What is “leaky pipeline”?

Despite representing nearly half of the global population, women remain significantly underrepresented in science and research careers worldwide. Experts describe this phenomenon as the “leaky pipeline” in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)—a situation where women drop out at multiple stages of education and professional advancement.

Global Scenario

Globally, the participation of women in STEM education and research remains limited:

• Women constitute only about 35% of STEM graduates worldwide.
• They earn around 40% of STEM PhDs.
• Data from 146 countries shows that women scientists make up only about 30% of the STEM workforce, including academic and research positions.

This gap reflects persistent structural and social barriers that reduce women’s representation as they progress through higher education and research careers.

Situation in India

While India produces one of the highest numbers of female STEM graduates, women remain underrepresented in the country’s research ecosystem.

According to a report by the Department of Science and Technology (DST):

• Women constitute only about 18% of the research and development workforce in India.
• Their representation in national research agencies is less than 30%.

Among major institutions:

• The Indian Council of Medical Research has the highest representation of women scientists at around 29%.
• The Defence Research and Development Organisation has one of the lowest shares at about 14%.

In premier academic institutions, the numbers remain even lower:

• Women account for around 8% of faculty at the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru.
• They represent about 11–13% of scientists at the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs).

The ‘Leaky Pipeline’ Problem

The “leaky pipeline” refers to the systematic loss of women at various stages of STEM education and careers, from undergraduate studies to research leadership roles. Factors contributing to this trend include gender stereotypes, lack of mentorship, work-life balance challenges, and limited institutional support.

Source: TH