Women comprise over 48% of India’s 145 crore population. India’s GDP growth of 6.5% in 2024-25 reflects increasing contributions from nearly 70 crore women.
Constitutional Framework for Gender Equality
| Article | Provision |
|---|---|
| Article 14 | Equality before law |
| Article 15 | Prohibition of discrimination on grounds of sex |
| Article 16 | Equality of opportunity in public employment |
| Article 21 | Right to life and personal dignity |
| Article 23 | Prohibition of trafficking and forced labour |
| Article 39(d) | Equal pay for equal work (DPSP) |
| Article 42 | Just and humane working conditions; maternity relief (DPSP) |
| Article 51A(e) | Renunciation of practices derogatory to women’s dignity (Fundamental Duty) |
| Articles 243D & 243T | Reservation for women in PRIs and ULBs |
| Article 325 | Inclusion of women in electoral rolls without discrimination |
Landmark Constitutional Amendments
73rd & 74th Constitutional Amendments (1992):
- Minimum 33% reservation for women in Panchayati Raj Institutions and Urban Local Bodies
- Deepened women’s participation in grassroots democracy
106th Constitutional Amendment — Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam (2023):
- 33% seats reserved for women in Lok Sabha, State Legislative Assemblies, and NCT of Delhi
- SC/ST women included within the reservation quota
- To be implemented after the next delimitation exercise based on the first Census conducted after this Act
Gender-Responsive Legislations
| Legislation | Year | Key Provision |
|---|---|---|
| Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act | 2013 | ICC/LCC mechanism; revamped SHe-Box (2024) for online grievance redressal |
| Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act | 2005 | Recognises domestic violence as human rights violation; civil remedy |
| Dowry Prohibition Act | 1961 | Criminalises giving and taking dowry |
| Indecent Representation of Women Act | 1986 | Regulates objectification in media and advertisements |
| Commission of Sati (Prevention) Act | 1987 | Criminalises Sati and its glorification |
| National Commission for Women | 1992 | Statutory body for rights protection and policy advocacy |
Four New Labour Codes (effective 21 November 2025)
| Code | Year Passed | Laws Consolidated |
|---|---|---|
| Code on Wages | 2019 | 4 laws |
| Industrial Relations Code | 2020 | 3 laws |
| Code on Social Security | 2020 | 9 laws |
| OSH&WC Code | 2020 | 13 laws |
Benefits for women: Simplified compliance, enhanced formalisation of women’s work, improved social security, equal pay mandate, night shift permissions with safeguards, work-from-home recognition.
Criminal Justice Reforms
- New criminal laws effective 1 July 2024: Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam — replace IPC, CrPC, Indian Evidence Act
- Nirbhaya Fund (2013): Dedicated funding for women’s safety infrastructure
- International commitments: CEDAW, UN Protocol on Trafficking in Persons, ILO Conventions on women’s rights
Gender Budgeting Statement (GBS) 2025-26
| Component | Description |
|---|---|
| Part A | 61 schemes with 100% allocation for women |
| Part B | Schemes with 30-99% allocation for women |
| Part C | Schemes with below 30% allocation |
| Gender Budget share | Increased from 6.8% (2024-25) to 8.9% (2025-26) of total budget |
| Growth | 19% increase over Revised Estimates of 2024-25 |
| Monitoring | Output-Outcome Monitoring Framework by NITI Aayog |
UPSC Angle
- GS1: Women empowerment, social structure, demographic patterns
- GS2: Constitutional provisions, gender budgeting, legislative reforms, cooperative federalism
- Interview: “Is 33% reservation for women in Parliament sufficient, or should India aim for 50% as some Nordic countries have achieved?”
Sources: NextIAS Yojana January 2026, EduRev Yojana January 2026 Part 2