The Hindu Editorial Analysis- 15th July 2025 | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly - UPSC PDF Download

Women, STEM careers and a more receptive industry

Why is it in the News?

On July 15, World Youth Skills Day, the focus is on the importance of investing in women's potential in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics).

Despite making up 43% of STEM graduates in India, women only represent 27% of the STEM workforce. This highlights a significant gap between education and employment opportunities for women in these fields.

The Government of India is committed to addressing this issue and has taken various initiatives to promote skill development, especially for women in STEM.

Introduction

• World Youth Skills Day, observed on July 15 each year, emphasizes the importance of skill development in combating unemployment and ensuring decent work opportunities.
• In India, there is a significant disparity despite women constituting 43% of STEM graduates, the highest among major economies. They represent only 27% of the STEM workforce, indicating a lost potential for career advancement.
• The Female Labour Force Participation Rate (FLFPR) in India improved to 41.7% in 2023-24, showing progress after a period of stagnation. This increase is more pronounced among rural women (47.6%) compared to urban women (25.4%), highlighting ongoing challenges in formal employment, workplace safety, and social norms.
• The gender gap in STEM fields is evident, with only 31.5% of researchers globally being women (UNESCO, 2021). This gap from education to employment reflects systemic barriers that the industry can help address.
• Bridging this gap has significant economic implications. Estimates by McKinsey suggest that incorporating 68 million women into India’s workforce could boost GDP by up to $700 billion by 2025. The World Bank projects that achieving 50% female workforce participation could enhance GDP growth by 1%.

Government Vision and STEM Skilling

• NEP 2020 – STEM Access: The New Education Policy 2020 has enhanced retention and prospects for women in STEM by promoting integrated and flexible learning pathways.
• Skill Integration – MoE Initiative: The Ministry of Education has incorporated skills development and life skills training into mainstream education to improve employability.
• Vocational Training – Rural Reach: There is a renewed emphasis on revamping Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) and expanding vocational training to provide quality technical education in rural areas and small towns.
• Viksit Bharat – Inclusive Development: These reforms align with the Prime Minister’s vision of Viksit Bharat, focusing on women’s economic mobility as a crucial aspect of inclusive growth.
• Gender Budget – Increased Allocation: The share of the gender budget has increased from 6.8% in 2024-25 to 8.8% in 2025-26, with a significant allocation of ₹4.49 lakh crore for gender-focused programmes.
• Union Budget 2025-26 – Women Empowerment: Key provisions include term loans for women entrepreneurs, establishing new National Skill Training Institutes, and promoting technology-led skilling initiatives.
• Policy Framework – Supportive Ecosystem: National missions such as Skill India, Digital India, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, and PM Vishwakarma Yojana reflect a strong policy commitment to women’s empowerment.
• Industry Role – Active Participation Needed: The private sector is encouraged to transition from being passive recruiters to active enablers of women’s career growth and transitions.

Industry as the Missing Link

• Industry's Role – Bridging the Gap: The private sector plays a crucial role in closing the gap between skilling and employment, especially for women in technical fields.
• Social Norms – Invisible Barriers: Deep-seated stereotypes, such as "mechanical is masculine" or "coding isn’t for girls," create unseen obstacles for skilled women.
• Research Evidence – Global Findings: Studies by the World Bank and UNESCO indicate that gendered perceptions limit women’s participation in STEM and technical trades.
• Retention Challenges – Workplace Environment: Women leave STEM not due to a lack of ability but because of unwelcoming workplaces, limited family awareness of career options, and gendered expectations around roles and responsibilities.
• Key Enablers – Holistic Support: Addressing the gap requires challenging gender biases, ensuring workplace safety, providing equitable pay, and supporting career transitions during significant life events like marriage, childbirth, and caregiving.
• Private Sector Action – Proactive Engagement: Companies are increasingly investing in mentorship programs, industry-linked training, and partnerships with educational institutions to facilitate smooth transitions from classrooms to careers.
• WeSTEM Programme – Inclusive Skilling: This initiative, a collaboration between UN Women, state governments of Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat, and the Micron Foundation, offers technical skills training to bridge the STEM talent gap. It engages families and community leaders, promotes workplace safety, and introduces female role models to change mindsets.
• Mindset Shift – Beyond Skills: Effective skill-building should be accompanied by a cultural transformation that challenges stereotypes and empowers women throughout the ecosystem.

Conclusion: A Blueprint for Industry Leadership

• Collaborations between industry and academic institutions, mentorship programs connecting professionals with learners, and workplace strategies that support life changes and prioritize safety are essential to bridging the gap between education and employment.
• The pressing question is not whether India can afford to support women in STEM careers but whether businesses can bear the consequences of inaction.
• By equipping women and girls with the necessary skills and practical training to excel in STEM fields, India moves towards a more inclusive and resilient society.
•  When women succeed, their impact resonates through households, production lines, decision-making bodies, and entire sectors. The empowered voice of women is the cornerstone of a future-ready India.

 The importance of India and Europe walking in step

 Why is it News? 

The potential for a partnership grounded in shared values and strategic imperatives between India and Europe could lead to a more stable and equitable global order.

 Introduction 

The relationship between India and Europe is being revitalized in response to the current global disorder. This partnership, rooted in deep historical ties, is becoming increasingly relevant to contemporary challenges.

Prime Minister Modi and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar are actively engaging with Europe, recognizing its evolving role in the global landscape.

 An order upended, a partnership emerging 

The long-standing transatlantic relationship, traditionally anchored by U.S. leadership, is facing challenges.

