Gender equality has always been a concern in higher education in the country like India. Though due to various initiatives like Beti Bachao Beti Padhao by our governments the number of girl child has increased effectively in primary, secondary and higher secondary school, but there is huge dropout rate when it comes to higher studies.

Due to societal preferences and biases in India, by and large, it is the sons who are sent for coaching rather than equally talented daughters. Holding traditional, paternalistic views, parents may believe that they are acting in the best interests of the girls, that they are protecting them from a hostile society that they are preparing them for a suitable feminine role in life.

A meeting of the joint admission board of IITs has decided to increase the seat percentage to the total of 14% from the current rate of 8%. Though the Board has said that the number of seats for male candidates will not be affected and this will help IITs achieve the target by 2020. The implementation of this will be staggered over three years — 14 per cent additional seats in 2018, 17 per cent in 2019, and 20 per cent in 2020.

Related Facts:

1. Currently, women make up just 8% of the student strength at 23 IITs across the country.
2. A meeting of the joint admission board of IITs recommended an increase of 600 seats – a hike of 14% -- in the number of seats allotted to women, taking the total quota to 1,440 seats.
3. IITs will admit more than 1,400 women from next year.

Why This Decision?

1. It was learnt that there was a 2% dip in the number of girls who cleared JEE-Advanced in 2016 compared to 2015.
2. The IITs are among India’s best institutes and regularly ranked high in global surveys but are plagued by a paltry number of women students, seen as the Indian’s society’s belief that men are more suited for technical jobs.
3. While more than 1,000 women cracked the examination -- roughly 10% of the total 10,000 seats -- in 2015, approximately 840 made it to the institutes in 2016-17.

Other Important Outputs:

1. Besides, the admissions panel also decided that all candidates will get seven rounds of counselling, two more than the present number.
2. The committee also recommended awarding merit scholarships regardless of parental income to all female students based on merit. However, this has to be approved by the IIT council.