CSIR Celebrates Women in STEM with ASPIRE-SHAKTI Event
The Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) commemorated the achievements of women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) today at its headquarters in New Delhi. The event, titled “ASPIRE-SHAKTI: Celebrating Women in STEM & Initiating Project Review Sessions,” was hosted by the Human Resource Development Group (CSIR-HRDG) and attended by Principal Investigators (PIs), research fellows, and members of the ASPIRE Subject Area Committees from across India.
Dr. N. Kalaiselvi, Secretary of the Department of Scientific & Industrial Research and Director General of CSIR, led the event and unveiled the ASPIRE-SHAKTI Compendium, which documents the significant research achievements of the ASPIRE scheme.
During her Presidential Address, Dr. Kalaiselvi reflected on the launch of the CSIR-ASPIRE Research Scheme, which was initiated on International Women’s Day 2023 as a dedicated program for women researchers. She credited Dr. Jitendra Singh, the Union Minister of Science & Technology, for his vision in establishing this initiative.
While expressing her satisfaction with the enthusiastic response from female researchers nationwide, Dr. Kalaiselvi noted a concerning gap in participation from the North-East region and Ladakh. She emphasized the need for targeted outreach efforts to engage universities and colleges in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, aiming for a more inclusive future.
Looking ahead, Dr. Kalaiselvi shared plans to identify and support 20–30 exceptional ASPIRE projects beyond the research phase, focusing on commercializing their innovations. She highlighted CSIR’s commitment to connecting promising researchers with startups and innovation partners, facilitating the transition of research outcomes into market-ready technologies.
The success of the CSIR-ASPIRE scheme is evident, with a remarkable record of achievements. Since its inception, CSIR has received 2,878 project proposals from 969 institutions across the country, selecting 301 outstanding women researchers as independent PIs with a competitive selection rate of about 10%. These projects have led to over 253 publications in SCI-indexed journals, more than 15 patent filings, and 20+ presentations at international conferences. Additionally, over 300 research fellows have been trained, contributing to a growing pipeline of women scholars in scientific fields.
In his welcome address, Dr. R. Parthasarathi, Head of CSIR-HRDG, acknowledged the group’s long-standing legacy of nurturing scientific talent in India. He pointed to the significant plans approved by the Cabinet in September 2025 to enhance human resource development in the scientific sector. Dr. Shweta Pant, Nodal Officer of the ASPIRE scheme, highlighted key scheme insights, while Dr. Annapurni Subramaniam and Prof. Sharmila A. Bapat lent their expertise on the rigorous peer evaluation process.
Following the celebratory event, the Project Review Sessions commenced. ASPIRE Subject Area Committees will evaluate the mid-term progress of funded projects and provide guidance for their future development.
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