THE ASIAN INDEPENDENT UK-
Dr. Ramjilal, Social Scientist, Former Principal, Dyal Singh College, Karnal (Haryana-India)
[email protected]
Women make up half of the world’s population. There has been an unprecedented change in the social, economic, educational, and political spheres of women in every country in the world. Women have played a unique role in the movements run by farmers, workers, and trade unions in the world. India is no exception in this regard. The presence of women can be seen in India from Gram Panchayat to Rashtrapati Bhavan.
At the end of the ninth year of In the first decade of the 21st century (2009), a new era began in the Indian parliamentary system. India’s first woman president, Smt. Pratibha Devi Singh Patil, and first woman speaker of Lok Sabha, Smt. Meera Kumar, UPA chairperson and first woman president of Congress Parliamentary Party in Lok Sabha, Smt. Sonia Gandhi, and first woman from Bharatiya Janata Party, Smt. Sushma Swaraj, have been leaders of the opposition in Lok Sabha. This is the first time in the history of the country since 1950 that the president, speaker, ruling party, and opposition were led by women. This is an incomparable example of women’s empowerment. On looking at the political institutions of the world, it becomes clear that such examples are not found even in developed democracies—England, America, France, Switzerland, Canada, etc. We would like to tell the intelligent readers that to date no woman has been elected to the post of President in the United States of America (USA). However, America considers itself an ‘excellent democracy’ in the world. Historical chronological order: Universal suffrage.The history of universal suffrage for women in the world is very long. Women have received this right after struggles. Initially, many states provided limited suffrage with some conditions. According to historical chronological order, about 132 years ago, New Zealand (1893), America (1920), the former Soviet Union (present Russia—1917), France (1944), India (26 January 1950). Between 1893 and 1960, women were given the right to vote under universal suffrage. Out of 198 states in the world, women have the right to vote in 129 states. According to the Sixty-First Amendment Act of the Constitution of India, 1988, the minimum age for voting was reduced from 21 years to 18 years. Female voter turnout: Almost equal
At the time of the first Indian general election (25 October 1951–21 February 1952), the total population (excluding Jammu and Kashmir) was 361 million, and the number of voters was 173 million. In the 18th Lok Sabha election (2024), the number of male voters was 49.7 crore and female voters 47.1 crore out of 96.8 crore voters. The voting percentage of women has increased in the last two decades. In the 17th Lok Sabha election (2019), the female voter turnout (67.18 percent) was higher than the male voter turnout (67.01 percent) out of 96.8 crore voters. In the 18th Lok Sabha election (2024), the female (65.78%) and male (65.80%) turnout was almost equal.
Female literacy and female representation in legislative assemblies: no relationship
In the year 2023, 20 states and union territories have less than 10% women members in their assemblies. These states include Gujarat (8.2%), Maharashtra (8.3%), Andhra Pradesh (8%), Kerala (7.9%), Tamil Nadu (5.1%), Telangana (5%), and Karnataka (4.5%). Nagaland was established on 30 November 1963. Not a single woman was elected to the Nagaland Assembly for 60 years. In March 2023, for the first time, two women—NDPP Leaders Hekani Jakhalu and Salhotunuo Krus—created history by being elected as MLAs. There is no connection between education and women’s election, as according According to the 2011 census, Nagaland’s male and female literacy rates are 82.75% and 76.11%, respectively. Similarly, Kerala has 100% female literacy. Despite this, The female representation in the current Kerala Assembly is only 7.9%. The state of Mizoram was established on 20 February 1987. According to the latest data of 2023, the female literacy rate is 89.27 percent. Despite this, not a Single women could win the election for the 40-member assembly in 2018. elections. These examples show that there is no relationship between the number of women voters, the female literacy rate, women voting, and women representation in the Legislative Assemblies and Lok Sabha.
