Science and Technology Indicators (STI), 2018
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According to the data in the Science and Technology Indicators (STI), 2018, a periodic compendium of the state of scientific research in India, India’s private sector research companies appear to employ a larger proportion of women in core research and development activities than government-funded major scientific agencies do.
What does the report say?
- Of the women involved in the R&D domain, the share of involvement was three-fourth in private R&D companies and less than half in case of government-funded major scientific agencies.
- Male scientists account for a higher proportion of the total scientists in India’s R&D establishments. The ratio of women to men scientists is the range 1:6 to 1:4. This indicates the inadequate representation of women scientists in the R&D domain.
- There has been a trend of a large drop in the number of women between the doctoral and professional stages due to social pressure on women to have a family that is seen as incompatible with a professional career.
- There are also patriarchal attitudes in hiring practices that might be leading to lower women hiring.
- Data from the STI report notes that India’s private sector research companies employ a larger proportion of women in core research and development activities than government-funded major scientific agencies.
- Private sector companies seem to have a greater commitment to ensuring that women scientists are fairly represented in recruitment, promotions and appraisal processes than in many scientific organisations.
About Science and Technology Indicators (STI), 2018
- The STI is prepared by a division of the Department of Science and Technology, the National Science and Technology Management Information System, and is based on data provided by a range of scientific establishments across the country.
