{"id":7751,"date":"2022-09-02T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-09-02T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/current_affairs\/uncategorized\/02-09-2022\/women-in-stem\/"},"modified":"2024-08-20T14:21:26","modified_gmt":"2024-08-20T08:51:26","slug":"women-in-stem","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/editorial-analysis\/02-09-2022\/women-in-stem","title":{"rendered":"Women in STEM"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>In News<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Women <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">are still an <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>under-represented<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> population <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>globally <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">in hardcore <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM)<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Women in STEM<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Global Achievers:<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Countries with a <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>fairly good ratio<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> in terms of an <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>equal number of female and male researchers<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> are:<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">South Africa and Egypt, with 45% female researchers each, and Cuba, at 49%.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>highest number of female researchers<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> are in:<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Tunisia, Africa (55%) followed by Argentina (53%) and New Zealand (52%).<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>India\u2019s Position:<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Global position:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">According to available UNESCO data on some selected countries, <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>India is at the lowest position<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">, having only 14% female researchers working in STEM areas.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">But <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>India is not very far behind many advanced countries<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> in this aspect.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">For example, Japan has only 16% female researchers, the Netherlands 26%, the United States 27% and the United Kingdom 39%.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Women graduates in STEM:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">In India, about <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>43% of women<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> constitute the <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>graduate population in STEM<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">, which is one of the highest in the world, but <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>only 14% of women<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> join academic institutions and universities.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Women in research &amp; faculty:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The participation of women in research has dropped significantly (<\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>27% female as compared to 73% male<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">).\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Thus, the visibility of <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>female faculty in universities and research institutes<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> is significantly lower.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Percentage of women in faculty positions begins to shrink with <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>each step up the ladder<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Women in academic decision making:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The number of female participants in decision-making bodies such as the <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>board of governors or council<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> of institutes of higher education of repute is <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>abysmally low<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-background\" style=\"background-color:#ebecf0\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Women in the Corporate Sector in India<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Participation of women in leadership and decision-making positions in private enterprises (the corporate sector)<strong>\u00a0is startling\u00a0<\/strong>when\u00a0<strong>compared to the reality in academics<\/strong>.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The number of women in<strong>\u00a0senior management positions in the corporate sector in India is 39%<\/strong>, which is higher than the global average.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Number of\u00a0<strong>women CEOs<\/strong>\u00a0in<strong>\u00a0Fortune 500 companies is 15%<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If this trend continues,\u00a0<strong>near parity will be reached by 2045<\/strong>, according to a forecast made by Deloitte.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Reasons for Discrepancy in Female Participation in Academics and Corporate Sector<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Merit-based and market-oriented industry:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It is\u00a0<strong>worth reflecting on the reasons<\/strong>\u00a0for this discrepancy in female participation in higher positions in these two sectors.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The mechanism of selection and promoting personnel<\/strong>\u00a0in the private sector is mostly based on\u00a0<strong>competence or merit<\/strong>\u00a0because it is\u00a0<strong>more result (market) oriented<\/strong>\u00a0with a definite matrix than what it is in the academic institutes.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Various schemes:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Encouraging the participation of women in the workforce in the private sector with the adoption of various schemes for women<strong>\u00a0began long ago<\/strong>\u00a0when compared to the initiatives taken by the Government of India in recent years.\u00a0\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Various schemes such as\u00a0<strong>flexi-hour worktime<\/strong>, rejoining the workforce after an interim break, sections operated only by women, etc. were\u00a0<strong>introduced in private enterprises as early as the 1990s<\/strong>\u00a0with the\u00a0<strong>benefits being reaped now<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Government\u2019s Initiatives<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Gender Advancement for Transforming Institutions (GATI):<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">It is a <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>pilot project<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> under the <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Department of Science and Technology <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">to promote <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>gender equity<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> in science and technology.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">In the first phase of GATI, 30 educational and research institutes have been selected by DST, with a focus on women\u2019s participation in leadership roles, faculty, and the number of women students and researchers.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Knowledge Involvement in Research Advancement through Nurturing (KIRAN):\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">It a plan under the<\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong> Department of Science and Technology <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">to encourage <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>women scientists<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> and also prevent women scientists from giving up research due to family reasons, are noteworthy.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>SERB-POWER (Promoting Opportunities for Women in Exploratory Research):<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">SERB \u2013 POWER provides <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>structured support in research<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> to ensure <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>equal access and weighted opportunities<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> for Indian women scientists engaged in R&amp;D activities.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The R&amp;D support to women scientists is provided through two components, namely: <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>SERB POWER Fellowships &amp; SERB POWER Research Grants<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Consolidation of University Research through Innovation and Excellence in Women Universities (CURIE) Programme:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Only women Universities<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> are being supported for the development of research infrastructure and the creation of <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>state-of-the-art research laboratories<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> to enhance women\u2019s participation in the S &amp; T domain.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Indo-US Fellowship for Women in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics &amp; Medicine):<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">It encourages Indian women scientists and technologists to undertake <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>international collaborative research<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> in premier institutions in the USA for a <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>duration of 3-6 months<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Vigyan Jyoti Scheme:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">It encourages girl students of <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Class 9 to 12<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> to pursue education and career in S&amp;T, particularly in the areas where women are underrepresented.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>National Award for woman scientist:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">To recognize the<\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong> contribution of women scientists<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> in the field of <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Earth System Sciences<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">, Ministry of Earth Sciences has initiated a special award called \u201cNational Award for woman scientist\u201d which is conferred to <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>one-woman scientist each year on the Foundation Day<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Setting up of creches:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Some institutions are setting up creches<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> so that the scientist mothers can carry on with their research work uninterrupted.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Way Ahead<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">It is hoped the programmes that have been initiated by the Government to empower women in the workforce <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>will usher in gender parity by 2047<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">, which would mark the <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>centenary of India\u2019s Independence<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Most importantly, gender equality or parity will happen only when there is a <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>change in mindset <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">and institutions consider<\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong> women as assets<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> rather than simply a <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>diversity rectification issue<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Source: IE<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-background\" style=\"background-color:#ebecf0\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Mains Practice Question\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>[Q]\u00a0Women are still under-represented in hardcore science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) field, in this context, examine the efforts needed to ensure gender equity in the STEM field.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-background\" style=\"background-color:#ebecf0\"><strong>Read more:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/editorial-analysis\/20-01-2024\/gender-gap-in-stem-fields\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/editorial-analysis\/20-01-2024\/gender-gap-in-stem-fields\"><strong>Gender Gap in STEM Fields<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-16018d1d wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button has-custom-width wp-block-button__width-75\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/previous-year-upsc-mains-papers?utm_source=google&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=utm_blog_pyqmains\">Check UPSC Mains Previous Year Papers<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Women are still an under-represented population globally in hardcore science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[22],"tags":[25],"class_list":["post-7751","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-editorial-analysis","tag-gs1"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7751","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\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7751"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7751\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":28032,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7751\/revisions\/28032"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7751"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7751"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7751"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}