• President Trump’s approach created uncertainty in global diplomacy by being transactional, skeptical of NATO, and closer to adversaries like Russia.
• As a result, allies felt uneasy and adrift, impacting the G-7’s image as a consensus-driven body.

 European & Transatlantic Response 

• Canada: Aiming to reduce reliance on the U.S. and strengthen ties with Europe and India, despite some tensions.
• United Kingdom: Moving beyond Brexit and reinvesting in relationships with continental Europe.
• Germany: Awakening from past strategic complacency, increasing defense spending, and transforming its industrial base.

These shifts indicate Europe’s growing orientation towards the East and its desire to be an independent global power.

 Europe's Strategic Reinvention 

• The idea of “strategic autonomy,” once mainly associated with France, is now widely accepted in Europe.
• Key initiatives include:
• Macron’s proposal for a European nuclear umbrella.
• Germany’s constitutional changes for higher military spending.
• Increased assertiveness of the Weimar Triangle (Germany, France, Poland) in Central Europe.

 India's Evolving Foreign Policy 

• India is shifting from a non-aligned stance to a more assertive multi-alignment approach.
• In a world moving towards U.S.-China bipolarity, India prioritizes:
• Strategic autonomy.
• Partnerships based on shared values and a rules-based order.

 India-Europe Convergence: Shared Aspirations 

Levels of Engagement

• Institutional Level: Strengthening EU-India dialogue on crucial areas like trade, technology, climate, and security.
• Bilateral Level: Deepening ties with key EU member states, including France, Germany, Italy, the Nordics, and Eastern Europe.

Shared Vision: Both India and Europe aspire to be middle powers in a multipolar world, emphasizing:

• International law.
• Inclusive institutions.
• Pluralistic values.

 Economic Ties as a Corridor of Opportunity 

Bilateral trade and investment between India and the EU have significantly increased in recent years.

• EU Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in India grew by 70% between 2015 and 2022.
• France’s investment in India surged by 373% during the same period.
• EU imports from India doubled in the last three years.

Despite this progress, the partnership remains underutilized, with both sides only beginning to tap into their full potential.

 Fast-Tracking Trade & Sustainability 

• Accelerate the India-EU Trade and Investment Agreements, starting with an “early harvest” accord that considers India’s green transition and development needs.
• Recalibrate the European Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) to ensure climate equity, avoiding climate protectionism.
• The India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) holds great promise for establishing a modern Silk Road focused on trade, enterprise, energy, and innovation, addressing the need for transparent, sustainable, and sovereign infrastructure in the Indo-Pacific.

 Technology: The Next Strategic Frontier 

Synergy Areas:Europe: Focus on deep tech, digital manufacturing, and semiconductors. India: Strengthen software, digital public goods, and scalable platforms. Joint Focus: Collaborate on AI, clean energy, biotech, ocean sustainability, and health systems.

Digital Infrastructure: Both partners view digital infrastructure as a public good, emphasizing collaboration across the digital lifecycle, from innovation to governance and regulation.

 Human Mobility: The Innovation Engine 

• Invest in human capital mobility through a comprehensive agreement for students, scientists, and scholars.
• Benefits include enhancing talent pools, reducing unemployment in India, and fostering cross-border innovation.

 Defence, Security & Strategic Trust 

• Europe as a key supplier of defense equipment to India, with opportunities for co-development and technology transfers.
• Areas of cooperation include maritime security, cybersecurity, space collaboration, and counter-terrorism efforts.
• Europe should adopt a stronger stance on Pakistan’s support for Islamist extremism, which is a challenge for both regions.

 Normative Power: India-Europe as Middle Power Custodians 

In a world where great powers often prioritize might over right, India and Europe should:

• Act as custodians of a rules-based order, focusing on stability through cooperation rather than coercion.
• Emphasize multilateralism, resisting hegemonic binaries, and empowering the Global South.

 Global Forums Where This Partnership Can Shape the Future 

• United Nations: Reform multilateral governance and ensure equitable representation.
• WTO: Advocate for fair trade practices and protect the interests of the Global South.
• Quad: Strengthen the strategic architecture of the Indo-Pacific region.
• AI Governance Platforms: Establish ethical and inclusive global standards for artificial intelligence.

 Changing Minds, Not Just Policies 

• Perception Matters: Public perception plays a crucial role in shaping cooperation and trust between India and Europe.
• Narrative Alignment: Aligning public sentiment, media coverage, and political focus with strategic goals is essential for building trust and momentum in the partnership.
• Human-Centered Diplomacy: Strong international ties are fostered through empathy, creative engagement, and consistent dialogue, rather than just through formal summits and data-driven approaches.

Breaking Stereotypes:Europe: Needs to move beyond outdated views of India as a reluctant partner in the relationship. India: Should engage with a deeper understanding of Europe’s internal transitions and complexities, recognizing the changes within European societies and politics.

Encouraging Developments:Raisina Dialogue in Marseille (June 2025): This event symbolizes a renewed dialogue and cooperation between India and Europe. Ursula von der Leyen’s Visit to Delhi (Feb 2025): The visit of the European Commission President highlights the growing political will and commitment to strengthening ties. India’s Diplomatic Outreach: India’s increasing diplomatic engagement in the Mediterranean and Nordic regions marks a shift towards mutual understanding and cooperation with European countries.

 Conclusion 

The unpredictable dynamics of India and Europe’s diplomatic interactions, especially during the Trump Administration, have been a learning experience.

Moving forward, the focus should be on building a strong and purposeful partnership based on shared values and strategic necessities.

 Instead of just mirroring each other, India and Europe can complement each other to create a more stable, inclusive, and fair global environment.