Manesar/New Delhi: Maruti Suzuki India Limited is aiming to increase the share of female students at its Japan-India Institute for Manufacturing (JIM) in Uncha Majra, Manesar, from about 5% in the 2025-26 academic year to 30% by 2028-29, as part of a broader effort to increase women’s participation in India’s automotive manufacturing workforce.
The company said it has introduced a 100% tuition fee waiver for women students from the current academic year and is planning a dedicated women’s hostel. It is also seeking to increase female representation among faculty and support staff to create a more inclusive learning environment.
The Uncha Majra institute offers training across nine trades, primarily focused on the automotive sector, and is increasing the induction of female students in line with employment opportunities available in the region.
Japan-India Institutes for Manufacturing are part of a collaboration between the governments of India and Japan aimed at developing a pool of skilled workers for India’s manufacturing sector.
Maruti Suzuki has established four such institutes — at Mehsana and Gandhinagar in Gujarat, and at Uncha Majra in Manesar and Sonipat in Haryana.
The company said female enrolment at the Manesar institute has grown steadily over the past two academic years, prompting it to set the 30% admission target for 2028-29.
Speaking on the academic performance of female students, Rahul Bharti, Senior Executive Officer, Corporate Affairs, Maruti Suzuki India Limited, said, “To have a 360° completeness of skills, diversity is important. With this vision, we are committed to increasing women’s participation in manufacturing. 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. We are encouraged that two female students from JIM Uncha Majra emerged as Haryana state toppers in manufacturing trades this year, demonstrating the immense potential of women in this field.”
The performance offers the company some evidence that its recruitment push is not merely about filling seats. According to Maruti Suzuki, two female students from JIM Uncha Majra were Haryana state toppers in manufacturing trades this year.
Bharti added, “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. Additionally, from this academic year, we have introduced a 100% tuition fee waiver1 for women students. We believe this initiative will encourage more young women to pursue careers in manufacturing and participate in the growth of India’s industrial workforce.”
The company said students from JIM Uncha Majra also secured leading positions across four trades in Haryana this year. In two of those trades, students from the institute occupied all three top-ranking positions.
The initiative comes as manufacturers increasingly focus on expanding the pool of skilled workers entering technically specialised roles. For Maruti Suzuki, raising female participation at the training stage could help create a larger pipeline of women equipped for careers in automotive production — an industry where changing the workforce mix may ultimately require starting well before workers reach the factory floor.
