Gender status in the Indian physics profession and the way forward

Abstract

The gender disparity in the Indian physics profession is stark, even compared to other scientific disciplines, reflecting the global trend. While the drivers of the disparity are clearly multiple and complex, we present examples that demonstrate that the disparity is highest in the higher echelons of the profession. The Government of India, which funds nearly all the research institutes in physics and a significant fraction of the universities, continues to fund interventions instituted several years ago to address the gender gap; we present the statistics on these interventions. For a long time, India lacked an institutionalised framework from within the physics profession that could address the gender disparity in physics. The last three years, however, have seen two major developments that are beginning to fill this gap. The issue of gender inequity in the sciences has begun to creep into the public consciousness as well. We deliberate on the possible path forward toward a more inclusive system.