India Has Made Steady Gains in Women’s Empowerment Since Independence: Report
New Delhi — India has made sustained efforts to improve the status of women since independence through constitutional protections, legal reforms, government programs and greater political representation, according to a report.
The Constitution established the foundation for gender equality. Article 14 guarantees equality before the law, Article 15 prohibits discrimination on the basis of gender and Article 16 provides equal opportunity in public employment. Articles 39 and 42 promote equal pay, livelihood opportunities and maternity relief.
The 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments reserved one-third of seats in village councils and municipalities for women. More than 1.4 million women now serve as elected representatives at the local level, according to an opinion article published by India Narrative.
India has also enacted or strengthened several laws addressing women’s rights and safety. These include the Dowry Prohibition Act, the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act and the Criminal Law Amendment Act passed after the 2012 Nirbhaya case.
Other measures include the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, amendments to the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act and the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Act of 2019, which prohibited instant triple talaq.
The 106th Constitutional Amendment, approved in 2023, provides for reserving one-third of seats in the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies for women.
“India, home to over 700 million women and girls, has made concerted efforts to uplift their status since its Independence. The Constitution laid a strong foundation with principles of equality. Over the past three to four decades—especially since the 1990s—targeted legal reforms, government schemes, and social movements have accelerated progress in education, health, economic participation, and political representation. While significant gains have been achieved, challenges like patriarchal norms, regional disparities, and safety concerns persist,” Arshia Malik wrote in the India Narrative opinion article.
Women’s literacy increased from about 39 percent in the 1991 Census to 65.5 percent in the 2011 Census. Programs including Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas and Beti Bachao Beti Padhao have helped increase girls’ enrollment and retention in schools, the article said.
Women’s health outcomes have also improved. India’s maternal mortality ratio declined from about 508 deaths per 100,000 live births in 1990 to approximately 103 in 2020 and between 80 and 90 in more recent estimates.
Financial inclusion initiatives such as the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana, direct benefit transfers and the Mudra Yojana have expanded women’s access to banking and credit.
Data from the National Family Health Survey showed that 77.4 percent of women had bank or savings accounts that they operated themselves, while 43.3 percent owned a house or land either individually or jointly.
“India’s efforts demonstrate a multi-pronged approach: Legal safeguards, targeted schemes, awareness campaigns, and grassroots reservations. The last few decades have seen a shift from welfare to empowerment, with women increasingly visible as entrepreneurs, leaders, professionals, and decision-makers. Sustained investment in quality education, skilling, safety infrastructure, and cultural change—along with effective implementation of the Women’s Reservation Act—will be crucial. As India aspires to become a developed nation, empowering its women is not just a moral imperative but an economic necessity,” Malik wrote. (Source: IANS)
