International Day of Women and Girls in Science: A Decade of Progress
IN NEWS – International Day of Women and Girls in Science: A Decade of Progress
ANALYSIS
1. Background and Global Context
- The UN General Assembly declared 11 February as the International Day of Women and Girls in Science in 2015 to promote gender equality in STEM.
- The year 2025 marks the 10th anniversary of this global observance.
- The day highlights the need to remove barriers, challenge stereotypes, and enhance women’s participation in scientific research and development.
India’s Efforts to Promote Women in STEM
2. National Initiatives to Bridge the Gender GapIndia has implemented several structured programs through the Department of Science and Technology (DST) under the WISE-KIRAN umbrella to boost women’s participation across various stages of their scientific careers.
Key Programmes Mentioned in the Input
a. WISE-PhD
- Supports women pursuing Ph.D. in 5 subjects of basic and applied sciences.
b. WISE Post-Doctoral Fellowship (WISE-PDF)
- Provides opportunities to continue research post-Ph.D. with independent research grant support.
c. WIDUSHI
- Supports women scientists at the verge of retirement or retired.
- Also supports women researchers without permanent positions but actively contributing to research.
d. WISE-SCOPE
- Encourages women scientists to develop S&T solutions addressing societal challenges.
e. WISE-IPR
- Offers a one-year training program in Intellectual Property Rights to build professional expertise.
f. WINGS (Women International Grant Support)
- Enables Indian women scientists to conduct research in international laboratories and academic institutions.
g. CURIE (Consolidation of University Research for Innovation and Excellence)
- Strengthens state-of-the-art R&D infrastructure in women's institutions to foster excellence in science and technology.
h. Vigyan Jyoti
- Encourages girls to pursue higher education in STEM fields, especially where women participation is low.
- Implemented across 250 districts in 34 States/UTs.
i. GATI (Gender Advancement for Transforming Institutions)
- Aims to develop an indigenous gender equity charter for STEMM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics & Medicine).
- Focuses on bringing institutional transformations.
3. Broader Narrative: Breaking Barriers in Science
- Women globally and in India have been pivotal in driving research, innovation, and scientific breakthroughs.
- The celebration recognizes women scientists who challenged societal constraints and shaped scientific progress.
- This decade-long journey reflects India’s push toward inclusive scientific growth.
NECESSARY STATIC PART (As per input only)
- UNGA Declared Day: 11 February (International Day of Women and Girls in Science).
- Year of Declaration: 2015.
- Anniversary in 2025: 10th Anniversary.
- Implementing Ministry/Department: Department of Science and Technology (DST).
- Scheme Umbrella: WISE-KIRAN.
- Coverage of Vigyan Jyoti: 250 districts across 34 States/UTs.
- Focus Areas: STEM, Gender parity, Research support, Institutional transformation, Intellectual property training, International collaboration.
