Women Scientist Scheme-C (WOS-C) / WISE Internship in IPR

What is the Women Scientist Scheme-C (WOS-C)?

Women Scientist Scheme-C (WOS-C) is a component of the Women Scientists Scheme run by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Ministry of Science and Technology, under its KIRAN (Knowledge Involvement in Research Advancement through Nurturing) initiative. According to the DST, the scheme has now been evolved and rebranded as the WISE Internship in IPR (WISE-IPR) under the WISE-KIRAN division, but the objective is unchanged.

WOS-C exists to bring women scientists who have taken a career break back into mainstream science by training them in Intellectual Property Rights (IPR). Over a one-year training programme, participants learn how to create, protect and manage intellectual property; patents, designs and related rights. The programme is implemented by the Technology Information, Forecasting and Assessment Council (TIFAC) through its Patent Facilitating Centre.

The wider Women Scientists Scheme has three streams: WOS-A (research in basic and applied sciences), WOS-B (science and technology for societal benefit) and WOS-C, which is the IPR-focused stream described here. WOS-C is distinctive because it produces a specific professional skill, the ability to work as an IPR/patent professional, rather than funding open-ended research.

Who is eligible for WOS-C?

You can apply if:

• You are an Indian woman aged 25 to 45 years.
• You hold a postgraduate degree or PhD in basic or applied sciences, or a Bachelor's degree in engineering/technology, medicine or an equivalent qualification.
• You have a break in your science career and want to return to active work.

You cannot apply if:

• You are in permanent or regular employment — the scheme is only for women who are not currently in a regular job.
• You fall outside the 25-45 age band.
• You do not hold a qualifying science, engineering or medical degree.

The career-break focus is central. The scheme is not a general scholarship; it is a re-entry pathway for qualified women who stepped away from science and want a structured route back through the growing field of intellectual property.

How much stipend does WOS-C pay?

According to the Department of Science and Technology, the revised WISE-IPR stipend for the one-year training is tiered by qualification:

The stipend is paid monthly for the duration of the one-year training and stops when the programme ends. It is a training stipend, not a salary, and the programme does not lead to a permanent DST position.

What documents are required?

How to apply for WOS-C

1. Visit the TIFAC portal at tifac.org.in and open the current WISE Internship in IPR / WOS-C call for applications.
2. Create an account with your details and log in to the online application system.
3. Fill the application form with your educational qualifications, age, and career details, and declare that you are not in permanent employment.
4. Upload the required documents: degree certificates, proof of age, photograph and signature.
5. Submit the application online before the notified last date. Only one application per person is accepted, and only online submissions are considered.
6. Appear for the written examination. A two-hour, 120-question objective test with general and technical sections, conducted pan-India.
7. Attend the interview if shortlisted. Final selection is based on the examination and interview together.

Selected candidates are then placed for one year of theoretical and on-the-job IPR training at designated centres.

What can you do after WOS-C?

After completing the one-year training, participants are equipped to work as intellectual property professionals. According to the scheme description, trained women can:

• Clear the patent agent examination and set up their own IPR practice.
• Work with law firms, R&D organisations, scientific institutions and industry in patent and IPR management roles.
• Contribute to India's IP ecosystem by helping inventors and institutions protect their intellectual property.

Where to get help

• TIFAC (Technology Information, Forecasting and Assessment Council), New Delhi, implements the scheme and hosts the application portal at tifac.org.in.
• Department of Science and Technology (DST), under the WISE-KIRAN division, is the sponsoring authority; scheme notifications appear on dst.gov.in.

Applications are free and accepted only online. Because WOS-C is a competitive, examination-based programme with a limited number of seats per batch, meeting the eligibility criteria does not guarantee selection.