No relationship between the number of women voters, women voting and women’s election victory
75 years after independence, in the 18th Lok Sabha elections (2024), there was a surprising change in the gender gap between female voter turnout and male voter turnout. In the first Lok Sabha elections of 1951-52, female voting was 67.18% and male voting was 67.1%. In other words, female voting was 0.17% more than male voting. In the 18th Lok Sabha elections (2024), the female (65.78%) and male (65.80%) voting (voter turnout) was almost equal. Women are the ‘new kingmakers’ in the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections, but they are not the ‘kings.’ The total number of Women MPs in the 17th Lok Sabha (2019) were 78. In the current Lok Sabha (2024)’ the total number of women MPs in the Lok Sabha are 74. Despite ‘women’s political empowerment’ and ‘Nari Vandana,’, the number of women MPs in the current Lok Sabha has decreased by four as compared to the 17th Lok Sabha. The gender gap is clearly visible not only in the Lok Sabha elections but also in the state assembly elections. The following illustration proves this hypothesis.
Out of the total (20,48,169) voters in Manipur, the number of women voters (10,57,336) is more than that of men (9,96,627). In the March 2022 assembly elections, five women were elected to the 60-member Manipur Legislative Assembly. The state of Mizoram was established on 20 February 1987. According to the latest census of 2023, Mizoram has a literacy rate of 89.27 percent, female literacy is 89.27 percent, and male literacy is 89.4 percent. The sex ratio is 976. The number of female voters is 438,995, which is more than the number of male voters. Despite this, not a single woman could win the election for the 40-member assembly in the 2018 elections. In the November 2023 assembly elections, out of 174 candidates, only 16 women were candidates. When political parties do not make women candidates in the elections, how will the number of women in the assembly increase? This is a basic question. The basic reason for this is that, like other societies of India, Mizo society is still patriarchal, while in terms of literacy it ranks third in India.
From 1998 to 2022, the female voting percentage in Himachal Pradesh assembly elections has been higher than the male voting percentage. In the 2022 assembly elections, female voting was 76.8% and male voting was 72.4%. Despite this, out of 68 MLAs of the Himachal Pradesh Assembly, there is only one female MLA.
Haryana Assembly Elections (2014) : An interesting Story
Voting figures in Haryana Assembly Elections (2014) prove that the women voting percentage in rural areas of Haryana is higher than the urban women voting percentage. It is not surprising to emphasise that women living in cities are more educated, more aware, more privileged, more affluent, and more modern. In contrast, women in rural areas lack education, general awareness, and facilities. Moreover, women in rural areas of India are not affluent.
According to a survey, only 13.87% of women belonging to agricultural communities in India have legal rights over agricultural land. The situation of women from non-agricultural communities is the most pathetic in terms of the status of agricultural land. Because only 2% of agricultural labour women have land or legal rights to land. In other words, about 86% of women from agricultural communities and 98% of Women from agricultural labour communities do not have any land-related property. Women in agricultural communities mostly work on their family’s land. While women from non-agricultural communities work as labourers on the land of rural farmers. According to Dr. Rukmini Rao, founder president of Mahila Kisan Adhikar Manch, 70% of the work on each acre is done by women, while, on the contrary, 30% of the work is done by men. In addition, according to an estimate, a woman farmer works 3485 hours in the fields in a year.
Despite this, rural women are more aware of the ‘importance of voting’ or ‘the dance of democracy’ in elections. In the Haryana Assembly elections (2014), the total female voting percentage in rural areas was 44.6%, while in cities it was 42.9%. When the Rural women of Haryana cast their votes from behind the veil, big leaders faint and bite the dust in the elections. Actually, the rural women voters of Haryana are the’real kingmakers,’ but not the ‘king.’ Because from 1966 to date, there has been no woman Chief Minister. Whereas Mrs. Sucheta Kriplani (Ambala) of Haryana is credited with being the first woman Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh and India. After this, Smt. Sushma Swaraj (Ambala) and now Smt. Rekha Gupta (Julana) are the Chief Ministers of Delhi. Not only this, but the ‘Queen of Quit India Movement 1942’ and ‘Grand Old Lady of Indian Independence,’, Smt. Aruna Asafali (Kalka), has had the privilege of being the first woman mayor of Delhi (1958).
