ESET has announced the launch of the 2026 Women in Cybersecurity Scholarship in India in partnership with Ashoka University. The initiative enters its second year and aims to support women pursuing careers in cybersecurity.

The programme seeks to address the growing cybersecurity skills gap and improve gender representation in the field. According to the 2025 Cybersecurity Workforce Study by ISC2, 59 percent of organisations report critical or significant cybersecurity skills shortages. The study also estimates that women account for 22 percent of the global cybersecurity workforce.

As India advances digital initiatives such as Digital India and the IndiaAI Mission, expanding the cybersecurity talent pipeline has become increasingly important.

Under the programme, one scholarship worth USD 5,000 will be awarded in India. Eligible applicants include women enrolled in undergraduate or postgraduate IT or cybersecurity programmes at Ashoka University.

Parvinder Walia, President for the APAC region at ESET, said encouraging more women to pursue cybersecurity careers would help expand the talent pool and strengthen digital resilience as technology adoption increases.

Pramath Raj Sinha, Chairperson of the Board of Trustees at Ashoka University, said the partnership aims to support women in cybersecurity through mentorship, training and career opportunities.

Applications for the scholarship opened on March 6, 2026. Recipients will also become part of ESET’s Alumni Club, a global network offering mentorship, networking and career development opportunities.