Women Scientists in Jammu and Kashmir: A Growing Presence in STEM

SRINAGAR: Recent official data presented in the Rajya Sabha highlights the participation of 39 women scientists in government initiatives across Jammu and Kashmir over the last five years. The region ranks 11th nationally in terms of beneficiaries benefiting from the Department of Science and Technology’s (DST) Women in Science and Engineering-KIRAN (WISE-KIRAN) scheme, as well as the Department of Biotechnology’s (DBT) BioCARe scheme.

Government Initiatives Promoting Women in STEM

The Government of India is actively promoting various initiatives designed to support women scientists, especially those facing challenges due to career interruptions. This information was shared in the Rajya Sabha on March 13, 2025, following inquiries from members Baburam Nishad and Kiran Choudhry. The WISE-KIRAN initiative strives to enhance women’s representation in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) by providing structured opportunities at all career stages. These opportunities include the WISE Fellowship for PhD candidates, WISE Post-Doctoral Fellowship, WISE-Societal Challenges with Opportunities (WISE-SCOPE), and WISE Internship in Intellectual Property Rights (WISE-IPR).

Women Scientists Supported in Jammu and Kashmir

From 2020 to 2025, the WISE-KIRAN scheme supported 39 women scientists in Jammu and Kashmir, while notably, the BioCARe scheme had no beneficiaries in the region. The highest participation observed was in Delhi, which recorded 174 women scientists, followed by Maharashtra with 94 participants, and Tamil Nadu with 77 beneficiaries.

Empowering Women in Science Across India

In total, 1,358 women scientists have benefited from these initiatives nationwide in the past five years. The government emphasizes that these programs are aimed at promoting gender inclusivity in science and technology, empowering women to navigate and overcome career disruptions stemming from personal and societal challenges.

Promising Trends in Participation

Although Jammu and Kashmir ranks outside the top ten in participation, the region has displayed a steady increase in the number of women benefiting from these initiatives, rising from five in 2020-21 to 17 in 2024-25. The government confirms its commitment to further expanding opportunities for women in STEM, particularly in areas which are currently underrepresented.