International Day Of Women In Science: How Mumbai’s IWSA Is Leading India’s Female STEM Revolution
Can India dare to reimagine its women as a dominating factor in the world of science and research? The answer is a resounding yes, particularly when championed by an organisation like the Indian Women Scientists’ Association (IWSA). Today, February 11, 2026, as the world observes the International Day of Women and Girls in Science (IDWGIS), this question carries a specific urgency.
This year’s theme, Synergising AI, Social Science, STEM and Finance: Building Inclusive Futures for Women and Girls, aligns perfectly with a movement that began in India over five decades ago. In the early 1970s, a group of scientists realised it was not enough to work sincerely within the confines of a laboratory, publishing work from an ivory tower.
They recognised a pressing need to take science to society, utilising technology for the upliftment of women and the underprivileged. Consequently, in 1972, twelve founder members from diverse scientific disciplines joined forces, leading to the formal registration of the IWSA in 1973.
From its headquarters in Vashi, Navi Mumbai, the association oversees 12 active branches spanning the country, including early chapters in Roorkee, Hyderabad, and Pune, to more recent additions in Bengaluru, Nellore and Ajmer.
Today, the association operates with a clear mission to bridge the gap between complex research and the general public, ensuring that Indian women are not just participants, but leaders in the global scientific narrative. India’s educational scenario is undergoing a profound transformation.
While the national literacy rate has climbed to 80.9 per cent as of 2023–24, the true headline lies in the higher education sector. Although female literacy (74.6 per cent) still trails male literacy (87.2 per cent), Indian women are leapfrogging traditional expectations in technical fields.
According to the latest AISHE data and 2026 reports, India has emerged as a global titan in female STEM enrollment. Women now comprise 43 per cent of the nation’s STEM student body—a remarkable feat that overshadows the global average of 35 per cent and outshines the enrollment figures of the United States (36 per cent) and France (28 per cent).
This surge in academic participation is the result of a decade of deliberate institutional support. Between 2014 and 2025, government-led science schemes saw an exponential rise in female beneficiaries. A prime example is the Vigyan Jyoti programme, which has empowered over 112,000 meritorious girls in just 10 years.
However, a stark contrast exists between the classroom and the laboratory. Transitioning from high-level education to long-term professional research remains a formidable hurdle. DST data for 2025–2026 reveals that women represent only 18.6 per cent of the R&D workforce—a climb from 14 per cent in previous years, yet still short of the 33 per cent global benchmark.
The "leaky pipeline" is often attributed to systemic friction and societal expectations. Dr Surekha Zingde, Member, Board of Trustees, IWSA, explains the gravity of this transition "Workforce participation remains lower due to the responsibilities related to the family and society at large.
This includes, marriage, child bearing, household commitments such as health of children and elders, household management and the societal mindset that believes that a woman’s primary responsibility is her home," Zingde tells The Free Press Journal. Dr Nootan Bhakal, President of IWSA, added that the rise of nuclear families in cities makes it difficult for women to manage caregiving duties without support.
This is reflected in the skewed distribution of the workforce; the private sector lags significantly, employing only 26.5% of the female R&D workforce. Motivating towards science: A lecture at the Bright High School and Jr. College, Bhandup in Mumbai on January 20, 2026 | IWSA To sustain the brilliance of India's graduates, the workplace culture must evolve.
Former president of the IWSA, Dr Shyamala Bharadw…