PM Modi addresses IIT convocation, commenting on womens underrepresentation among medallists.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized the importance of increasing female representation among medalists at the Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT) during a recent convocation ceremony. His remarks have sparked renewed attention on the persistent gender gap in Indias top engineering colleges.

According to data, women comprised only 20.15% of BTech admissions in 2025, despite initiatives such as the Supernumerary Seats Scheme aimed at encouraging female enrollment. This situation raises questions about why womens representation has stagnated over the years.

Experts suggest several factors contributing to this plateau, including entrenched social expectations that can discourage women from pursuing engineering careers, barriers in access to quality coaching, and a lack of confidence among female candidates. Additionally, there is a growing acknowledgment of the need for significant institutional reforms to create a more inclusive environment that fosters the participation of women in engineering fields.

Addressing these challenges will be critical for enhancing gender equity in higher education and ensuring that women have equal opportunities to excel in technical disciplines. The conversation continues around how to effectively implement changes that encourage greater female enrollment and success in Indias prestigious engineering institutions.