QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS OF GENDER INCLUSIVITY IN INDIAN INSTITUTES OF TECHNOLOGY POST SUPERNUMERARY SEATS POLICY

In this research, we explore the trajectory of gender inclusivity at India's most prestigious and highly selective engineering institutions, the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), which have been ranked in the top 20 by the Government of Indias National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) from 2017 2023, following the implementation of the supernumerary seats policy. This policy was implemented in 2018 to increase female enrollment at India's most prestigious and highly selective engineering institutions. We analyzed data from 20 IITs across India spanning several academic years. Our study tested two hypotheses: Gender diversity has experienced consistent increases, and substantial differences exist in the growth rates of female student enrollment across IITs. We evaluated the percentage of enrolled female students and analyzed growth trajectories. Our results affirmed a general upward trend in female representation, yet unveiled pronounced disparities across different IITs. Also, there was no significant relationship between the age of the IIT and female enrollment percentage, as indicated by the near-zero Pearson correlation and flat trend line. Female enrollment percentages across seven IIT zones showed slight regional differences, but ANOVA analysis indicated these differences were not significant. There are multifaceted factors that influenced these outcomes, underscoring the necessity for tailored strategies to the distinct circumstances of each IIT. Despite commendable progress, inequities endure, underscoring the critical need for sustained interventions and policies to foster gender equity in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education.