60% of female BTech students to get IIT-Bombay scholarships; Mumbai-based institute aims to cover 100% of girls in the programme in next two years
Mumbai-Based Institute Aims to Cover 100% of Girls in the Programme in Next Two Years
Mumbai, May 6, 2026: In a groundbreaking initiative, three out of five girls seeking admission to BTech programmes at IIT-Bombay this year will be able to access free education through scholarships. The premier institute has set an ambitious goal to expand this financial support to cover 100% of female students admitted to their BTech programmes within the next two years.
Background of the Initiative
This initiative, known as WINGS (Women INspiring Growth in STEM), originated from a philanthropic effort by an alumnus of IIT-Bombay and his wife. Their initial aim was to provide tuition assistance for 60 young women securing admission to the Powai institute for the 2026-27 academic year. However, it has since evolved into a larger movement aimed at promoting gender equality in STEM education.
Funding and Contributions
Under the WINGS programme, IIT-Bombay is inviting contributions from individuals, alumni, and organizations. Donations can range from Rs 2 lakh for a single year to Rs 8 lakh for the full four-year BTech programme. This funding is crucial for supporting the education of girls at the institute.
According to Upendra Bhandarkar, the dean of alumni and corporate relations, the initiative has garnered significant support from distinguished alumnus and businessman Bharat Desai and his wife Neerja Sethi. Their substantial funding has enabled the expansion of the institute’s scholarship programmes, making it possible to reach more female students.
Goals of the WINGS Programme
The primary objective of the WINGS programme is to remove financial barriers for girls pursuing STEM education, particularly those from rural and economically disadvantaged backgrounds. IIT-Bombay’s director, Shireesh Kedare, emphasized the importance of promoting participation among girls who may otherwise feel discouraged from applying to IIT due to financial constraints. He stated, “We wish to ensure that meritorious bright girls are not deprived of the opportunity to study at the IIT for lack of funds.”
Encouraging Participation
To further enhance the gender ratio on campuses, IITs have introduced supernumerary seats for female students. Since 2018, these measures have allowed for a gradual increase in the number of female students admitted to IITs. In 2025, a total of 3,633 female-only seats were allocated, with an additional 31 female candidates securing seats through the gender-neutral pool.
As a result, the overall percentage of female students on campus reached 20.15% of the total 18,188 admitted students. At IIT-Bombay, 267 girls were admitted to the first-year BTech programmes last year. The WINGS programme aims to incentivize families, encouraging them to support their daughters’ ambitions regardless of distance, thereby allowing girls from rural and underprivileged backgrounds to dream as big as their urban counterparts.
Impact on Future Generations
The initiative not only aims to provide immediate financial assistance but also seeks to inspire future generations of schoolgirls to consider and aspire for an IIT education. By promoting this scholarship programme, IIT-Bombay hopes to raise awareness among young girls about the possibilities of pursuing a career in STEM fields.
Through the WINGS programme, the institute is committed to ensuring that girls have the financial freedom to focus on research and innovation, which are critical components of their education. This initiative represents a significant step toward achieving gender equality in technical education and empowering young women to excel in their chosen fields.
Conclusion
The WINGS initiative at IIT-Bombay is a transformative effort aimed at providing equal educational opportunities for female students in engineering and technology. With the goal of covering 100% of female BTech students in the next two years, this programme not only addresses financial barriers but also fosters a culture of inclusion and empowerment for women in STEM.
Note: The information presented in this article is based on reports from The Times of India and other reliable sources as of May 2026.
