By A data-first guide for girls choosing engineering and science after Class 12, with a closer look at Anjaneya University, Raipur.
Here is the short version.
More women study STEM in India than ever before. Women are 44% of STEM enrolment. Money is available. Jobs are growing. But women are still a minority in research and in leadership.
This guide gives you the numbers, the scholarships, the internships and the career paths. It then shows what Anjaneya University in Raipur offers, so you can plan your next step with facts.
Women in STEM in India: The Numbers
Start with the data.
| Indicator | Figure |
| Total higher education enrolment, 2023-24 | 4.5 crore |
| Women in higher education, 2023-24 | 2.24 crore (49.7%) |
| Growth in female enrolment since 2014-15 | 42.2% |
| Female gross enrolment ratio, 2023-24 | 31.2 (up from 22.9 in 2014-15) |
| Total STEM enrolment, 2023-24 | More than 1 crore (about 10.2 million) |
| Women’s share of STEM enrolment, 2023-24 | 44% |
| Women’s share of STEM enrolment, 2014-15 | 38.4% |
| Women’s share of STEM enrolment, 2021-22 | 43% |
Source: All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE), Ministry of Education.
What do these numbers say?
- Women’s STEM share rose 5.6 percentage points in about ten years.
- Women now make up almost half of all higher education students.
- STEM crossed one crore students for the first time.
- Women’s share is still below 50%. The gap is real.
The global picture is tougher. UNESCO data shows women are about 35% of STEM graduates worldwide. UN data shows only 31.1% of researchers were women in 2022. India’s graduate share is better than the global average. The research and leadership share is where the work remains.
There is one more gap. A 2026 analysis of labour survey data found that women are below 1% of skill training in engineering and technology. Degrees are rising. Skilling is not keeping pace.
Chhattisgarh: State Data on Women in STEM
Chhattisgarh is moving fast. The Rajya Sabha reply of 1 April 2026 gave AISHE state data on women’s STEM enrolment.
| Year | Women in STEM, Chhattisgarh | Growth over previous year |
| 2020-21 | 90,542 | Base year |
| 2021-22 | 1,07,961 | 19.2% |
| 2022-23 (provisional) | 1,37,883 | 27.7% |
That is a rise of about 52% in two years.
Two takeaways.
- More girls in Chhattisgarh are choosing STEM each year.
- Demand for good colleges in Raipur and across the state is rising with it.
Why Now? The Demand for Tech Talent
STEM skills are in demand. Women with these skills have strong options.
- A Deloitte-NASSCOM report (August 2024) estimated India’s AI talent demand would grow from about 6 to 6.5 lakh in 2022 to more than 12.5 lakh by 2027. This is a projection.
- A ManpowerGroup report (February 2026) found that 82% of Indian employers struggle to find skilled people.
- TeamLease Digital reported that only about 16% of Indian IT professionals have AI skills.
- LinkedIn data (April 2026) showed AI engineering job postings in India up 59.5% year on year.
- Naukri data reported by Reuters showed AI-related IT hiring up 16% year on year in June 2026.
The gap between demand and supply is your opening.
STEM Scholarships for Women in India
Money should not block a degree. Here are the main schemes.
AICTE Pragati Scholarship for Girls
This is the flagship scheme for girls in technical education.
| Detail | Information |
| Run by | AICTE, Ministry of Education |
| Who can apply | Girls in AICTE-approved degree or diploma courses |
| Amount | Reported as ₹50,000 per year |
| Family income limit | Up to ₹8 lakh per year |
| Family limit | Maximum two girl children |
| Duration | Up to 4 years (degree), up to 3 years (diploma) |
| Also open to | Lateral entry students in the second year |
| How to apply | National Scholarship Portal (NSP) |
| Payment | Direct Benefit Transfer to your bank account |
| 2026-27 deadline | 31 October 2026 (reported as tentative) |
| Institute verification | By 15 November 2026 (reported) |
| Helpline | 011-29581000, pragati@aicte-india.org |
Key rules.
- You cannot hold another central or state scholarship for the same purpose.
- Your bank account must be linked to Aadhaar.
- Renewal needs a pass in the previous exam and regular attendance.
- Some sources say admission through a centralised state process is required. Check the exact rule on the AICTE site.
The deadline is close. Confirm dates on the National Scholarship Portal today.
Other Scholarships to Check
| Scheme | Who it is for |
| DST WISE-KIRAN | Women scientists and researchers |
| DST Vigyan Jyoti | Girls in classes 9 to 12 interested in science |
| DST INSPIRE | Top performers in basic and natural sciences |
| Google Generation Scholarship | Women and underrepresented groups in computer science |
| University merit scholarships | Students with strong marks |
Amounts and dates change every year. Always read the official page before you apply.
Merit Scholarships at the University Level
Many universities offer fee waivers. Anjaneya University lists merit-based fee waivers of up to 25%. Ask the admissions team if any extra support exists for girl students.
Internships for Women in STEM
Internships turn a degree into a career. They also fill your resume.
Programmes to know
- Google Summer of Code. Open-source coding with paid stipends.
- Outreachy. Paid remote internships in open source for people facing under-representation in tech.
- Microsoft Engage. A mentorship programme for students.
- Flipkart GRiD. A tech challenge with hiring links.
- ISRO and DRDO. Student internships and project work, based on eligibility.
- Industry and PSU internships. Many run through campus placement cells.
How to get one
- Build two small projects by the end of year one.
- Put them on GitHub.
- Learn Python and one more language.
- Apply to three to five programmes each cycle.
- Ask your placement cell about local internships.
- Keep a clean resume. One page is enough.
When to start
- Year 1: Learn basics. Join clubs.
- Year 2: Build projects. Apply for summer programmes.
