JIM Uncha Majra targets 30% women enrolment by 2028-29

The Japan-India Institute for Manufacturing (JIM) at Uncha Majra in Manesar is aiming to increase female enrolment from around 5% in the 2025-26 academic year to 30% by 2028-29, with new financial and campus support planned to encourage more women to pursue manufacturing training.

Maruti Suzuki, which operates the Uncha Majra institute, has introduced a 100% tuition fee waiver for eligible women students from the current academic year. Under the scheme, eligible students will also receive monthly stipend support of Rs 3,000 during their training at JIM, subject to the applicable conditions.

The company also plans to establish a dedicated hostel for women at the campus and increase the representation of women in faculty and support functions.

JIM Uncha Majra offers training in nine trades, primarily linked to the automotive manufacturing sector. The institute is part of the Japan-India Institutes for Manufacturing programme, a collaborative skill-development initiative of the governments of India and Japan.

The JIM programme follows the Dual System of Training, combining classroom instruction with industry exposure. According to Maruti Suzuki, students undergo seven months of paid industry training each year.

The institutes are affiliated with India's National Council for Vocational Training and accredited by Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.

The push to increase female participation comes after two women students from JIM Uncha Majra emerged as Haryana state toppers in manufacturing trades this year, according to Maruti Suzuki.

The institute also had top-ranking students across four trades, with students from JIM securing all three top positions in two of those trades.

Maruti Suzuki currently operates four Japan-India Institutes for Manufacturing in India. These are located at Mehsana and Gandhinagar in Gujarat, and Uncha Majra in Manesar and Sonipat in Haryana.

The Uncha Majra institute is seeking to increase women's participation in line with employment opportunities in the surrounding manufacturing sector. The target is for women to account for 30% of total admissions by the 2028-29 academic year.