Women’s enrolment in India’s technical education has witnessed a dramatic rise, coinciding with a major government initiative to strengthen research and innovation capacity across the country. Two recent developments — a report by UGC-backed platform College Vidya and the Union Cabinet’s approval of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research’s (CSIR) “Capacity Building and Human Resource Development” scheme — underline how gender inclusion and state-led policy are reshaping India’s science and technology landscape.
Sharp Rise in Women’s Participation in Deep-Tech
Women now account for 17 per cent of enrolments in technical education in 2025, a steep jump from just 4 per cent in 2022, according to a report released on Thursday (September 25, 2025) by College Vidya.
The momentum is strongest in deep-tech fields such as artificial intelligence (AI), prompt engineering, cybersecurity, robotics, and data science. In AI and Machine Learning alone, women’s enrolment shot up fourfold in a year — from 5 per cent in 2024 to 20 per cent in 2025.
Overall, the platform recorded 17,685 enrolments between January and August 2025, highlighting how the tide is turning in favour of women in high-tech learning.
The report also notes that one in every five AI and ML Master’s students is now a woman, compared to just one in 20 last year. Demand for AI programmes has grown nearly 500 per cent over two years, with women emerging as a critical part of this expansion.
Participation is also growing in specialised fields, with 25 per cent of MCA Cybersecurity students and 15 per cent of doctoral candidates in Generative AI now being women. States such as Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh account for 70 per cent of these enrolments, with significant contributions from Tier II and Tier III towns.
“These numbers show how changing social attitudes, the spread of online learning, and the presence of industry role models are creating real opportunities for women in areas that will shape India’s technological future,” said Rohit Gupta, COO of College Vidya, in the report.
Cabinet Clears ₹2,277 Cr R&D Capacity-Building Scheme
In parallel, the Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday (September 24, 2025) approved the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR) and CSIR’s Capacity Building and Human Resource Development scheme. The programme carries an outlay of ₹2,277.397 crore for the period 2021-22 to 2025-26 under the Fifteenth Finance Commission cycle.
The scheme will be implemented across national laboratories, universities, Institutes of National Importance, and R&D organisations, aiming to provide young researchers with a robust platform to pursue careers in academia, industry, and national labs. Eminent scientists and professors will guide participants in Science, Technology, Engineering, Medical, and Mathematical Sciences (STEMM).
Officials said the scheme will play a key role in achieving India’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for the science and technology sector by expanding the pool of high-quality researchers per million population.
Over the last decade, India has improved its global innovation standing significantly. As per the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), India rose to 39th rank in the Global Innovation Index in 2024, while data from the US National Science Foundation (NSF) places India among the top three nations in scientific paper publications.
CSIR’s Umbrella Framework
The CSIR scheme, marking 84 years of the institution’s contribution to Indian science, will run under an umbrella framework covering four sub-schemes:
Doctoral and Postdoctoral Fellowships, including the Bhatnagar Fellowship programme.
- Extramural Research and Emeritus Scientist schemes.
- Promotion of Excellence through National Awards.
- Travel and Symposia Grants to encourage knowledge sharing.
Officials said this umbrella approach will ensure both recognition and capacity-building, supporting thousands of researchers whose outputs will strengthen India’s innovation ecosystem.
Building India’s Future Workforce
The two developments — the surge of women in deep-tech education and the government’s investment in research human capital — point to a broader transition. India is not only increasing access for women in future-defining fields but also preparing the next generation of scientists, engineers, and technologists through structured national programmes.
Together, these trends highlight India’s commitment to becoming a global hub for inclusive innovation and cutting-edge research in the years ahead.
