IIT Bombay Launches WINGS—A New Era for Women in STEM
IIT Bombay has announced the pioneering WINGS (Women INspiring Growth in STEM) scholarship, a landmark initiative designed to open STEM education to talented women across India and drive gender balance at one of the country’s most renowned institutions. Launched with support from IIT Bombay alumnus Bharat Desai and Neerja Sethi, the scholarship programme will cover full tuition fees for female undergraduate students pursuing Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics degrees, beginning in the 2026–2027 academic year.
This initiative is more than just financial aid—it’s about catalysing change, inspiring leadership, and strengthening the pipeline of future women innovators and technologists. The WINGS scholarship sets out to eliminate financial barriers that have historically limited women’s access to world-class technical education, especially for applicants from rural and underrepresented backgrounds. By easing the path to a top-tier STEM degree, the programme aims to encourage more young women to choose science and engineering, while making IIT Bombay a destination for ambitious minds regardless of their economic circumstances.
Professor Shireesh Kedare, Director of IIT Bombay, emphasised that “financial constraints should never determine a student’s future.” He highlighted that WINGS represents a commitment to freeing talented young women from limitations, thereby shaping a more equitable and diverse academic community that will impact the future of science and technology. Alumnus Bharat Desai echoed this, calling education the most powerful tool for change and stressing that unleashing women’s talent and determination drives progress and innovation for India as a whole.
In addition to the scholarship, IIT Bombay continues to implement measures to make life on campus safer and more supportive for women students. With dedicated hostels, active gender cells, and strong junior-senior mentorship programs, the campus environment actively promotes inclusion, security, and personal growth.
The broader vision for WINGS is to inspire similar initiatives across other Indian technical institutes, fueling a cultural shift toward true gender parity in STEM. By providing ongoing support and recognition, the scholarship aims to create a ripple effect—empowering a new generation of female scientists, engineers, and thinkers to lead innovations in academia, industry, and beyond.
As students, faculty, and alumni celebrate the launch of WINGS, optimism grows for a future where more innovative minds are free to pursue their ambitions. With full financial support, a robust community, and purposeful industry connections, IIT Bombay’s new scholarship is positioned to become a beacon of opportunity and excellence for women in STEM throughout India.
