Political Participation of Women: Need & Challenges

Women constitute nearly 50% of India’s population, yet hold only 14.4% of seats in the 18th Lok Sabha (2024), with just 74 women elected. The 106^th Constitutional Amendment Act (2023) seeks to address this by reserving 33% of seats in the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies for women. While a landmark move, its success depends on timely implementation and institutional reforms.

Political Representation of Women in India: Statistics

Representation: In 2023, women held 26.9% of global parliamentary seats.

In Parliament: Female representation in Parliament falls to 13.8% in 2025 (Global Gender Gap Index 2025).
State Legislatures: At the state level, women form just 9% of Assembly candidates, with no state exceeding 20% women MLAs.
Local bodies: Women held 44% of seats in local governance as of 2022 (13.75 lakh representatives).

Female Voter: Despite a rise in female voter turnout from 46.6% (1962) to 65.8% (2024), party leadership roles remain male-dominated (e.g., 1 of 40 Congress district presidents in Gujarat is a woman).
Women Contesting Elections: The number of women contesting Lok Sabha polls rose from 45 in 1957 to 797 in 2024, but election success rates remain low

Need for Women’s Political Representation

Gender Equality Goal: Women’s political participation is crucial to achieving SDG 5 and ensuring equal leadership opportunities in public life.
Policy Focus: Women leaders often push for key issues like healthcare, education & domestic violence, ensuring inclusive policymaking.
Social Progress: Women’s involvement strengthens democracy, inclusion & harmony, as highlighted in the Beijing Declaration (1995).
Economic Impact: Closing gender gaps in leadership could boost global GDP by $28 trillion by 2025 (McKinsey report).
Cleaner Governance: Countries with more women in power often show lower corruption & stronger economic growth.

Challenges Associated

Structural Barriers: Women are often denied leadership roles, party tickets & decision-making authority due to male-dominated systems.
Political Will: Parties hesitate to field women citing low chances of winning, creating a cycle of exclusion & under-preparedness.
Financial Constraints: Lack of financial independence deter women from entering or sustaining political careers.
Intimidation: Women in politics face gender-based violence, online trolling & proxy representation, especially at the grassroots.

Government Initiatives

Constitutional Guarantees: Articles 325 & 326 of IC provide equal voting rights, while Articles 84 & 173 allow all citizens, including women to contest elections.
Seat Reservations:
- 33% seats reserved for women in Panchayats & Urban Local Bodies via 73^rd & 74^th Amendments.
- Women’s Reservation Act, 2023 (106^th Amendment) mandates 33% seats in Lok Sabha & State Assemblies (to be implemented post-delimitation & census).
International Commitments: India is committed to CEDAW & the Beijing Declaration, promoting gender equality in political spaces.
ECI’s Efforts: Initiatives like SVEEP & all-women staffed ‘Pink Booths’ aim to improve women’s participation in elections.
Training: Bodies like the National Commission for Women (NCW) & NGOs conduct capacity-building programs to prepare women for political roles.

Way Forward

Political Parties’ Reforms: Amend laws to require parties to allocate at least 33% of election tickets to women, adopting voluntary internal quotas & accountability.
Capacity Building: Tap into SHGs, NGOs & panchayats to identify potential women leaders & provide leadership training & exposure.
Political Environment: Enforce codes of conduct, provide facilities (transport, washrooms, safety) & create a culture of respect within parties.
Supportive Ecosystem: Offer election funding, campaign subsidies & access to digital platforms to overcome economic barriers.
Promote Gender Sensitization: Within political parties & civil society to challenge stereotypes & normalise women’s political leadership.

The 106^th Constitutional Amendment is a milestone for gender-inclusive governance, reserving 33% seats for women in legislatures. As NITI Aayog emphasises, “Political empowerment of women is a critical prerequisite for achieving gender equality and sustainable development.” Timely implementation, party reforms, and leadership development are key to transforming representation into real empowerment.

Reference: Indian Express

PMF IAS Pathfinder for Mains – Question 241

Q. What are the limitations of India’s Women’s Reservation Act in ensuring equitable representation in Parliament? Suggest steps to ensure that the reservation leads to meaningful participation. (150 Words) (10 Marks)

Approach

Introduction: Write briefly about the Women’s Reservation Act (106th Amendment), 2023 and mention the first delimitation following the 2026 Census.
Body: Write limitations of India’s Women’s Reservation Act and suggest steps to ensure that the reservation leads to meaningful participation.
Conclusion: Emphasis on party reforms and inclusive implementation for women’s participation.