Supportive Polices Fuel Surge in Women Leaders Across Domains as Technology Democratised Opportunities Dr. Jitendra Singh

New Delhi : “The Aditya Solar Mission, the Chandrayaan 2 & 3 missions had women in key leadership roles and for the first time in 85 years, we have a women director general in CSIR. The government is serious about providing an enabling milieu for women to lead. The democratisation of opportunities by technology and supportive policies of the govt has led to a transformation. The ultimate objective will be achieved when we cease to observe women’s day because there remains no need for it. A change in male mindset, to be ready for women led growth story is the need of the hour.” Said Dr. Jitendra Singh, Hon’ble Union Minister of State for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office, and Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space at ASSOCHAM’s ‘Viksit Bharat 2047: Women Leading India’s Growth Story’ event.

“As mindset changes, we will have more hidden talents coming forth. A whole lot of sensitively designed provisions have been rolled out for the women in this country in the last decade. We have mid-career schemes so that we do not lose out on innovation and talent. We have the WISE-KIRAN Scheme for women at different levels of education and the Vigyan Jyoti initiative is a dedicated program for school going girls.” Added the minister.

Speaking at the event, Smt. Raksha Khadse, Hon’ble Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India, said, “Women, especially in rural India, are emerging as powerful contributors to economic growth. Government initiatives around financial inclusion and entrepreneurship are helping unlock their potential. From local governance to sports, new opportunities are enabling women to lead from the front. Their success is a testament to resilience, determination and the impact of supportive policies.”

In her address at the event, Smt. Sumitra Balmik, Hon’ble Member of Parliament & Member Parliament committee on Social Justice & Empowerment & Standing Committee on Consumer Affairs Food & Public Distribution, Government of India, stresses women’s leadership as essential for inclusive growth and stronger representation in governance. “If you truly want to move the nation forward, the role of women is very important. Women are not just participants but drivers of India’s growth story. From governance to grassroots, their leadership is shaping a more inclusive and resilient nation. Strengthening their representation across institutions will accelerate our journey towards Viksit Bharat 2047.” She said.

Noted personalities including Ms. Kamaljeet Sehrawat, Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha, Hon’ble Justice Ms. Prathiba M Singh, Delhi High Court, Vijayanta Goyal Arya, IPS, Dr Nirupam Madaan, Medical Superintendent at AIIMS and Dr. Parvinder Maini, Scientific Secretary, Office of Principal Scientific Advisor, Government of India participated in the discourse during the event, where they highlighted the challenges and roles women play in the family, society and in driving the growth agenda of the country.

Dr Subi Chaturvedi, Founder of SAHIT and Global Senior Vice President at InMobi, said “The discourse on women’s empowerment must now move from identifying problems to building solutions. The future of work demands adaptability, and women must be equipped to lead in that transformation.” she said.

The SAHIT AWARDS for women who are rewriting India’s growth story were also distributed during the event. Key awardees include icons such as, Dr. Parvinder Maini, Scientific Secretary, Office of PSA, Debjani Ghosh, Distinguished Fellow, NITI Aayog. and Chief Architect – NITI Frontier Tech Hub, Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, Executive Chairperson and Founder of Biocon Limited, Himani Pande, Additional Secretary – DPIIT and Kavita Bhatia Chief Operating Officer, India AI Mission among other women achievers in various fields.

A knowledge paper ‘Sahit Knowledge Report’ was also launched in collaboration with InMobi.

Mr. Saurabh Sanyal, Secretary General, ASSOCHAM speaking at the event acknowledges the important role played by women in the growth agenda. “Today, we witnessed the resilience, leadership and innovation that are truly inspiring and instrumental in shaping the vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047. The insights shared today reinforced that women are not just participants but key architects in India’s growth story.”