Who gets to learn a factory trade? India’s training figures make that a useful question.
The Breakdown
NITI Aayog’s June 2026 working paper reports women’s share of Industrial Training Institute (ITI) admissions at 12.65% overall and 5.5% in engineering trades. The figures cover cumulative 2019–24 admissions, using a March 17, 2026 dashboard snapshot.
They describe training entry, not engineering degrees or jobs. Women’s shares in fitter and motor-vehicle mechanic trades were 3.4% and 2.7%, respectively. An overall participation rate conceals these differences.
What makes a course reachable?
Maruti Suzuki’s September 21, 2026 announcement targets 30% female admissions at its Japan-India Institute for Manufacturing (JIM), Uncha Majra, Manesar, by academic year 2028–29, versus approximately 5% in 2025–26.
Eligible trainees receive full tuition support and ₹3,000 monthly during JIM training, subject to conditions, with a separate applicable on-the-job stipend. A women’s hostel is planned.
The target and hostel were prospective in the September announcement.
The workplace is another decision
In a separate April 15, 2026 update, Maruti reported over 190 women employed on its shop floor in a year. It described restrooms, changing facilities, a crèche and evening-shift security, alongside staff sensitisation.
These company-reported measures concern the working environment. The release does not track a JIM female cohort into employment, and its earlier hiring figures cannot establish results from the later admission plan.
For an applicant, the practical questions continue after admission: what work will the course prepare her for, which employers recruit, and what arrangements make staying in the job feasible? Answers would help turn a training choice into a career decision.
The Crunch
Access to training includes the choice of trade.