Maruti Suzuki India plans to raise female student intake at its Japan-India Institute for Manufacturing (JIM) at Uncha Majra, Manesar, to 30% by the 2028-29 academic year, from about 9% currently.
The automaker said it wants to build a larger pipeline of women trained for jobs in India’s manufacturing sector, and has introduced support measures from the current academic year. These include a fee waiver for female students, a monthly stipend of ₹3,000 for eligible female trainees during institute-based training, a planned dedicated women’s hostel on campus, and greater female representation across faculty and operational support staff, according to Autocar Professional.
“To increase female enrolment, we are adopting a holistic approach that focuses on creating a supportive and inclusive learning environment. This includes providing a dedicated women’s hostel and increasing women’s representation across faculty and support functions,” said Rahul Bharti, senior executive officer, corporate affairs, Maruti Suzuki India.
Bharti also flagged an awareness gap. “While talented women are present across the country, many remain unaware of the opportunities available in the manufacturing sector or have not considered it as a career choice,” he said.
The JIM Uncha Majra, Manesar campus offers courses across nine trades, primarily focused on the automotive sector, and is inducting female students in line with regional employment opportunities. The Japan-India Institutes for Manufacturing are a joint initiative of the governments of India and Japan to develop a skilled workforce for Indian manufacturing.
Maruti Suzuki supports four JIMs nationally, located at Mehsana and Gandhinagar in Gujarat and at Manesar and Sonipat in Haryana. The 30% target places a concrete number on women’s participation in a shop-floor pipeline where female representation has historically stayed in single digits, and it lands as automakers and component suppliers widen recruitment from girls’ ITIs and polytechnics.
