Technical Education is also providing 10,000 scholarships to girls pursuing technical education. “The scholarship is applicable to students pursuing polytechnic, engineering, pharmacy and architecture courses in institutions approved by the council,” Sarkar added.
He said the higher STEM enrolment makes women more “job ready” and also increases the pool of quality women candidates for professorship.