Gender disparity at all levels and its adverse impact on women has become a fact of life. This is partly due to the biological role and responsibilities of women as mothers, but mostly due to the traditional mindsets, which visualise women as being child bearers and home-makers, and men as breadwinners. Yet in many invisible, un- rewarded ways women contribute significantly to the economic well-being of the family, and take on the double or triple burden of home making, work outside home and fighting male chauvinism. Among the various professional spheres, women seem to miss out more in science and technology, particularly physical sciences, agriculture and engineering fields. Those who do study science, often end up in what are considered as less challenging teaching jobs.

There is a growing realisation that by not allowing the creative talent of women from being expressed through their involvement in research and development, society is missing out, and something needs to be done to make scientific research more gender friendly.

The Indian National Science Academy constituted a committee to investigate the issue of Science Career for Women and suggest measures to increase women’s participation in study and practice of science. The present report has attempted to do that. Secondary sources of data were used to get a picture of the status of Indian women in science. To make an objective analysis of the factors, which influence science career for women, a study was contracted to the Research Centre for Women’s Studies, SNDT women’s University, Mumbai. This is a unique study, which has relied on feedbacks from women scientists and post-graduate students, from many parts of India. Effort was also made to examine the science policy in context of women. This report summarises only salient observations. A detailed discussion of this aspect can be read in the RCWS original report.

Implementation of the recommendations made in the final chapter is possible only with collective determination and effort of several agencies like UGC, NCERT, Science funding agencies, and Academies. INSA can facilitate the process by initiating a dialogue between these agencies and organisations.