India’s ‘leaky pipeline’ Problem

Syllabus: GS3/Science and Technology 

In News

• Recently, it has been observed that Globally, women are underrepresented in STEM, a problem often called the “leaky pipeline.”

About

• Women remain significantly underrepresented in STEM globally and in India, despite progress in education access. 
• Women constitute only 35% of STEM graduates across the world and earn only 40% of STEM PhDs. 
• Further, based on data from 146 nations, women scientists comprise only 30% of the STEM workforce, which includes academic jobs and faculty positions.
  • This systematic loss of women at various stages of STEM education and careers is commonly called the ‘leaky pipeline’.

Indian Scenario 

• India boasts of the highest percentage of female STEM graduates worldwide, with 43% women science graduates at the bachelor’s level and nearly 50% at the masters and doctoral levels.
• In 2025, more girls passed Class XII science than arts, giving India one of the highest proportions of female STEM graduates globally.
• However, their representation in research jobs, faculty positions, and leadership roles remains disproportionately low due to the “leaky pipeline” effect.
  • Women constituted less than 30% of scientists in India’s national research agencies.
  • The highest representation was in the Indian Council of Medical Research at 29% and the lowest in the Defence Research and Development Organisation at 14%.
  • Women also make up only 8% of faculty at the Indian Institute of Science Bangalore and 11-13% of scientists at the IITs.

Reasons for Underrepresentation

• Social Challenges: Familial expectations to “settle down,” have children, and prioritize household responsibilities.
  • Relocation after marriage limits access to research jobs.
• Structural Challenges: Strict age cut-offs and geographical constraints in government recruitment.
  • Limited availability of remote work or flexible research positions.
• Systemic Challenges: Recruitment practices are inconsistent; gender equity initiatives often lack scale, incentives, or accountability.
  • Women often end up in short-term, contractual, or precarious positions with limited benefits, promotions, or career growth.

Impacts

• Economic Loss: Underutilization of half the talent pool reduces innovation and productivity.
• Scientific Gaps: Lack of diversity in research perspectives leads to narrower problem-solving approaches.
• Social Inequality: Reinforces gender disparities in income, status, and opportunities.

Government Steps

• WISE-KIRAN: ‘Women in Science and Engineering-KIRAN (WISE-KIRAN)’ was Launched in 2018.
  • It encourages women scientists to engage in groundbreaking research in science and engineering, focusing on societal challenges and promoting S&T-based internships followed by self-employment. 
• The Vigyan Jyoti programme aims to encourage girls to pursue higher education and career in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) especially in the areas where women participation is low in order to balance gender ratio across the streams.
• Gender Advancement for Transforming Institutions (GATI): GATI aims to develop an indigenous Charter for Gender Equity in STEMM (Science Technology Engineering Mathematics & Medicine), with a focus on bringing about transformational changes at Institutional level.
• The Department of Biotechnology supports women’s career progression through the Biotechnology Career Advancement and Re-orientation (BioCARe) Fellowship, which facilitates re-entry and sustained participation of women in the biotechnology sector. 
• The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) launched ASPIRE (A Special Call for Research Grants for Women Scientists) in 2023 to promote women-led research and strengthen their career advancement across the country.

Conclusion and Way Ahead 

• India has achieved strong female participation in STEM education but struggles with retention in research and leadership. 
• Addressing structural barriers, expanding government schemes, and fostering cultural change are critical to ensure women’s equal representation in shaping the future of science and technology.

Source :TH