The Karnataka government, the state hosting India’s technology hub, has unveiled a major initiative under its IT-BT Policy 2025–2030 to address the gender gap in tech leadership. The dedicated “Women in Global Tech Missions” fellowship is set to train 1,000 mid-career women professionals over the next five years. The program is specifically designed to help women navigate and overcome structural mid-career hurdles, such as breaks taken for family or personal commitments, and prepare them for senior and leadership roles in the fast-evolving technology sector.
The state government has allocated a budget of ₹46 crore (approximately $5.5 million) for this targeted fellowship. The curriculum will focus on intensive upskilling in high-demand, deep-tech domains including AI governance, advanced cybersecurity, data privacy, and tech diplomacy. A critical component of the fellowship is ensuring international exposure for participants, with a budget line explicitly earmarked to facilitate global learning modules and mentorships in partnership with international organizations and industry leaders.This initiative is a cornerstone of Karnataka’s larger strategy to reinforce its position as a globally competitive, “AI-native” destination. By focusing not just on entry-level hiring but on retaining and advancing experienced talent, the policy aims to strengthen the state’s leadership pipeline and achieve its ambitious target of increasing software exports from ₹4.09 lakh crore to ₹11.5 lakh crore by 2030. The detailed rules and framework for the fellowship are expected to be published soon.
