Govt to train 1,000 mid-career women for top roles in technology

India’s government is preparing a major initiative to increase women’s representation in leadership roles across the technology sector as part of its new IT Policy 2025–2030, the Times of India reported. The plans focus on skilling, mentorship and global exposure for mid-career women seeking to move into senior positions.

The policy proposes targeting 1,000 women professionals for specialised training and fellowships under the Women in Global Tech Missions scheme. The Times of India said the initiative aims to strengthen the leadership pipeline in an industry where women’s participation is rising but still lags significantly at senior levels. The programme is designed to build a more diverse cohort of leaders and innovators, particularly in areas central to technology governance.

According to the report, the IT-BT department intends to roll out large-scale skilling programmes, internships and women-focused fellowships to help create a deep-tech workforce capable of supporting the state’s long-term ambitions. The fellowship will concentrate on emerging fields such as AI governance, cybersecurity, data privacy and tech diplomacy—areas expected to play a critical role in shaping global digital standards.

To broaden international exposure, the curriculum will be developed with global organisations, enabling participants to study advanced technology trends and regulatory frameworks. The department has allocated Rs 46 crore for the initiative, including Rs 3 lakh in fellowship support for each participant and Rs 12.5 crore earmarked for global learning modules. A further Rs 1.5 crore has been set aside for curriculum development and Rs 75 lakh for mentorship and networking.

The Times of India also reported that the finance department has urged caution, advising that the project be aligned with the government’s broader interventions and that programme costs remain within a Rs 100-crore cap. It noted that detailed project reports are still pending and that current estimates should be treated as indicative.

IT-BT minister Priyank Kharge said the scheme was designed to address the structural barriers women face mid-career, particularly career breaks linked to family or personal commitments. “We developed a scheme to upskill them in emerging technologies and prepare them for leadership positions on the technological side of the IT sector,” he said, adding that industry consultations shaped the initiative and that detailed rules would be published soon.

With the global technology landscape shifting rapidly, policymakers expect the programme to support both workforce diversity and strategic capability. The coming months will determine how the framework is implemented and whether it can meaningfully expand women’s presence in senior technology roles.