{"id":48186,"date":"2025-07-15T19:22:24","date_gmt":"2025-07-15T13:52:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/?p=48186"},"modified":"2025-07-31T14:51:24","modified_gmt":"2025-07-31T09:21:24","slug":"women-in-stem-industry","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/editorial-analysis\/15-07-2025\/women-in-stem-industry","title":{"rendered":"Women, STEM Careers, and a More Receptive Industry"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS1\/Role of Women; GS2\/Education; GS3\/S&amp;T<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Over the last decades, the presence of <strong>women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) careers<\/strong> has grown steadily.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>However, it seems that the Indian industry is losing out by not investing in STEM careers for India\u2019s women.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Women in STEM: Workforce Representation<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Globally, women made up about 28.2% of the STEM workforce in 2024.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>In the UK (2022\/23), women made up 26% of the STEM workforce, up from 21% in 2016.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In India, only about <strong>27% of the STEM workforce<\/strong> comprises women, despite producing&nbsp; about <strong>43% of India\u2019s STEM graduates are women <\/strong>(one of the highest ratios globally).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>According to the <strong>Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) 2023-24<\/strong>, India\u2019s <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/16-07-2022\/female-labour-force-participation\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/16-07-2022\/female-labour-force-participation\">Female Labour Force Participation <\/a>(FLFPR)<\/strong> has improved to <strong>41.7%<\/strong>, driven largely by <strong>rural women (47.6%)<\/strong> compared to just <strong>25.4% in urban areas.<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It masks persistent structural barriers\u2014especially in formal sectors like STEM \u2014 linked to <strong>safety concerns, social norms, and limited access to career pathways.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The <strong>McKinsey Global Institute<\/strong> estimates that enabling <strong>68 million more women<\/strong> in India\u2019s workforce could boost <strong>GDP by $700 billion by 2025<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The <strong>World Bank<\/strong> similarly finds that reaching <strong>50% female workforce participation<\/strong> <strong>could raise GDP growth by 1%.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Challenges &amp; Barriers: Missing Link in Women&#8217;s STEM Careers<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>High Attrition:<\/strong> Nearly 50% of women in tech leave the workforce by mid-career, often due to societal pressures or inflexible work environments.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Studies by <strong>World Bank<\/strong> and <strong>UNESCO<\/strong> affirm that women do not leave STEM due to lack of capability, but because of <strong>unwelcoming workplaces<\/strong>, <strong>limited family support<\/strong>, and <strong>deeply gendered roles<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Pay Gap: <\/strong>Women in STEM roles often earn 20\u201330% less than male counterparts.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Leadership Gap:<\/strong> Women hold fewer than 10% of leadership roles in Indian tech firms, even though they are entering the field in larger numbers.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Government-Led STEM Skilling: Toward Inclusion &amp; Opportunity<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong> (NEP) 2020<\/strong> integrates <strong>STEM education<\/strong> with life skills training, supporting long-term retention.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Revitalised <strong>Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs)<\/strong> and expanded <strong>vocational programmes<\/strong> are making technical education more accessible in rural areas.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The <strong>Gender Budget<\/strong> has increased to <strong>8.8%<\/strong> of the total budget in 2025-26, with <strong>\u20b94.49 lakh crore<\/strong> allocated to gender-focused initiatives.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The <strong>Union Budget 2025-26<\/strong> introduced targeted measures including <strong>term loans for women entrepreneurs<\/strong>, <strong>new National Skill Training Institutes<\/strong>, and <strong>tech-driven skilling investments<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>India\u2019s Policy Framework:<\/strong> Programs such as <strong>Vigyan Jyoti, UDAAN, Skill India to Digital India, and from \u2018Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao\u2019 to PM Vishwakarma Yojana <\/strong>motivate school-aged girls to consider STEM paths early.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Hybrid and remote work policies encourage better work-life balance.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Companies like Infosys, Wipro, and TCS offer re-entry pathways for women after career breaks.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Promising Models of Industry Intervention<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Structured <strong>mentorship programmes<\/strong>, <strong>industry-academia partnerships<\/strong>, and <strong>on-site training initiatives<\/strong> are linking classrooms to careers<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>One standout initiative is the <strong>UN Women&#8217;s WeSTEM programme<\/strong>, supported by the <strong>Micron Foundation<\/strong> and implemented in partnership with the <strong>Governments of Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat<\/strong>. The programme:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Offers skills training and internships;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Engages families and communities to shift mindsets;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Conducts workplace safety workshops;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Introduces female STEM role models in classrooms.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Indian Industries need to focus these things to fully unlock India\u2019s economic potential:<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Collaborate with educational institutions<\/strong> to tailor skill development;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Establish mentorship networks<\/strong> that guide women through STEM pathways;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Adopt workplace policies<\/strong> that support life transitions and ensure safety.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Conclusion: Skills as a Catalyst for an Inclusive India<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>On World Youth Skills Day 2025, there is a need to recognise that <strong>empowering women with STEM skills is not just an educational goal\u2014it\u2019s a national development priority<\/strong>. Government support has laid the groundwork. Now, <strong>industry must lead the charge<\/strong> by creating an ecosystem where every skilled woman finds a welcoming, rewarding, and dignified place in the workforce.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-background\" style=\"background-color:#ebecf0\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>World Youth Skills Day<\/strong><br>&#8211; <strong>When:<\/strong> July 15 (annually), established by UNGA in 2014<br>&#8211; <strong>Theme for 2025:<\/strong> \u2018Youth Empowerment Through AI and Digital Skills\u2019<br>&#8211; <strong>Key Focus:<\/strong>Empowering youth through AI and digital skills;Bridging the digital divide, especially for marginalized communities;Promoting inclusive and ethical AI in education and training.<strong>UNESCO and UNEVOC<\/strong> are hosting global events in Paris and New York to explore how AI is <strong>reshaping Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET)<\/strong> systems.<br><br><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"190\" height=\"314\" src=\"https:\/\/lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com\/docsz\/AD_4nXcUz9V1TZct-vz3bRp-VlJZwGKehgm2Py3YAdapVYfcSVt8TT7Pgwzro3TxCpebB1jXQznxH5cK6klcLmRbcxfTqIG_-zF5GEzeMgvwlIlxp_WLFRgyYetPQKqxWCzVPa1RXXkHsA?key=XaXWEBv71pPa99cUtO9ryg\"><br><strong>Key Statistics<\/strong><br>&#8211; 450 million youth globally remain economically disengaged due to lack of skills.<br>&#8211; 86% of students feel unprepared for AI-driven workplaces.<br>&#8211; In India, over 50% of youth are not job-ready for emerging tech roles like data science and cybersecurity.<br>&#8211; Digital exclusion affects 90% of adolescent girls in low-income countries<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-background has-fixed-layout\" style=\"background-color:#fff2cc\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Daily Mains Practice Question<\/strong><br><strong>[Q]<\/strong> Discuss the challenges and opportunities faced by women in STEM careers. How can industry reforms contribute to creating a more inclusive and receptive environment for female professionals in science and technology?<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/opinion\/op-ed\/women-stem-careers-and-a-more-receptive-industry\/article69811907.ece\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Source: TH<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/UPSC-Editorial-Analysis-15-July-2025.PDF.pdf\">Download PDF<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Over the last decades, the presence of women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) careers has grown steadily.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[22],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-48186","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-editorial-analysis"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48186","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=48186"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48186\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":49831,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48186\/revisions\/49831"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=48186"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=48186"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=48186"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}