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Now, women are taking the lead in various walks of life, as cited by Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh. “For example, India’s Aditya-L1 mission is headed by a woman, the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and six of its laboratories are led by women, and the Chandrayaan-3 mission had a woman in a leadership role. This marks a significant shift in our scientific landscape,” he said while addressing the International Women’s Day 2025 celebrations at CSIR-National Physical Laboratory (CSIR-NPL). The event saw the participation of pioneering women scientists, including Nigar Shaji, Project Director of Aditya-L1; Kalpana Kalahasti, Associate Project Director of Chandrayaan-3; and Dr. N. Kalaiselvi, Director General of CSIR & Secretary DSIR—the first woman DG in CSIR’s 80-year history. With six women directors heading various CSIR labs, the Minister emphasized India’s rapid transformation in gender representation across science and technology.
During the event, the Minister released a video titled “CSIR Shakti: Celebrating Women in Science,” highlighting the contributions of women scientists in shaping India’s research landscape. He also felicitated women entrepreneurs who have successfully commercialized CSIR technologies, including Dr. Disha Ahuja for CSIR-IICT’s AGR Technology that converts market waste into cooking gas, Smt. Sudha Reddy for CSIR-CMERI’s E-Tractor innovation, and Smt. Shikha Virmani for CSIR-IIIM’s Lavender Products under the Purple Revolution initiative. Additionally, the Minister launched a compendium titled “CSIR ASPIRE Women Scientist Awardees,” documenting the achievements of women scientists supported by CSIR. As a special recognition, he also felicitated Smt. Kalpana Kalahasti, Associate Project Director of Chandrayaan-3, for her pivotal role in India’s lunar mission.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Jitendra Singh reflected on the changing landscape of Indian science and administration, noting that women have moved beyond participation to leading key national projects. “We have graduated from an era of women’s participation to a women-led process,” he remarked, adding that scientific fields once dominated by men are now witnessing an influx of talented women leading from the front. He praised Dr. Kalaiselvi for breaking historical barriers and lauded the achievements of women scientists in major space and atomic energy missions.
The Minister cited the examples of top-ranking women in India’s civil services, a domain that was once male-dominated but now sees women consistently securing top positions. “There was a time when women were rare in STEM education, let alone leadership roles. Today, not only are they excelling, but they are also setting new benchmarks,” he said. He noted that the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) results in recent years have been overwhelmingly led by women, reflecting a broader shift in India’s socio-professional fabric.
Dr. Jitendra Singh also highlighted Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s initiatives in promoting women’s empowerment in science, from increasing women’s representation in Republic Day parades to opening up defense institutions like Sainik Schools and military academies for female cadets. He shared that this year, for the first time, PM Modi handed over his personal social media handle to selected women achievers on International Women’s Day—two of whom hailed from India’s space and nuclear sectors.
Further emphasizing India’s commitment to gender inclusivity in space exploration, Dr. Singh revealed that the upcoming test flight for the Gaganyaan mission will feature a robotic astronaut named ‘Vyommitra,’ a female humanoid. This, he said, is a symbolic acknowledgment of the growing role of women in India’s space endeavours.
During the event, Dr. N. Kalaiselvi, Director General of CSIR and Secretary, DSIR, highlighted the growing role of women in science and technology, emphasizing that today’s women are not just participants but leaders in shaping India’s scientific landscape. She reflected on the transformation in societal perceptions, noting that women were once seen as emotionally driven, but are now recognized for their resilience and leadership. She called for greater encouragement of young girls to enter STEM fields, asserting that “today’s youth are not tomorrow’s leaders, but today’s leaders themselves.” Dr. Kalaiselvi expressed pride in the increasing number of women taking up leadership roles, and urged women to seize opportunities in science and research. She also acknowledged the unwavering support of the government, particularly under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Dr. Jitendra Singh, in fostering an inclusive and empowering ecosystem for women in STEM.
As the event concluded, Dr Jitendra Singh expressed his optimism for a future where gender parity in science is not just an aspiration but a norm. “The scientific community in India is witnessing a historic transformation. The next frontier is not just to encourage women to enter STEM but to ensure they lead and inspire generations to come.”
The celebrations at CSIR-NPL underscored a clear message—India’s scientific future is increasingly being shaped by its women leaders, and their contributions will be instrumental in defining the country’s global standing in innovation and research.
