India has submitted to UNESCO in Paris the nomination dossier of Meghalaya's living root bridges for consideration to include in the World Heritage list 2026-27, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said on Thursday, January 29. The dossier was handed over by India's Ambassador Vishal V Sharma to UNESCO's World Heritage Centre Director Lazare Assomo Eloundou, a statement said. "We are hopeful that the living root bridges will be inscribed this year, ensuring that the indigenous communities, the true guardians of this living heritage, receive the global recognition they so richly deserve," Sangma said on X. While submitting the dossier, Sharma, the Permanent Representative to UNESCO, thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and the Meghalaya CM for their support to the nomination, the Permanent Delegation of India to UNESCO said in a statement. Sharma also acknowledged the role of Meghalaya Principal Secretary Frederick Kharkongor, officers of the Archaeological Survey of India, the Ministry of External Affairs, experts and the local communities in safeguarding the property and preparing the nomination. Located across the southern slopes of the Khasi and Jaintia Hills of the northeastern state, the nominated property represents a living cultural landscape shaped over centuries by indigenous Khasi and Jaintia communities. "The landscape reflects a deep-rooted and harmonious relationship between people, nature and spirituality, embodied in traditional systems of land use, governance and ecological stewardship," the statement said. The indigenous worldview underpinning the cultural landscape is anchored in principles of respect, reciprocity and responsibility towards Mei Ramew (Mother Earth), it said. "The submission of this nomination underscores India's commitment to recognising and preserving living cultural traditions and indigenous knowledge systems, and to advancing global heritage conservation efforts through UNESCO," the statement added.
29 January,2026 12:00 PM IST | Shillong | PTIThe four-day 'Maha Jathara' of tribal goddesses Sammakka and Saralamma, dubbed as one of the largest Adivasi spiritual congregations in the world, got underway at Medaram in this district. An estimated three crore devotees are expected to attend the biennial 'Maha Jathara' this year, official sources said. The tribal priests installed deities Saralamma, Govindaraju and Pagididdaraju at the 'gaddelu' (altars) on Wednesday night as per traditions. Goddess Sammakka would be installed at the altar on January 29. The devotees took holy bath in the rivulet Jampanna Vagu at Medaram. They performed worship by making idols of deities with sand collected in the rivulet. A devotional atmosphere pervaded the 'Maha Jathara' site as some women devotees were "possessed" by the goddesses. The devotees carried jaggery for offering to the deities. Observing that the number of devotees visiting the Maha Jathara has increased substantially over the years, state Panchayat Raj Minister D Anasuya Seethakka said about 20 lakh people are estimated to have visited Medaram during the last several days. Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram would visit the Maha Jathara on January 29. Telangana Tribal Welfare Minister Adluri Lakshman Kumar had told the Union Minister about the event's signficance and invited him to attend it, a state government release said. Elaborate arrangements have been made for the 'Maha Jathara' that began about six months ago. Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on January 19 inaugurated the renovated shrine of goddesses Sammakka and Saralamma. The state government reconstructed the altar of the tribal deities Sammakka, Saralamma, Govindaraju and Pagididda Raju, spending about Rs 101 crore. It undertook development works with Rs 150 crore for the convenience of devotees visiting the 'Maha Jathara' 2026. As many as 21 government departments and about 42,000 personnel are involved in organising the festival, including arrival and departure of devotees, provision of basic facilities, security, cleanliness and medical facilities. The government has also organised medical camps, ambulances and bike ambulances to attend to medical emergencies during the festival. Making use of digital technology, the state government has launched an official website, a mobile application and a Whatsapp chatbot for the convenience of devotees. As part of safety and security arrangements, the government installed a safety module in the app which include sending an SOS alert in emergencies and registration of complaints. The government has also made plans to avoid use of plastic in the festival and to adopt eco-friendly measures. The 'Maha Jathara' is celebrated in Medaram during the time the goddesses of the tribals is believed to visit them. Medaram is a remote place in the Eturnagaram Wildlife Sanctuary, a part of Dandakaranya, the largest surviving forest belt in Mulugu. The 'Jathara' commemorates the revolt led by the mother-daughter duo of Sammakka and Saralamma against imposition of taxes on the tribal populace during a period of drought by the Kakatiya rulers in the 12th century. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
