Jalandhar: Union Textile Minister Smriti Irani on Saturday said women in science are the "largest minority" in the country, with only 14 percent of them contributing to the profession. She spoke about inherent gender bias against women in the society, hampering their entry in the highly competitive world of science.

Irani said this while inaugurating the 8th Women Science Congress -- part of the Indian Science Congress -- here at the Lovely Professional University, which is hosting both the events. "While everyone knows that science is gender-neutral, what is not neutral is capacity of women to get scientific opportunity," she said.