- Year 3: Complete a full internship.
- Year 4: Convert it into a job offer.
Career Opportunities for Women in STEM
Pick a branch. Then pick a path.
| Branch | Example roles |
| Computer Science with AI or ML | AI engineer, ML engineer |
| Data Science | Data analyst, data scientist |
| Cyber Security | Security analyst |
| Electronics and Telecommunication | Embedded engineer, network engineer |
| VLSI Design | Chip design engineer |
| Mechanical Engineering | Automation engineer, robotics engineer |
| Electrical Engineering | Power systems engineer |
| Civil Engineering | Infrastructure and smart city engineer |
Other paths.
- Research and academia.
- Government labs and public sector.
- Startups and entrepreneurship.
- Product management and technical leadership.
Women researchers are only about 31% of the global total. That means room to lead.
Anjaneya University: One of the Colleges in Raipur, Chhattisgarh
Anjaneya University is a state private university in Raipur. The campus is at Knowledge Village, Naradha, near Vidhan Sabha Road. Its official site is anjaneyauniversity.ac.in.
It is one of the private universities in Chhattisgarh and one of the engineering colleges in Raipur, Chhattisgarh. Wikipedia’s list of institutions of higher education in Chhattisgarh shows it as a private university in Raipur, set up in 2022, offering general, engineering and MBA programmes. It is among the universities in Chhattisgarh that list B.Tech, M.Tech and diploma courses under one campus.
| Fact (per the university website) | Figure |
| Campus size | 25 acres |
| Faculty members | 200+ |
| Programmes | 170+ |
| Highest package | 17.5 LPA |
| Merit scholarship fee waiver | Up to 25% |
The 17.5 LPA is the highest package. It is not the average. Ask the placement team for branch-wise averages.
Engineering programmes
- B.Tech: CSE with AI, Machine Learning, Data Science and Cyber Security. Also Civil, Mechanical, Electrical and Electronics, Electronics and Telecommunication, and VLSI Design.
- M.Tech: Civil, Mechanical (Mechatronics, Tool Design), Computer Science (Robotics and Automation), Electronics and Telecommunications, Thermal Power, Industrial Engineering, Power Electronics, and VLSI Design and Embedded Systems.
- Diploma: Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, Electronics and Telecommunication, and Computer Science.
Support for students
- Placement cell with resume workshops, mock interviews and networking events.
- Recruiters listed on the website include TCS, HCL, Wipro, Capgemini, Reliance, ICICI and Tata.
- Labs, library, sports areas, auditorium, hostels and transport.
- 360-degree virtual tour on the website.
Courses change each year. Confirm the list on the official site.
Which Anjaneya Programme Fits Which Career
The table below links the career paths above to programmes listed on the university website.
| Career goal | Anjaneya University programme |
| AI or ML engineer | B.Tech CSE with Artificial Intelligence or Machine Learning |
| Data scientist | B.Tech CSE with Data Science |
| Security analyst | B.Tech CSE with Cyber Security |
| Embedded or network engineer | B.Tech Electronics and Telecommunication |
| Chip design engineer | B.Tech VLSI Design, M.Tech VLSI Design and Embedded Systems |
| Automation or robotics engineer | B.Tech Mechanical, M.Tech Mechanical (Mechatronics), M.Tech CSE (Robotics and Automation) |
| Power systems engineer | B.Tech Electrical, M.Tech Thermal Power, M.Tech Power Electronics |
| Infrastructure engineer | B.Tech and M.Tech Civil |
| Early entry to technical work | Diplomas in Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, Electronics and Telecommunication, Computer Science |
Lateral entry is available for some branches. Check eligibility on the university website.
Funding Your Degree at Anjaneya University
- Merit-based fee waiver of up to 25%, per the university website.
- AICTE Pragati Scholarship: it requires an AICTE-approved course. Ask admissions if your chosen course qualifies.
- Extra support for girl students: not stated on the website. Ask the admissions team.
Questions to Ask Anjaneya’s Admissions Team
Use these before you apply.
- Is my course AICTE-approved? Does it qualify for Pragati?
- Is any fee waiver available for girl students beyond the 25% merit waiver?
- What is the average package for my branch? The 17.5 LPA figure is the highest.
- How many girls are in my branch and in the placement batch?
- Which internships does the placement cell arrange?
- What are the hostel, transport and security arrangements?
- What is the total fee over the full course?
- Which lateral entry options exist for my branch?
Barriers Women Face and How to Handle Them
Be honest about the gaps.
- Fewer role models. Join women-in-tech groups and alumni networks.
- Family worry about cost. Show scholarship numbers. ₹50,000 a year matters.
- Safety and distance. Pick colleges with secure hostels and transport.
- Maths fear. Basics plus practice are enough to start.
- Few women in senior roles. Seek mentors early.
- Skilling gap. Add short courses in Python, data and cloud.
Frequently Asked Questions
What percentage of STEM students in India are women?
About 44% in 2023-24, per AISHE. It was 38.4% in 2014-15.
What is the AICTE Pragati Scholarship?
It supports girls in AICTE-approved technical degree and diploma courses. The reported amount is ₹50,000 per year. Family income must be up to ₹8 lakh.
Are there STEM internships for women?
Yes. Google Summer of Code, Outreachy, Microsoft Engage, ISRO, DRDO and many company programmes.
Which engineering programmes does Anjaneya University offer?
B.Tech in CSE with AI, Machine Learning, Data Science and Cyber Security, plus Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, Electronics and Telecommunication and VLSI Design. It also offers M.Tech and diploma courses.
Is Anjaneya University a private university in Chhattisgarh?
Yes. It is a state private university in Raipur, listed with a 2022 establishment year on Wikipedia’s list of Chhattisgarh institutions.