29 January,2026 11:49 AM IST | Mulugu (Telangana) | PTIIn what can be described as one of the most politically-charged tracks of his career, singer-songwriter and guitarist Bruce Springsteen has released a surprise protest song titled 'Streets of Minneapolis'. Taking to his Instagram handle, Bruce Springsteen shared his thoughts about the song, explaining that he intends to respond to the "state terror" in Minneapolis and killings of two American citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti. "I wrote this song on Saturday, recorded it yesterday and released it to you today in response to the state terror being visited on the city of Minneapolis. It's dedicated to the people of Minneapolis, our innocent immigrant neighbors and in memory of Alex Pretti and Renee Good. Stay free, Bruce Springsteen," the singer wrote. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Bruce Springsteen (@springsteen) The song opens with a full-band arrangement, followed by sing-along moments as the lyrics play out, "Through the winter's ice and cold/ Down Nicollet Avenue/ A city aflame fought fire and ice/ 'Neath an occupier's boots/ King Trump's private army from the DHS/ Guns belted to their coats/ Came to Minneapolis to enforce the law/ Or so their story goes." In a tribute to the citizens of Minneapolis, he continued, "Against smoke and rubber bullets/ By the dawn's early light/ Citizens stood for justice/ Their voices ringing through the night. And there were bloody footprints/ Where mercy should have stood/ And two dead left to die on snow-filled streets/ Alex Pretti and Renee Good." Bruce Springsteen is the latest to join in the growing list of celebrities, who have called out the ICE's actions in Minneapolis, including the likes of Billie Eilish, Jimmy Kimmel, Dave Matthews, Olivia Rodrigo, and Stephen Colbert. The developments come in the wake of the deaths of two US citizens during immigration enforcement operations. Renee Good, 37, a mother of three, was shot on January 7 during protests against the administration's militarised raids. On January 24, Pretti was killed at point-blank range after being restrained by federal officers. Notably, this is not the first time that the singer, nicknamed "the Boss" has responded to the tenor of the times. His other credits include 2001's 'American Skin (41 Shots) over the 1999 NYPD killing of unarmed Amadou Diallo, anti-Vietnam War anthem 'Born in the USA', and 'Streets of Philadelphia' on AIDS crisis, among others, as per Billboard. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
29 January,2026 11:19 AM IST | Los Angeles | ANIMulti-platinum, Grammy-nominated, French DJ and producer DJ Snake has cancelled his six-city India tour in February because he is "battling a health issue", according to a statement he released to fans. Known for 'Leon On' among other hits, William Sami Etienne Grigahcine, is who known by his stage name around the world, was set to perform in India as part of a Sunburn Arena tour from February 6 in Kolkata, followed by February 7 in Hyderabad, and February 8 in Bengaluru, before he travelled to perform in Pune, Mumbai and Delhi on February 13, 14 and 15 respectively. In a statement on his social media, DJ Snake stated, "Hey guys, I've been battling a health issue for a while, and it's finally caught up with me. After talking with my doctors, I need to have surgery in early February. it's something I can't push or delay anymore, and I'll need a month to fully rest and recover after that.This means canceling all my shows, including the India tour and that decision has been incredibly hard. But I need to get back to 100% and this is the only way. Thank you for your love & understanding. I'll be back soon, stronger than before. William." Reacting to his post among other friends and fans, world-renowned DJ Calvin Harris offered him a speedy recovery, saying, "Take care of yourself" While DJ Snake's tour was initially scheduled to happen in September and October 2025, it was later rescheduled to February 2026, amid a busy music concert season in India. After his last performance in India in 2022, the music producer was supposed to come to the country for the third time, but fans will now have to wait to hear him play some of his biggest hits. It is even more exciting because he released his third studio album 'Nomad' in November 2025, and fans will get to hear a lot of new music.With that being said, we can't wait for him to be healthy again, and get back to creating music. View this post on Instagram A post shared by djsnake (@djsnake)
