New Delhi, March 3 (IANS) To encourage women in computing and technology, Google India Monday announced awards for women studying computer science and related subjects. Based on the candidates’ academic background and demonstrated leadership, 16 women were chosen for the award from a pool of undergraduate, graduate and doctoral students. Each was awarded a cash prize of Rs.75,000.

Students of various Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT) dominated the panel of winners with 11 out of the 16 coming from the IITs in Mumbai, Delhi, Roorkee, Chennai or Kanpur.

The others were from the Indian Institute of Science at Bangalore, Indian Statistical Institute in Kolkata, Veermata Jijabai Technological Institute at Mumbai and Anna University in Chennai.

The aim of this award, the first of its kind given by Google India, part of search engine giant Google Inc, was to inspire women to become active participants and leaders in creating technology.