These 11 Indian women contributed to science when it wasn’t easy for them

• On the heels of the International Women’s Day, celebrated on March 8, the Indian government is recognising its women scientists to boost women participation in the field of science.
  
• From cytogenetics to organic chemistry and social sciences, the ministry will set up 11 chairs in the name of 20th century women scientists, across universities in India.
  
• According to the United Nations, women constitute merely 14% of the total 280,000 scientists, engineers and technologists in research development institutions in India. While in the research programmes, women account for a third of the PhD awardees.
  

On the heels of the International Women’s Day, celebrated on March 8, the Indian government is recognising its women scientists to boost women participation in the field of science.

From cytogenetics to organic chemistry and social sciences, the ministry will set up 11 chairs in the name of 20th century women scientists, across universities in India, Smriti Irani, Minister of Women and Child Development said. This includes the renowned anthropologist Irawati Karve and mathematician Raman Parimala.




The 11 chairs that will be set up for an initial period of five years will also be eligible for a research fund of nearly ₹1 crore.