Syllabus: UPSC General Studies Paper-I: Women's Empowerment" falls under the "Indian Society"
Women’s empowerment ensures equal access to economic, social and political opportunities, driving growth and inclusivity. Education has improved, but rural-urban gaps persist and dropout rates remain high. Labour force participation is rising, yet gender wage gaps and unpaid work burden continue. Health challenges include anaemia (57%) and malnutrition, despite better sex ratios. Financial inclusion has expanded, with 78.6% of women owning bank accounts, but property ownership and entrepreneurship remain uneven. Government initiatives like Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, PMMVY, Mission Shakti and Jal Jeevan Mission focus on safety, education and economic inclusion. Strong laws exist, but effective implementation is key to true gender equality.
Women's empowerment is a transformative process that ensures equal access to economic, cultural, social and political opportunities.
It helps women realize their full potential. This leads to economic growth, social equity and inclusive development. Gender equality strengthens innovation, communities and progress.
Literacy is a key driver of empowerment. The PLFS (2020-21) highlights:
Women's political participation in India has seen progress, but challenges remain. Key factors like education, health, financial security and safety influence their engagement. Over the years, women's voter turnout has risen, with a 13% increase in female voters in 2019 compared to 2014.
Women in India have been granted various legal rights to promote gender equality and protect their interests. Here are some key legal rights:
Article 14 of the Indian Constitution guarantees equality before the law and equal protection, ensuring no gender-based discrimination.
The Right to Education (RTE) Act, 2009, mandates free and compulsory education for all children, including girls, between 6 and 14 years.
The Equal Remuneration Act, 1976, ensures that men and women receive equal pay for equal work.
Right Against Sexual Harassment
The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act, 2013, protects women from harassment at the workplace and provides a grievance redressal mechanism.
The Hindu Succession (Amendment) Act, 2005, grants equal inheritance rights to daughters in Hindu families, ensuring financial security.
The Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, allows women to seek divorce on grounds such as cruelty, desertion and adultery.
The Maternity Benefit Act, 1961, provides paid maternity leave and other benefits to pregnant and lactating women.
The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005, safeguards women from physical, emotional and financial abuse within households.
While India has made significant progress in women’s legal rights, ensuring effective implementation remains crucial to achieving true gender equality.
The Ministry of Women and Child Development (WCD) is implementing various schemes and programmes to empower women across different sectors, ensuring their safety, security and participation in national development.
The One Stop Centre (OSC), also known as Sakhi Centres, provides integrated support to women affected by violence, including police facilitation, medical aid, legal assistance and temporary shelter.
The Women Helpline (WHL) 181 is a 24x7 helpline offering emergency and non-emergency responses to women in distress by linking them to relevant authorities such as the police, OSCs, hospitals and legal services.
This Centrally Sponsored Scheme provides institutional support and rehabilitation to women in distress, ensuring they can lead their lives with dignity.
A Centrally Sponsored Scheme focusing on the prevention of trafficking and the rescue, rehabilitation, reintegration and repatriation of victims of commercial sexual exploitation.
This scheme provides safe and conveniently located accommodation for working women in urban, semi-urban and rural areas, along with daycare facilities for their children.
Launched on 22nd January 2015, this scheme aims to address declining Child Sex Ratio (CSR) and ensure the survival, protection and education of the girl child. The Sex Ratio at Birth (SRB) improved from 918 (2014-15) to 930 (2023-24) under this initiative.
A Centrally Sponsored Scheme launched in 2017 to empower rural women through community participation and inter-sectoral convergence of welfare schemes. The funding is shared in a 60:40 ratio between Centre and States (90:10 for North-East and Special Category States).
A Conditional Cash Transfer Scheme launched in 2017 to provide maternity benefits to pregnant women and lactating mothers for their first living child. Women receive financial assistance of ₹6,000, covering nutritional support and institutional delivery benefits. The scheme has now been extended to the second child if it is a girl to promote gender equality.