27 January,2026 11:12 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentTwo artifacts found at a lake shore in Greece are the oldest wooden tools to be uncovered so far and date back 430,000 years. One is a spindly stick about 2 1/2 feet long that could have been used for digging in the mud. The other is a smaller, more mysterious handheld chunk of willow or poplar wood that may have been used to shape stone tools, according to research published Monday in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Scientists think ancient humans wielded a whole litany of tools made from stone, bone and wood. But it's particularly difficult to find evidence of wooden tools today because wood rots so quickly. Such tools are only preserved in specific environments like in ice, caves or underwater. The newest tools, found in Greece's Megalopolis basin, were possibly buried quickly by sediment and preserved by a wet environment over time. For years, researchers have found other remnants at the site, including stone tools and elephant bones with cuts on them. While scientists didn't directly date the wooden tools, the site is about 430,000 years old, which provides insight into the objects' age. "I've always just been thrilled to be able to touch these objects," said study author Annemieke Milks with the University of Reading. Human remains haven't been found at the site yet, so it's not yet clear who used the tools. The owners could have been Neanderthals, early human ancestors or someone else. The site in Greece probably has more gems from the past that are waiting to be found, said archaeologist Jarod Hutson with the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. But the unassuming appearance of these two new tools makes them harder to interpret. "It's difficult to get excited about these because they don't strike you immediately as wooden tools. And we don't know what they were used for," said Hutson, who was not involved with the new study. Other examples of ancient wooden tools include a set of spears from Germany and 300,000-year-old Chinese digging sticks that may have been used to harvest plants. The new find offers a rare look into the varied collection of tools used to survive - a glimpse at a "little known aspect of the technology of early humans," study author Katerina Harvati with the University of Tubingen said in an email. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
27 January,2026 09:53 AM IST | Athens | APAmerican rock band Linkin Park made their debut in India with a mind-blowing performance in Bengaluru earlier this week. They were initially scheduled to play at Lollapalooza India 2026 in Mumbai, and that show, too, proved unforgettable for many fans, including this writer, who was first introduced to them not through their most popular songs, but ‘Leave Out All The Rest’ on Vh1. The bond, like that of many other fans, was so strong that when Chester Bennington passed away 10 years ago, they spent over three hours listening to the band’s music under the moonlight with a friend. So, when a new show was added due to popular demand, many fans went all out and attended both performances. From Mumbai to Bengaluru, with love Die-hard fans like Alisha Patel and her husband Neil Lopez are one such Mumbai-based couple. "We booked tickets for Lollapalooza even before the lineup was announced because there were strong rumours that Linkin Park was coming, and both of us are huge fans of the band," shares Alisha. When the second show was announced, the 34-year-old adds, "Each of our siblings Natasha and Allister wanted to go, and we jumped at the opportunity to go see them twice!" Understandably, this meant not only spending on the Lollapalooza tickets but also for the Bengaluru show. "We bought VIP tickets for Lolla and Fan Pit tickets for the Bengaluru show. Including flights, hotel, and food and beverages, we spent Rs 1.2 lakh for the two of us over those days," shares the Andheri-based publicist. The Mumbaikar attributes this not only to their fandom but also to the excitement of seeing the band twice, even if it meant catching flights and travelling through a packed weekend amid a busy schedule. So, how long have they been listening to Linkin Park? "We've been listening to Linkin Park for as long as I can remember,” says Alisha. Neil chimes in, "It was probably around the time they came out with their first album, 'Hybrid Theory'. 'In the End' was an instant hit." Agreeing with him, Alisha adds, "It's one of the songs we are most looking forward to hearing. Ever since Emily Armstrong joined the band, The Emptiness Machine has also become a song we play on loop. It’s been quite a journey with them." She continues, "It's definitely going to be worth it. In the end, how many people can say they’ve seen Linkin Park perform live twice in the same week?" "Even if they had a third show, I'd go for it" Alisha and Neil are not the only die-hard fans. Elsewhere in Mumbai, Tarundeep Singh Wadhera has been riding an emotional rollercoaster ever since the shows were announced. As soon as the tickets went live, he didn’t think twice. "Luckily, I got early bird tickets for both the shows, so I saved some money there. But if you include flights, hotels, local travel, food, and of course some drinks, I’d say I’m spending a good amount overall. Honestly, I didn’t even calculate it properly — I’m just going all in for Linkin Park. This is a once-in-a-lifetime thing for me, so totally worth it." Tarundeep is among many fans, but fandom has its own unique tune that is felt differently by each person. Hailing from Karnal, Haryana, and now based in Mumbai, he says, ‘I’ve been following Linkin Park since I was 10 and have attended countless rock concerts, always hoping the band would come to India.” Every show he attended made him