New Delhi:  The low enrolment of female students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects in higher education is a concern. In the premier technology & engineering institutes such as Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) the presence of female students is not up to mark.

Amid such environment, the government has set a target to increase female enrolment from the current 8% to 14% in 2018-19, 17% in 2019-20 and 20% in 2020-21 by creating supernumerary seats in BTech programmes. This information was given by the Minister of State (HRD), Dr. Mahendra Nath Pandey today (20 July 2017) in a written reply to a Rajya Sabha question.

The minister also informed that out of 2264 female candidates who were allotted seats in Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) in 2016, 848 joined IITs. The admission process for the current year is not over.

To improve female enrolment in the BTech. Programmes in IITs, a Committee under the chairmanship of Director, IIT-Mandi was constituted by the Joint Admission Board (JAB) to suggest suitable measures. The report of the Committee was considered by the IIT Council in its 51st meeting held on 28 April 2017 and decided to increase female enrolment from the current 8% to 14% in 2018-19, 17% in 2019-20 and 20% in 2020-21 by creating supernumerary seats.

As the hike in seats for female candidates will be implemented by creating supernumerary seats, the seats available to male candidates will not be disturbed or reduced.