Women's Enrollment in AI & ML Programs Skyrockets 4X in 2025
Women's participation in AI and ML programs has surged dramatically, reshaping the future of deep-tech education in India.
In a remarkable shift, women's enrolment in technical education programs has soared to 17 per cent in 2025, up from a mere 4 per cent in 2022, according to a recent report by College Vidya, a UGC-recognized education platform. The most striking growth is observed in deep-tech disciplines such as artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), prompt engineering, cybersecurity, robotics, and data science. This surge reflects a broader trend of women breaking barriers in fields traditionally dominated by men, driven by evolving cultural attitudes, accessible online learning platforms, and inspiring industry role models.
The report, based on 17,685 enrolments on the College Vidya platform from January to August 2025, highlights a fourfold increase in women’s participation in AI and ML programs, rising from 5 per cent in 2024 to an impressive 20 per cent in 2025. This means one in every five students pursuing a Master’s in AI or ML is now a woman, a stark contrast to just one in 20 the previous year. The overall demand for AI programs has also exploded, growing by 500 per cent over the past two years, with women emerging as pivotal contributors to this technological wave.
Beyond AI and ML, women are making significant inroads in other cutting-edge fields. The report notes that women constitute 25 per cent of students in MCA Cybersecurity programs and 15 per cent of doctoral candidates in Generative AI, underscoring their growing presence across diverse deep-tech domains. This trend is particularly pronounced in regions like Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, which together account for 70 per cent of these enrolments. Notably, Tier 2 and Tier 3 towns are playing a critical role in fueling this growth, as access to online education platforms democratizes opportunities for women in smaller cities and towns.
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Rohit Gupta, Chief Operating Officer at College Vidya, emphasized the transformative impact of these developments. “These numbers reflect a profound shift in cultural attitudes, coupled with the power of online learning and the influence of industry role models. Women are not just participating but are poised to shape India’s technological future in fields like AI, cybersecurity, and robotics,” he said. The rise in flexible, high-quality online education models has been instrumental in enabling women from diverse backgrounds to pursue advanced technical degrees without geographical or logistical constraints.
This unprecedented growth signals a promising future for gender diversity in India’s tech sector. As women increasingly take leadership roles in AI, ML, and other deep-tech fields, their contributions are expected to drive innovation and inclusivity, positioning India as a global leader in technology. The report underscores the importance of continued investment in accessible education and mentorship programs to sustain this momentum and empower the next generation of women technologists.
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