think, “If this is so good, imagine how insane a Linkin Park concert would be.” A childhood dream, he didn’t want to miss a single chance when it finally happened. “That’s why I booked both Bengaluru and Mumbai,” says the 33-year-old graphic designer, adding, “Honestly, if there was a third show in India, I’d go for that too.” Tarundeep has come a long way since he started listening to Linkin Park in the early 2000s. "Back when the Internet in India was super slow (like 2–3 kbps), I used to search for Dragon Ball Z music videos and found some edits with Linkin Park songs. It was a perfect match, and that’s how it all started. I was around 10–12 years old,” he said. Later, he started discovering the band properly and even downloaded their live shows. "It used to take five to six hours to download a single video. I didn’t care, I was just enjoying their music and screaming along. As I grew older, I started understanding their lyrics more deeply, and that’s when the music really touched my heart. That’s when I truly fell in love with the band. It’s also why he says it is honestly very hard for him to choose favourite songs, because he’s deeply connected to every single Linkin Park track. He reminisces, "I tried to scream like Chester, rap like Mike, and even imagined playing drums like Rob. Even today, when I listen to their songs, I still dream about attending their concerts — thinking, if they play this song, I’ll jump, I’ll dance, I’ll scream like crazy.” A dream come true, he has now attended shows not only in Bengaluru but also in Mumbai. "When they did their first comeback show in 2024 and Mike came on stage and said, ‘It’s good to be back,’ that moment honestly made me very emotional. It felt like a part of my childhood came back to life." One that had also witnessed the death of lead vocalist Chester Bennington, which affected him deeply and changed the way he listened to their songs. "I’ve already told my friends to keep an eye on me and take care of me, because I honestly don’t know how I’m going to react during the show. I don’t even know how I’ll feel when they start performing. I may scream like hell, I may cry like a baby — I really don’t know. All I know is that it’s going to be a rollercoaster of emotions for me." Need for more shows While Mumbaikars and Bengaluru fans are slightly privileged when it comes to hosting concerts, it may not be the same for the rest of India. Elsewhere, Vidya Ram hoped they would play in north India, but unfortunately, only two shows were scheduled, even though Delhi, Hyderabad, and Kolkata have hosted many concerts over the years. "They should have had a show here because they have a decent fan following, considering Linkin Park was one of the first exposures to commercial English music for many kids back then," explains the baker, who has been listening to them for 16 years. You can hear the yearning in her voice, as the American band — created in 1996 in the US — has been very special for her. "I started listening to them as a teenager. I kind of used their music to channel my angst, and it really helped in that sense." With Papercut and Castle of Glass among her favourite songs, Vidya is excited about the new version of the band after they reunited in 2024, especially with Emily Armstrong. "Apart from her association with Danny Masterson, I feel she’s a decent addition to the band. However, you can never look at her as a replacement for Chester. I don’t think we’ll ever find someone as talented as Chester. I feel Armstrong has handled the comparison with grace and still has the potential to make her own place in the band." After her performance in Bengaluru on January 23 and last night, that certainly seems true, as this writer met many other fans from Bengaluru who attended both shows, as well as fans from Kochi and even Kolkata who travelled to Mumbai and sang along to many songs, including The Emptiness Machine.
26 January,2026 04:08 PM IST | Mumbai | Nascimento PintoWitnessing Linkin Park live is a dream, even more so if you are an Indian fan, who has listened to them throughout our childhood and teens going well into adulthood. Making their debut in India earlier this week in Bengaluru, and in Mumbai at Lollapalooza last night, the fandom took a whole new level. After performing some of their biggest hits, the American rock band's co-founder Mike Shinoda stepped off the stage to interact with fans, and spoke to one die-hard fan who revealed he and his wife had skipped their honeymoon to witness Linkin Park live. In a kind gesture for the couple, he gave them his cap, as a reward for their fandom, but joked that they would have to share it, making their dream come true for life. Their performance was even more special for millennials, who had been wearing Linkin Park T-shirts from the first day of Lollapalooza, and wore it on the second day too, and even camped at the stage since late afternoon braving the sweltering heat. Linkin Park started their set with 'Somewhere I Belong' and followed it up with 'Crawling' before playing 'The Emptiness Machine' among others, and finally ended their Lollapalooza India 2026, which is produced and promoted by BookMyShow Live, with 'In The End'.
