Every year, as International Women’s Day approaches, discussions on gender equality take center stage. While legal frameworks and policy measures have undeniably contributed to progress, the pace remains frustratingly slow. The gap between intent and implementation continues to hinder true gender parity across political, economic, and social spheres. Despite India’s constitutional commitment to gender equality, deeply entrenched biases, societal norms, and flawed execution of policies prevent real change.
The Political Glass Ceiling
India, with its extensive democratic framework, boasts over 1.4 million women elected at the grassroots level, thanks to the 73rd Amendment. However, despite their presence in local governance, the real decision-making power often eludes them. A study by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) found that only 9% of candidates fielded by major political parties in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections were women. Currently, just 14.4% of India’s Parliament consists of women, a stark contrast to countries like Rwanda (61%), Mexico (50%), and New Zealand (48%).
The Women’s Reservation Bill, passed in 2023, aims to change this by mandating 33% reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies. However, its implementation is tied to the next census and delimitation exercise, both of which have been delayed. This postponement raises concerns that political representation for women remains more of a distant promise than an immediate reality.
Economic Disparity: A Barrier to Growth
Beyond political representation, economic participation remains a significant challenge. According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), India’s female labor force participation rate (FLFPR) stood at just 31% in 2023, one of the lowest among G-20 nations. This is a sharp decline from 42.7% in 2004 and reflects systemic barriers such as lack of workplace safety, unequal pay, and restrictive social norms. The World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report 2023 ranked India 142nd out of 146 countries in economic participation and opportunity.
Women contribute only 18% to India's GDP, compared to the global average of 37%. A report by McKinsey Global Institute (MGI) suggests that India could add $770 billion to its GDP by 2025 by simply bridging the gender gap in labor force participation. However, gender bias in hiring, lack of childcare support, and workplace discrimination continue to push women out of the workforce.
Even well-intended policies, such as the Maternity Benefits (Amendment) Act of 2017, which increased paid maternity leave from 12 to 26 weeks, have had unintended consequences. A study by TeamLease Services found that 11-18 lakh women lost jobs in the formal sector due to this law, as small and medium enterprises (SMEs) preferred hiring men to avoid the additional costs. Experts argue that a more balanced approach—such as shared parental leave—would prevent such biases and reinforce the idea that caregiving is a shared responsibility.
The Justice System: A Numbers Problem
Gender disparity is glaring in India’s legal system as well. Women constitute 35% of judges in subordinate courts, but their presence dwindles to just 13% in high courts and a mere 4% in the Supreme Court. The systemic barriers continue to hinder women's representation at the highest judicial levels.
The police force also reflects this imbalance. The India Justice Report 2022 found that women make up just 12.3% of the police force, with officer-level representation falling to 8%. Some states, such as Bihar and Tamil Nadu, have made strides in recruiting women, but at the current pace, it would take over 500 years for some states to reach even 30% representation in the police force.
Legal safeguards such as the Prevention of Sexual Harassment (POSH) Act, 2013, and the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2013 (enacted post-Nirbhaya case) have strengthened protections against gender-based violence. However, enforcement remains weak. According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) 2022, crimes against women increased by 15% in the past five years, with a shocking 88 rape cases reported daily. The conviction rate remains abysmally low at just 28.6%, highlighting systemic gaps in law enforcement.
Moreover, societal attitudes often hinder justice. Victim-blaming narratives, moral policing, and regressive laws—such as mandatory registration of live-in relationships in Uttarakhand—prioritize conservative social norms over personal autonomy. These contradictions dilute the effectiveness of progressive legislation.
The Road Ahead: Beyond Tokenism
Despite legislative advancements, gender parity remains an elusive goal. The World Economic Forum’s 2023 Gender Gap Report estimated that at the current rate of progress, it would take 132 years to close the global gender gap. For India, this timeline seems even longer, given the slow pace of change in key areas.
While policies like Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, Skill India for Women, and Startup India’s Women Entrepreneurship Platform aim to empower women, their success depends on robust implementation and societal acceptance. Governments, institutions, and communities must move beyond symbolic gestures to create an environment where women’s participation is not just encouraged but normalized.
To bridge the gap between intent and action, India must:
1. Ensure Timely Implementation of Women’s Reservation – Delays in enforcing political representation must be addressed to increase women’s leadership in governance.
2. Promote Economic Inclusion – Companies should be incentivized to hire and retain women, and policies should focus on equal pay, workplace safety, and flexible work options.
3. Strengthen Judicial and Law Enforcement Representation – Increasing the number of women in courts and police forces will improve justice delivery for gender-related crimes.
4. Shift Societal Attitudes – Education and awareness campaigns must challenge deep-rooted patriarchal mindsets and promote gender equality at all levels.
5. Enhance Safety and Legal Enforcement – Laws protecting women must be strictly enforced, with accountability measures for law enforcement agencies.
Until these steps are taken with urgency and commitment, the fight for gender parity will remain an uphill battle—one where intent often lags behind implementation. The time for action is now.