CSIR celebrates women researchers in STEM at ASPIRE-SHAKTI

📌 Summary:

• CSIR, through its Human Resource Development Group (CSIR-HRDG), held "ASPIRE-SHAKTI: Celebrating Women in STEM" at Anusandhan Bhawan, New Delhi, and released the ASPIRE-SHAKTI Compendium documenting the scheme's research accomplishments
• CSIR-ASPIRE is a research scheme exclusively for women researchers, envisioned by Union S&T Minister Dr Jitendra Singh and launched on International Women's Day 2023
• DG CSIR Dr N. Kalaiselvi flagged comparatively low participation from the North-East and Ladakh, and called for targeted outreach to Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities and colleges to make future calls more inclusive
• Next phase: identify around 20-30 outstanding ASPIRE projects for support beyond research, including commercialisation and linkages with start-ups and innovation partners
• Focus of the next phase: inclusion, innovation and technology translation

🎯 UPSC Relevance: GS1/GS3 — women in science, gender inclusion in STEM, and research commercialisation.

📝 Prelims Facts:

• CSIR-ASPIRE was launched on International Women's Day (8 March) 2023
• CSIR functions under the Department of Scientific & Industrial Research (DSIR)
• Dr N. Kalaiselvi is DG, CSIR and Secretary, DSIR

🔑 Key Term: Technology translation — converting laboratory research outcomes into market-ready products or commercial technologies.