IIT Bombay’s Distinguished Alumnus Bharat Desai and his wife Neerja Sethi have introduced the WINGS — Women INspiring Growth in STEM Scholarship Program. The initiative has been launched to support female students pursuing STEM education and remove financial barriers that often limit access to quality higher education. The scholarship has been established in collaboration with IIT Bombay and IITBHF (IIT Bombay Heritage Foundation) and will begin from the 2026–27 academic session.
The new scholarship program reflects a strong commitment toward encouraging women to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics while studying at one of India’s premier institutions.
Key Highlights
- Scholarship Name: WINGS – Women INspiring Growth in STEM Scholarship Program
- Institution: IIT Bombay
- Supported By: Bharat Desai and Neerja Sethi
- Academic Session: 2026–27 onwards
- Target Group: Female undergraduate STEM students
- Scholarship Coverage: Tuition fee support
- Annual Benefit: ₹2 lakh per year
- Eligibility Requirement: Minimum CPI of 6.0 for continuation
- Documents Required: None at this stage
- Objective: Promote women’s participation and leadership in STEM fields
More Info
The WINGS Scholarship Program has been designed to improve educational opportunities for female students in India by making high-quality STEM education more accessible.
The initiative recognizes that financial challenges can prevent talented students from pursuing higher education. By covering tuition fees for eligible students, the scholarship seeks to empower women and help them focus on academic excellence and professional growth.
According to the program’s vision, access to a world-class education at IIT Bombay can help prepare women to become innovators, researchers, entrepreneurs, and future leaders across industries.
The scholarship is expected to contribute significantly toward increasing female participation in STEM disciplines and strengthening diversity within technical education.
Step by Step Process
Students interested in benefiting from the WINGS Scholarship Program can follow these steps:
- Secure admission to an undergraduate STEM program at IIT Bombay for the 2026–27 session.
- Ensure that no other government tuition grant or scholarship is being availed.
- Verify eligibility requirements announced by IIT Bombay.
- Maintain satisfactory academic performance during the course.
- Achieve and maintain a CPI of 6.0 or higher for continued scholarship support.
- Follow future instructions issued by IIT Bombay regarding scholarship implementation.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must satisfy the following conditions:
- Must be a female student.
- Must plan to pursue an undergraduate STEM course at IIT Bombay during the 2026–27 academic session.
- Must not be receiving any other government tuition grant or scholarship.
- Must maintain a CPI of 6.0 or above to continue receiving scholarship support.
Scholarship Benefits
The WINGS Scholarship offers substantial financial assistance to eligible students.
- Tuition fee coverage of ₹2 lakh per annum.
- Reduced financial burden on students and families.
- Encouragement for women to pursue STEM education.
- Opportunity to study at IIT Bombay with enhanced financial support.
- Long-term support linked to academic performance.
Programme Objective
The program aims to:
- Increase female participation in STEM education.
- Remove financial obstacles for deserving students.
- Support academic excellence among women scholars.
- Create future leaders in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
- Promote gender diversity in higher education and research.
Documents Required
Currently, no documents are required at this stage. Further details may be announced by IIT Bombay as the scholarship implementation process progresses.
What’s Next
Students aspiring to join IIT Bombay in the 2026–27 academic session should focus on securing admission to eligible undergraduate STEM programs.
Since the scholarship begins from the 2026–27 academic year, interested candidates should regularly check official announcements from IIT Bombay and IITBHF regarding scholarship procedures, implementation guidelines, and any future application requirements.
Maintaining strong academic performance will also be important, as continued scholarship support depends on achieving a minimum CPI of 6.0.
Quick Reference Summary
- Scholarship: WINGS – Women INspiring Growth in STEM
- Launched By: Bharat Desai and Neerja Sethi
- Institution: IIT Bombay
- Academic Year: 2026–27 onwards
- Beneficiaries: Female undergraduate STEM students
- Annual Financial Support: ₹2 lakh
- Covers: Tuition fees
- Other Government Scholarship Allowed: No
- Continuation Requirement: CPI 6.0 or higher
- Documents Required: None currently
Frequently Asked Questions
| What is the WINGS Scholarship Program? |
| WINGS stands for Women INspiring Growth in STEM Scholarship Program. It has been launched to support female students pursuing undergraduate STEM education at IIT Bombay. |
| Who launched the WINGS Scholarship? |
| The scholarship initiative was launched by IIT Bombay Distinguished Alumnus Bharat Desai and his wife Neerja Sethi in collaboration with IIT Bombay and IITBHF. |
| Who can apply for the scholarship? |
| Female students planning to pursue an undergraduate STEM course at IIT Bombay during the 2026–27 academic session are eligible, subject to other conditions. |
| What financial support does the scholarship provide? |
| The scholarship covers tuition fees worth ₹2 lakh per annum for eligible female students enrolled in undergraduate STEM programs. |
| Can students receiving another government scholarship avail WINGS? |
| No. Students already receiving any other government tuition grant or scholarship are not eligible for the WINGS Scholarship Program. |
| What academic performance is required for continuation? |
| Students must maintain a CPI of 6.0 or higher throughout their studies to continue receiving scholarship benefits. |
| Are any documents required currently? |
| No. The scholarship announcement states that no documents are required at this stage. Additional requirements may be announced later. |
| When will the scholarship start? |
| The WINGS Scholarship Program will begin from the 2026–27 academic year for eligible female undergraduate STEM students at IIT Bombay. |
The WINGS Scholarship Program marks an important step toward empowering women in STEM education in India. By covering tuition expenses for eligible female students at IIT Bombay, the initiative aims to remove financial barriers and encourage greater participation of women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. With support from Bharat Desai, Neerja Sethi, IIT Bombay, and IITBHF, the scholarship is expected to create meaningful opportunities for future generations of women leaders and innovators, for more details and apply CLICK HERE
