The quantity of female researchers in India is rapidly rising, positioning India third globally in this advancement. Nevertheless, women encounter more obstacles than men due to worldwide gender inequality in the research sector.
Elsevier, a scientific information provider, disclosed this information in a report named 'Progress towards gender equality in research and innovation - a review of 2024'. As per Professor Sandeep Sancheti, Vice President of Research and Academic Affairs at Elsevier India, the swift growth of female researchers in India showcases the continuous efforts towards gender equality, which is highly encouraging.
He mentions that despite significant advancements in establishing a more inclusive academic environment, challenges persist. In India, the number of active female researchers has been steadily increasing by 2 percent annually over the past decade. During this period, only Egypt and the Netherlands have witnessed a similar rapid surge in female researchers.
The report, analyzing inclusion and diversity across various disciplines and regions over two decades, indicates that women now represent 33 percent of active researchers in India, compared to 22 percent in Japan and 30 percent in Egypt. India currently stands as the world's third-largest research producer.
In the realm of health sciences, the gender ratio among researchers in India nearly reached equilibrium in 2022, with women comprising 41 percent of all active researchers. This proportion aligns closely with the target of 40-60 percent for gender parity. Similarly, gender equality in life sciences research was achieved in India by 2021, with women researchers constituting 43 percent of the active researchers by 2022.
On a global scale, women accounted for 41 percent of active health sciences researchers by 2022, showcasing substantial female representation in this field. The report highlights a significant gender gap in patent applications, with a majority being submitted by men or all-male teams. Conversely, teams comprising solely women accounted for a mere three percent of patent applications filed by 2022.
Notably, women constitute the highest number of active researchers working on the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals, surpassing men in multidisciplinary research crucial for addressing global challenges effectively. Despite progress over the past two decades, gender equality in research remains elusive, particularly evident in fields like physics where women constitute only 33 percent of active researchers.
The report projects that achieving complete gender equality in research globally may not materialize until 2052, emphasizing the ongoing disparities that persist across various research domains.