26 January,2026 01:50 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentIf the first day saw the likes of Yungblud and Playboi Carti end the night, the second and final day of Lollapalooza India 2026 saw a line-up that spanned rock legacy, global pop, underground bass and the best of India’s independent scene come to the fore with some outstanding performances. Headlining the night were the legendary Linkin Park, making their first appearance at Lollapalooza India and their much-awaited Mumbai performance. The band commanded the main stage with a career-defining set weaving through songs such as’ Numb’, ‘In The End’, ‘Crawling’, ‘Faint’, alongside newer material ‘The Emptiness Machine’, ‘Heavy Is The Crown’ among others. The arena transformed into a single chorus as tens of thousands sang back every line, creating the most powerful crowd moment of the weekend. Mike Shinoda said, “Thank you so much for supporting the band over the years, especially the new music. And thank you for patiently waiting for us and consistentantly asking for us to be here!” R&B star Kehlani brought effortless soul with ‘Nights Like This’, while pop favourites LANY filled the air with ‘Malibu Nights’. UK bass phenomenon Sammy Virji turned the stage into a non-stop dance floor with ‘Daga Da’ and Calum Scott delivered emotive singalongs ‘You Are The Reason’. Global collective Nubiyan Twist and electronic duo BUNT. added their distinctive grooves with ‘Lights Out’ and ‘Clouds’ respectively. Indian artists once again stood shoulder to shoulder with international names. Folk-metal trailblazers Bloodywood unleashed a fierce set featuring ‘Bekauf’, ‘Danadan’, ‘Halla Bol’ receiving one of the loudest responses of the day. Fusion pioneer Karsh Kale stitched together tradition and electronica with ‘Train Song’ while OAFF x Savera drew a massive crowd with ‘Doobey’. Performances from MXRCI, Sen, Gini, Pacifist, Zokova, Excise Dept, Rudy Mukta and Trance Effect ensured the homegrown narrative remained central till the final hour. Speaking about Lollapalooza India 2026, Naman Pugalia, chief business officer - Live Events, with the online ticket platform, shared, “As we wrap the fourth edition of Lollapalooza India, it’s clear that the festival has grown into something far bigger than its debut promise. With every year, it has evolved in scale, ambition and cultural relevance and 2026 marks a defining moment in that journey. Lollapalooza India 2026 has shown just how far the live ecosystem in the country has come, delivering a truly rounded cultural experience where music, art, food and community spoke the same language. Seeing Indian artists command the same energy as global headliners and watching fans meaningfully engage with initiatives like the Food Park and #LollaForChange, reinforces our belief that India is ready for festivals built to global standards, with a distinctly local soul.” With over 20 hours of music across four stages, Lollapalooza India 2026 signed off in a month that has already seen some of the biggest artists performing not only in Mumbai but also India, and clearly showcasing everything in store for 2026.
26 January,2026 12:14 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentA day after his high-voltage performance during his Lollapalooza India debut, Yungblud made sure to thank all his Indian fans. The British musician enthralled the Mumbai crowd with his high-energy performance on Day 1 of Lollapalooza India. Hours after the performance, Yungblud took to his Instagram account to share a series of pictures and videos from his Mumbai show. Along with the post, he also added a caption in which he mentioned the night as one of the greatest of his life and promised Indian fans he would see them next year. "70,000 in Mumbai I want to stay here forever. Rock n roll is alive in India and I'm in love with it. Thank you for one of the greatest nights of my life! See you next year!!!," he wrote. View this post on Instagram A post shared by YUNGBLUD (@yungblud) In the videos that are now going viral on the internet, he can be seen looking visibly moved by the crowd's response. The videos also show him hugging fans, jumping into the crowd, and connecting closely with people in the front rows. Many fans on social media shared how special it felt to see an international rock artist so open and overwhelmed by the energy in India. The singer-musician also paid tribute to rock legend Ozzy Osbourne during his set. Day 1 of Lollapalooza India featured many strong performances across stages. Electronic artist Knock2 brought heavy beats and high energy. Synthwave band The Midnight took fans back in time with songs like Sunset and Los Angeles. Canadian band Mother Mother had the crowd singing loudly to Hayloft.
