India is seeing more girls and women joining STEM education, with 43% enrolment in higher education according to the All India Survey on Higher Education 2021-22. In states like Gujarat, more women are choosing traditionally male-dominated fields like mechanical and civil engineering. But only 18.6% of the total STEM research workforce in 2021 were women, shows the Research and Development Statistics Report 2023. Programs like the Department of Science and Technology’s Project GATI and WISE-KIRAN aim to help women stay and grow in science careers. They support women taking career breaks to return to research. However, many scientific workplaces expect scientists to be always available and mobile, ignoring the heavy care responsibilities women often have. This creates invisible barriers many women can't overcome. Challenges grow when caste, class, region, and gender identity are considered. Women from marginalized groups face exclusion even when they enter STEM fields. Issues range from limited mentorship to discrimination that blocks progress. Trans scientists face paperwork hurdles, safety concerns, and workplace harassment that can damage careers. Women in STEM jobs also face low participation rates — India’s female labour force participation is 31.7% in 2023-24. Job quality and security remain concerns, especially for marginalized women. Harassment and lack of support during fieldwork, late hours, travel, or night shifts impact women’s ability to advance. Dalit women and trans scientists often face greater risks. Despite these barriers, women often remain underrepresented in top research roles and leadership globally, including India. Scholarships like IIT-Bombay’s WINGS help women stay in science but wider change is needed. Inclusion isn’t just about fairness. It improves science by bringing new questions and ideas related to real-world problems like health, climate, and agriculture. A science system that excludes women, marginalized castes, and gender minorities loses valuable knowledge and perspectives. For lasting change, accountability in institutions must improve. Representation alone won’t fix retention, authority, or institutional culture unless supported by clear policies. Inclusive science also strengthens democracy by broadening who shapes important public decisions on issues like vaccine policy, AI, and climate. When women and marginalized groups lead science, they influence what problems are studied and what solutions are chosen. This is critical for India’s future scientific growth and social progress.