Why in News?

The Science and Technology Indicators (STI), 2018, a periodic compendium of the state of scientific research in India was released in August, 2020.

About the STI

• The STI is prepared by a division of the Department of Science Technology, the National Science and Technology Management Information System.
• It is based on data provided by a range of scientific establishments across the country.

Findings of the report- about women in science

• 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.
• Of the 20,351 women employed in private R&D companies, 15,011 — or about three in four — were involved in “R&D activities” and the rest in “auxiliary or administrative activities”.
• However, of the 23,008 women in government-funded “major scientific agencies”, fewer than half — or 10,138 — were in the same ‘R&D activities’ category.

Historical trend

• The 2018 indicators reiterate the historic trend of India’s scientists being overwhelmingly men. 
• For every one woman, there are six male scientists in private sector R&D establishments. 
• However that proportion improves to about one in four in major scientific agencies.

Reasons for low number of women in R&D

• Earlier too, inquiries have been launched by independent commissions as well as the NITI Aayog to ascertain causes for the inadequate representation of women scientists. 
• The large drop in the number of women between the doctoral and professional stages appears to be in part due to social pressure on women to have a family which is seen as incompatible with a professional career. 
• There are also patriarchal attitudes in hiring practices, so many women are discriminated against at this stage as well, with administrators deciding that women ‘should’ be opting for family over a career.

Reference:

1. https://www.thehindu.com/business/Industry/private-firms-employ-more-women-in-rd/article32406949.ece#:~:text=India’s%20private%20sector%20research%20companies,state%20of%20scientific%20research%20in