Launched as an umbrella scheme (2021-26) for women’s safety, security and empowerment, Mission Shakti has two key verticals:
A community-based alternative dispute resolution mechanism at the Gram Panchayat level, offering mediation and grievance redressal for women-related issues.
Relief and rehabilitation homes for women in distress, including trafficked women, offering safe shelter and support services.
Day-care crèche facilities at Anganwadi centers to support working mothers and ensure the well-being of their children.
Affordable housing for working women, including daycare facilities for their children, to provide a secure living environment.
A platform to bridge the knowledge gap on women’s welfare schemes and monitor various projects under Mission Shakti.
A nutrition-focused programme ensuring the health and wellness of pregnant women, lactating mothers and children through 13,99,890 Anganwadi Centers.
The Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (Clean India Mission) marked a significant step in improving sanitation facilities, particularly for women in rural areas. By eliminating open defecation, the mission enhanced women’s safety, dignity and health. Over 116 million households have benefitted, leading to a healthier environment and greater social freedom for women.
Initiatives like the Maa Tarini Self-Help Group (SHG) in Rourkela have extended these efforts to marginalized communities, including leprosy patients, by constructing community toilets and promoting sustainable waste management through composting.
Launched to ensure household tap water connections, the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) has significantly reduced the burden of water collection, traditionally a woman’s responsibility. Before JJM, only 17% of rural households had access to tap water; today, over 150 million households benefit from it.
The impact extends beyond convenience:
Access to clean water is empowering women economically, enabling them to engage in productive work and contribute to local economies.
Women are emerging as key drivers of India’s economic transformation. Under the Startup India Initiative, over 73,000 startups have at least one female director, reflecting the increasing presence of women in business leadership.
The government has introduced several financing programs to support women entrepreneurs:
Expanding digital infrastructure is enhancing women’s access to banking, e-commerce and entrepreneurship:
Women entrepreneurs are expanding into e-commerce and government procurement platforms like Government e-Marketplace (GeM):
Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, a historic 33% reservation for women in legislative bodies has been implemented, ensuring a greater role for women in policymaking.
At the grassroots level, women constitute 46% of elected representatives in Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs), with over 1.4 million women in governance roles. This transformation in leadership has led to:
Women are making significant strides across diverse fields:
The government’s policies have fundamentally transformed women’s roles in society, governance and the economy. To ensure sustainable empowerment, the focus should be on:
India’s journey towards women’s empowerment is far from over. By sustaining this progress, the country is paving the way for a generation of women leaders, entrepreneurs and decision-makers who will drive India’s growth and global transformation.
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PRACTICE QUESTION Q:Bold policies have transformed women's empowerment in India, yet challenges persist. Critically analyze the impact of recent government initiatives on women's economic, social and political status. |
What is women’s empowerment?
Women’s empowerment ensures equal access to economic, social and political opportunities, fostering growth, equity and innovation.
What are the recent trends in women’s education?
Female literacy has improved, with urban rates at 85.8% and rural at 74.4%, yet dropout rates remain high, especially in secondary education.
How has women’s labor force participation changed?
Rural FLFPR rose to 39.2%, urban to 25.8%, but wage gaps and unpaid domestic work remain challenges.
What are key government schemes for women’s empowerment?
Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, PM Matru Vandana Yojana, One Stop Centres, Ujjawala Scheme and Mission Shakti are major initiatives supporting safety, financial independence and social security.
How is financial inclusion driving women’s empowerment?
78.6% of women now have bank accounts and 68% of PMMY beneficiaries are female entrepreneurs, but informal sector challenges persist.
What role do women play in politics?
Women’s voter turnout has surged, with 13% more female voters in 2019 than in 2014, yet representation in leadership remains limited.
How have sanitation and water access impacted women?
Jal Jeevan Mission and Swachh Bharat Abhiyan have reduced time spent on water collection and improved hygiene, boosting women’s workforce participation.
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