India Advances Gender Equity in Governance With Reforms and Initiatives

Championing a “whole-of-government” and “whole-of-society” approach, the government is addressing women’s empowerment on a life-cycle continuum, encompassing social, economic, and political dimensions.

 

In a significant stride towards inclusive governance and social equity, the Government of India is systematically embedding women’s political participation and leadership across every level of the democratic framework. Championing a “whole-of-government” and “whole-of-society” approach, the government is addressing women’s empowerment on a life-cycle continuum, encompassing social, economic, and political dimensions.

Speaking in the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Women and Child Development, Smt. Savitri Thakur, outlined a series of transformative policies and constitutional reforms that are redefining the participation of women in public life.

Historic Rise in Women’s Representation in Parliament

India has witnessed a substantial increase in women’s political participation since Independence. In 1957, women comprised merely 3% of the total candidates contesting the general elections. That figure has increased more than threefold to 10% by the 2024 general elections.

• In the First Lok Sabha (1952), only 22 women were elected.

• In the Second Lok Sabha, this rose marginally to 27.

• In the 17th Lok Sabha, 78 women MPs served, and 75 have been elected to the 18th Lok Sabha, now constituting approximately 14% of the House.

The Rajya Sabha has also seen a positive trend:

• In 1952, there were 15 women members.

• As of 2025, this number stands at 42, making up nearly 17% of the upper house.

This upward trajectory signifies a stronger presence of women in national-level decision-making, reinforcing the foundation for gender-balanced governance.

Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam: A Legislative Milestone

A groundbreaking development in India’s democratic history came in 2023 with the passage of the Constitution (One Hundred and Sixth Amendment) Act, widely known as the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam. This legislation reserves one-third of all seats for women in:

• The Lok Sabha (Lower House of Parliament)

• All State Legislative Assemblies

• The Legislative Assembly of the National Capital Territory of Delhi

The law ensures rotational reservation, giving women a structural entry into electoral politics and institutionalizing gender equity in the heart of India’s representative democracy. This is expected to significantly increase female representation and reshape leadership narratives across the nation.

Transforming Grassroots Governance: Panchayati Raj Empowerment

India’s commitment to gender parity extends powerfully into rural governance. With over 14.5 lakh Elected Women Representatives (EWRs) in Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs), women now form 46% of the total elected representatives—a figure unmatched anywhere in the world.

Furthermore, 21 States have gone beyond the constitutional mandate of 33%, and have legislated 50% reservation for women in PRIs, promoting gender-inclusive policy-making at the grassroots level.

To bolster the effectiveness of these representatives, the Government launched the “Sashakt Panchayat-Netri Abhiyan”, a comprehensive leadership and capacity-building program aimed at:

• Enhancing decision-making capabilities

• Sharpening leadership skills

• Addressing socio-political barriers in rural settings

The program is backed by specialized training modules and the “Primer on Law Addressing Gender-Based Violence and Harmful Practices”, tailored to help EWRs confront on-ground challenges with confidence and legal awareness.

Women-Friendly Gram Panchayats: A New Model of Inclusive Rural Development

Taking its vision further, the Government has initiated the Model Women-Friendly Gram Panchayats program. It aims to designate at least one Gram Panchayat per district as a model of gender-sensitive governance, focusing on:

• Women’s safety and participation

• Girl child education

• Inclusive access to resources and services

• Gender-based planning and infrastructure

This initiative underlines the government’s commitment to gender equality, rural sustainability, and the integration of women’s interests into mainstream development.

Self Help Groups (SHGs): The Economic Backbone of Women’s Empowerment

In a remarkable shift in rural socio-economic dynamics, over 10 crore women are actively engaged in more than 90 lakh Self Help Groups (SHGs). These SHGs—supported by various central and state government schemes—are increasingly becoming platforms of entrepreneurship, social mobility, and civic participation.

Women in SHGs are:

• Running micro-enterprises and contributing to local economies

• Participating in governance and grievance redressal

• Driving behavioral and developmental change within communities

By linking economic independence with leadership, SHGs have evolved into vehicles of systemic change and community resilience.

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The Road Ahead: Embedding Equality in Democratic Institutions

India’s ongoing efforts to foster women's leadership—through constitutional mandates, programmatic interventions, training, and economic inclusion—signal a comprehensive reimagining of gender roles in governance.

From Parliament to panchayats, from training halls to village SHGs, women are not just participating—they are leading. With policies rooted in structural equity and empowerment, the country is steadily moving towards a future where women’s voices are integral to every decision, every policy, and every pillar of democracy.