26 January,2026 11:38 AM IST | Mumbai | ANILollapalooza India 2026 roared to life at Mahalaxmi Racecourse today as Day 1 unfolded into a bold celebration of sound, community and culture, drawing tens of thousands of fans into a world where genres blurred and the energy never dipped. Hip-hop maverick Playboi Carti led the charge with his first major India appearance, joined by the Opium collective Destroy Lonely and Homixide Gang. Their set tore through ‘FE!N!’, ‘Pop Out’ ‘Timeless’ and the explosive ‘If Looks Could Kill’ as the crowd turned the main stage into a moving sea. British disruptor YUNGBLUD followed with a fearless performance built on ‘Zombie’ and ‘Hello Heaven’, while Japanese star Fujii Kaze delivered a poignant, piano-driven moment with ‘Shinunoga E-Wa’, that became one of the day’s emotional peaks. Electronic powerhouse Knock2 unleashed festival edits of ‘Dashstar’, synth favourites The Midnight wrapped the evening in neon nostalgia with ‘Sunset’ and ‘Los Angeles’ and Canadian icons Mother Mother sparked mass singalongs to ‘Hayloft’. UK acts Hamdi and Hot Milk added punch with ‘Push’ and ‘Breathing underwater’ respectively. Indian artists owned the stages with Ankur Tewari & The Ghalat Family performing ‘Gehraiyaan’, MU540 firing up the dance arena with ‘USD, e USD’ and Gauley Bhai winning hearts with ‘Sanglanga Dooby’. Sets from Zoya, Pho, Still in Therapy, Nate08, Rounak Maiti, Sijya and Sunflower Tape Machine kept discovery at the centre of the experience. The Lolla Food Park steals the show, featuring over 70 food brands across stalls, carts and trucks. Fans flocked to specially curated Lolla India Dishes including Bheja Roll by Bademiya, Strawberries and Cream by Bachelors, Lolla Lava Noodles by Bang Bang Noodles and Pushpa Pizza by Bad Boy Pizza, turning meal breaks into headline moments of their own. The festival, co-produced and promtoed by BookMyShow Live for the festival’s Indian edition along with global producers, Perry Farrell and C3 Presents also showcased a design marvel. From the towering Lollapalooza Inflatable and Perry Farrell’s iconic Shaman to the kinetic Lolla Garden and Lolla Buddies photo stops, the venue transformed into an art playground. The Alternative Stage stood out as a creative landmark. The merchandise zone buzzed all day with fans picking up lineup tees, raglan fits, hoodies, jerseys, bucket hats and picnic mats inspired by the collection theme of aliens, freaks and dreamers. Sustainability and inclusivity shaped the day with waste management, EV vehicles for internal movement, PWD viewing decks, trained accessibility teams and Tag Your Kid safety support. Metro, train and Cityflo connectivity kept travel seamless. As night fell, the city carried one conversation, if this was the opening chapter, Day 2 would be historic with Linkin Park’s debut performance in Mumbai setting the bar.
25 January,2026 01:10 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentEven though India has outpaced many developed countries in terms of gender equality in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education, the lesser participation of women in the workforce remains a concern, according to a report. The report by EY India highlighted progressive policies and industry interventions that led to the advancement of women in STEM fields. However, it also highlighted systemic challenges that continue to affect higher numbers in the workforce, especially in leadership positions. It called for multifaceted efforts to bridge the gender gap. Citing education as the cornerstone for women’s rise in STEM education, the report mentioned the vital role of government initiatives such as Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao, Vigyan Jyoti, and the Pragati Scholarship in increasing female enrollment in STEM education. “India’s National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 has further emphasised skill-based learning and inclusivity, laying the groundwork for a more diverse and competitive workforce. Several corporates have also supported female enrollment in STEM courses through earmarked scholarships under their CSR programmes to encourage more women to pursue STEM courses,” Aashish Kasad, Partner and India Region Diversity and Inclusiveness Business Sponsor, EY India. “As a result, India now exceeds global averages in female STEM graduates. However, there remains a stark gap between education and employment, with many women not transitioning into STEM careers,” she added. Kasad attributed the STEM gap to “unconscious bias and workplace culture, where women in STEM face unequal pay and limited leadership opportunities; work-life balance pressures, lack of mentorship and networking, and restricted access to crucial career progression support”. The report cited the 2024 LinkedIn dataset, where women represented 41.2 per cent of the overall workforce, with sectors such as retail/e-commerce, healthcare, pharma, and IT, leading the way in hiring STEM-qualified women. It pointed to a positive momentum toward bridging gender disparities in these industries. The report noted that many corporate-led initiatives are now providing resources offering career support and mentorship programmes, helping women navigate challenges in STEM careers and achieve professional goals. “Addressing gender diversity in STEM can unlock immense potential for innovation and economic growth for the country,” said Kasad. She added that fostering an inclusive environment, encouraging mentorship, and challenging societal stereotypes can be crucial to boost the share of women in STEM careers in India. Kasad called for “continued efforts in policymaking, corporate leadership, and societal transformation” to help shape the future of STEM careers for women. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
25 January,2026 07:53 AM IST | New Delhi | IANSADVERTISEMENT
