AI-led upskilling is opening new pathways for women in India’s STEM workforce

India is approaching a critical inflection point in its STEM journey. While female enrolment in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics has steadily risen over the past decade, the real challenge now lies beyond classrooms—translating education and upskilling into sustained workforce participation and leadership roles.

According to a new EY India report, Breaking the code: The rise of women in India’s STEM landscape, this transition is increasingly being shaped by AI-led upskilling, digital access, and coordinated ecosystem efforts spanning government, academia, and industry.

From access to outcomes: the next phase of STEM inclusion

The report highlights that India has made meaningful progress in expanding access to STEM education for women through initiatives such as Vigyan Jyoti, the Pragati Scholarship, and SERB POWER, complemented by corporate-led interventions like the EY STEM App and EY Disha. These programmes have focused on early exposure, mentorship, and career readiness—key ...