The results for two flagship Department of Science and Technology (DST) fellowships—Women in Science and Engineering (WISE-PhD) and WISE-Post Doctoral Fellowships (WISE-PDF)—have been delayed for up to fifteen months, leaving hundreds of aspiring women scientists uncertain about their academic futures. Even those who have secured the fellowships face further challenges, with research grants delayed by up to 18 months. These delays come at a critical time, as women make up only 18.6% of the 362,000 personnel engaged in research and development (R&D) in India.
Structural Changes and Funding Bottlenecks
Fellows cite administrative restructuring and funding issues as key causes of the delays. The WISE-KIRAN initiative, launched in 2018 to address career breaks for women, underwent a restructuring that merged several gender-based fellowships into the Vigyan Dhara scheme from January 2025. This merger, while aimed at streamlining programmes, has contributed to delays in fund disbursement and fellowship results.
Fellowship Details and Selection Process
WISE-PhD: Supports women aged 27–45 with postgraduate degrees in science, offering up to ₹35.69 lakh over five years for doctoral research in basic and applied sciences. Unlike its predecessor WoS-A, WISE-PhD does not include an interview stage for selection.
WISE-PDF: Targets women aged 27–60 with PhDs in STEM fields, offering up to ₹42.6 lakh over three years for laboratory-based research. Applicants undergo a two-stage selection process, including project proposal screening and evaluation by Subject Expert Committees (SECs), with an interview stage for those clearing the initial screening.
In 2023-24, 100 projects were approved under WISE-PhD, increasing to 140 projects in 2024-25. WISE-PDF saw 108 projects approved in 2023-24, rising to 159 in 2024-25.
Funding Challenges Amid Rising Allocations
Despite consistent budget increases for science and research, India’s R&D expenditure remains low at 0.64% of GDP (2020–21) compared with other BRICS nations—Brazil (1.3%), Russia (1.1%), China (2.4%), and South Africa (0.6%). A DST memorandum dated August 8 by Jyoti Sharma of the Policy Coordination and Programme Management division temporarily suspended new project funds under the Vigyan Dhara scheme, citing limited availability of funds and the need to prioritize ongoing projects.
Impact on Individual Researchers
The delays are affecting women across the country. A candidate from Calicut, Kerala, who applied for the WISE-PDF fellowship in August 2024, was shortlisted in January 2025 and appeared for her interview in February 2025. Even seven months later, she has not received results, making it difficult to plan her research or career trajectory.
Need for Timely Action
The prolonged delays not only stall careers but also weaken India’s efforts to improve women’s representation in STEM. As reported by hindustantimes.com, fellows emphasize that timely disbursement of funds and announcement of results is essential to support the growth of women scientists and strengthen the country’s research ecosystem.
