On International Women’s Day 2025, institutions launch scholarships, most for STEM

NEW DELHI: The world will celebrate International Women’s Day 2025 today, March 8, 2025, to praise the achievements of females around the globe and raise awareness about gender equality.

The first-ever women’s day was celebrated in 1911. History says Vladimir Lenin declared March 8 as International Women's Day in 1922 to honour their role in the 1917 Russian Revolution. The theme for this year's International Women's Day is “Accelerate Action”, according to the official website of IWD.

“Focusing on the need to accelerate action emphasizes the importance of taking swift and decisive steps to achieve gender equality. It calls for increased momentum and urgency in addressing the systemic barriers and biases that women face, both in personal and professional spheres. So, together, let's Accelerate Action to speed up the rate of progress worldwide,” says the IWD foundation.

While the higher educational institutions make efforts to encourage women in education throughout the year, let’s take a look at some scholarships and thoughts especially developed for this International Women’s Day.

International Women’s Day 2025: Scholarships

FinTram Global

FinTram Global has announced scholarships worth Rs 1.5 crore for 150 women aspirants under ‘FinTram Cares’ initiative, aiming to provide ease of access to globally recognised professional qualifications, including US CPA, ACCA, US CMA, EA, CFP® and IFRS to enhance their employability in the global job market.

Female graduates or students with over 60% marks in Class 12 or first division in graduation. Students will be required to pass the FinTram National Scholarship Test scheduled for April 5, 2025. The last date to apply for the scholarship is March 31, 2025.

Vignan Online

Vignan Online, the online learning platform of Vignan's Foundation for Science, Technology and Research (deemed-to-be university) has announced a 15% scholarship on all degree programmes from March 5 to 11. The platform is running a campaign, #ChooseYou, encouraging women to focus on their personal and professional growth by investing in education.

Vivo India

Vivo India has launched ‘vivo KanyaGyaan’, an initiative to empower young women from marginalised communities to pursue careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). Beyond scholarships, the programme provides mentorship, skill development, and industry exposure. Besides, Vivo has also launched a digital campaign that highlights the need for gender diversity in STEM, showcasing stories of young women overcoming challenges to achieve their dreams.

Over 150 women, with over 60% coming from families earning less than Rs 1 lakh annually and 15% being raised by single parents, are already benefiting from the programme. 56% of the beneficiaries have come first-generation graduates, the company said.

Prodigy Finance and ESADE Business School

Student loan provider Prodigy Finance and ESADE Business School are launching a scholarship of 8,000 Dollars for women attending ESADE graduate programmes from Prodigy Finance-supported regions worldwide. The scholarship will be awarded to one student. It is open to women starting their studies in Fall 2025, who must be from a Prodigy-supported region and attending a Prodigy-supported school.

The registration will open on March 14, and the last date to apply is April 14, followed by a review period from April 15 to May 1, 2025. The winner will be announced on May 2, 2025. Applicants must complete the scholarship application within the specified timeframe and submit essay responses that assess their merit and need.

Amrita Online

Amrita Online, the online learning division of Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, will once again offer a 20% scholarship on first-semester fees for all female students enrolling in its UGC-entitled online degree programmes. The scholarship programme will be available until March 28, 2025 for women across India.

Ashoka University

In partnership with Ashoka University, ESET has launched the 2025 ESET Women in Cybersecurity scholarship in India, to support students in cybersecurity or STEM-related fields. Under the scholarship, a one-time 5,000 US Dollars financial grant will be given to one outstanding female student enrolled in the computer science programme at Ashoka University. Eligible candidates will be assessed based on their academic excellence, leadership potential, community involvement, and a demonstrated commitment to advancing cybersecurity.

Eligible students can apply for the scholarship between March 8 and April 25.

International Women’s Day 2025: Quotes

Geetaj Channana, Head of Corporate Strategy, vivo India said, "At vivo India, we firmly believe that talent should never be constrained by financial or societal limitations. True progress is achieved when opportunities are equitable and accessible to all. Through our initiative, vivo KanyaGyaan, we are committed to empowering young Indian women to pursue careers in STEM. It aligns with this year’s International Women’s Day theme, ‘Accelerate Action,’ reinforcing our commitment to fostering a supportive environment where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.

“As a responsible brand, we recognize the power of investing in young talent—not just to shape individual careers, but to uplift entire communities. By fostering the next generation of women in STEM, we hope to create a ripple effect of empowerment, inspiring many more to follow,” he added.

Safeena Husain, founder of Educate Girls, said, “Education is the most powerful and transformative force. Yet, millions of girls in India do not complete school. When girls are educated, they gain agency, marry later, earn more, and reinvest in their families, creating a ripple effect that transforms them and uplifts entire communities and countries. With close to 100 million girls in India falling into the NEET category – neither in education, employment, nor training – we must raise the stakes. Education is every girl's right, and we must empower her to shape her own future. This International Women's Day, let's celebrate progress but also accelerate it.”