India's Women in STEM: Record 43% Female Enrollment in Engineering Colleges for 2026-27
A decade of targeted scholarships, mentorship programs, and awareness campaigns has pushed female engineering enrollment to an all-time high.
India has achieved a significant milestone in gender parity in STEM education, with female enrollment in engineering colleges reaching a record 43% for the 2026-27 academic year, according to AICTE data. This represents a dramatic improvement from just 23% in 2015-16.
The increase is attributed to a combination of government scholarships (Pragati and AICTE Saksham schemes), industry mentorship programs (led by companies like Infosys, TCS, and Google), and changing parental attitudes towards women in technical careers.
Computer Science remains the most popular branch among women (52% female enrollment), followed by Biotechnology (48%) and Electronics (39%). However, mechanical and civil engineering still lag at 18% and 22% respectively.
"The numbers tell an incredible story of transformation," said AICTE Chairman Prof. T.G. Sitharam. "But enrollment is only half the battle โ we need to ensure these women get equal opportunities in the workplace after graduation."
Ananya Iyer
Editor
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