It was quiet heartening to see the number of women that turned up to participate in a conference on quantum science at Kolkata. Of course, the conference itself was titled “Women in Quantum Science & Technology.” But the difference was, unlike previous conferences on the same subject, there were more women this time.

The event was part of the centenary celebrations of Bose Einstein Statistics BoseStats@100 at S.N. Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences. This inspiring show of women making strides into in the field of quantum science, a domain traditionally dominated by men, actually hid a troubling fact: the enrolment of girls into the STEM (Science, Technology, Mathematics, Engineering) still remains low across the country.

It appears the current government’s incentives for women in S&T fields are showing results. But to keep the trend up and going, it is equally important that there are enough numbers of girls who take up science and mathematics at higher secondary and the graduation level.

As of now, data of All India Survey on Higher Education 2020-21 shows, approximately 43% of the students enrolled in science streams in Class 11 and 12 are girls. This is up from 40% in 2010, which is just marginal. Boys tend to dominate in subjects like mathematics and physics which is 60-70% of the students.

At college level, girls represent around 35-40% of the total enrolment in STEM courses compared to boys who make up for 60-65%. Approximately 70-75% of girls who pursue science in school, continue with it in college, and boys make up for 80-85%.

Over the past two decades since 2001, girls constituted around 30% of STEM graduates, which has now increased to 40%. This increase is partly due to policy interventions, scholarship programs, and growing awareness about gender equality in education.  A significant percentage of girls who take up science in higher secondary education continue with it at the college level. However, the dropout rate is higher for girls compared to boys, largely due to socio-cultural factors, financial constraints, and early marriage.

It is at this critical juncture, moving from school to college, the Government needs to intervene and arrest the fall in STEM continuity among the girls. The flow in the talent pipeline must not drop, which is essential to refurbish and maintain the level of expertise pool of women in top tech jobs.

Allied to quantum science, the quantum computing, IT and cybersecurity are other areas where women are performing but lagging in numbers. According to a 2023 report by NASSCOM, women constitute about 35% of the Indian tech workforce, yet only 11% hold C-suite positions. In streams like software development and IT services, women make up about 30% of the workforce, but in fields like cybersecurity and hardware, their representation drops to just 10% and 8%, respectively.

This gender gap has persisted despite various policy interventions aimed at promoting women in STEM. The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 places a strong emphasis on improving access to quality STEM education for girls. By integrating vocational education, coding, and computational thinking from middle school, the policy aims to spark interest in technology among young girls and encourage them to pursue careers in this field. Moreover, the policy calls for creation of gender-inclusive learning environments and training teachers to eliminate biases in the classroom.

Two instances of challenges they face and dire need for mentors at workplace they need, are pertinent to mention here. Dr. Sudha Ramalingam, a leading researcher in quantum information theory, describes gender-based challenges, particularly in securing opportunities to lead high-profile projects. “Being the only woman in advanced research seminars and facing skepticism about my capabilities was challenging. However, perseverance and support from a few key mentors helped me overcome these biases and succeed in my field,” she said in an interview to IEEE Spectrum.

Dr. Aditi Sen De, a distinguished quantum physicist at the Harish-Chandra Research Institute, also emphasized the importance of mentorship for women in science. “Mentorship is crucial for women in science, yet many women lack access to mentors who can provide the necessary guidance and support. Structured mentorship programs are essential to help women navigate their careers and overcome institutional biases.”

Women have already entered the frontline technologies sector and making a difference. But they have also navigated and overcome substantial gender biases to establish themselves as leaders in their respective areas. Their journeys have not been without challenges, as they have had to confront societal expectations, workplace biases, and institutional barriers that often limit women’s participation in science and technology. THe importance of Governmental and societal support to this defining gender makeover can not be more emphasized.