Women’s winning rate in elections is almost twice that of men: Contestants and Winners—No Gender Difference
In 1957, the total number of Women candidates were 45 and that of Male candidates were 1473. 22 women Candidates were victorious, and the winning rate was 49%. Whereas, out of 1473 Male candidates, 467 were victorious, and their winning rate was 32%. That is, Women had a winning rate of 17% more than men. From 1957 till today, in some Lok Sabha elections, the difference in the victory rate of women as compared to men has been almost double.
The victory rate of women in elections is not less than that of men in any way. This is also proved by the 2024 elections of the Haryana Assembly. Haryana was officially established on 1 November 1966, and from the first election of the Haryana Assembly (1967) to 2024 elections, including 87 (100 according to other estimates) women have been MLAs. Out of these, 47 women MLAs have been elected after 2000. In the 2024 assembly elections, BJP gave tickets to 10 women, and five of these women were victorious. In other words, the victory rate of BJP women candidates is 50 percent. In contrast, 12 women candidates of the Congress Party contested the elections. Out of these, seven women were victorious. That is, the victory rate is 58%. This proves that the victory rate of women is not less than that of male candidates.
It is propagated that women have fewer chances of winning elections, and tickets are given to those who have more chances of winning. On this weak ground, national political parties, including Congress and BJP, are also against fielding women candidates in Lok Sabha and state assembly elections. If political parties do not field women candidates in elections, how will their number increase as MPs or MLAs?
Due to the patriarchal system and narrow and male chauvinistic mindset, women are not made candidates in elections by political parties. This is the reason that even after 75 years of independence, the total number of women MPs at present is 113 (Lok Sabha 74 + Rajya Sabha 39).
Women Presidents of Political Parties: Gender Gap
Political parties are like the backbone of the democratic system. Democracy has been transformed into ‘representative democracy’ by political parties. Therefore, it is important for our readers to know what the status of women in India with regard to the presidents or general secretaries of political parties.
On the global stage, women are the presidents of their respective political parties in many countries. But in India, not a single woman has held the post of national president to date after the establishment of the world’s largest political party—the Bharatiya Janata Party (1980). On the other hand, not a single woman has been able to become the national general secretary till date in leftist parties like the Communist Party of India (Marxist). In Delhi, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has a government in Delhi (till March 2025), and in Punjab, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has a government. There is no woman president of this party. The situation is the same in regional parties, except for a few parties. We believe that the mindset of both parties based on right-wing ideology or communist leftist ideology is patriarchal. If women are not in a position to make decisions in political parties, they will not really be able to play any role!
Smt. Indira Gandhi was the President of the Indian National Congress Party (from 1959 and from 1978 till her death in 1984). She was the fourth woman to be elected to this post. The The longest-serving president of the Indian National Congress Party is Smt. Sonia Gandhi. She was the fifth woman to be elected President of the Congress in 1998 and held the post for twenty years (from 1998 to 2017 and from 2019 to 2022). Smt. Indira Gandhi and Smt. Sonia Gandhi holds a proud place in the category of most powerful women globally.
In regional political parties, Former Chief Minister Ms. Jayalalithaa was the fifth and longest-serving General Secretary of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) from 9 February 1989 to 5 December 2016. On 18 September 2003, Ms. Mayawati was elected as the President of Bahujan Samajwadi Party (BSP). On 28 August 2019, She was re-elected for the fourth consecutive term. She has also been the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh four times (1995-1995, 1997-1997, 2002-2003, and 2007-2012). She is considered a strong woman in Indian politics and a symbol of Dalit politics in India. All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) was founded on 1 January 1998, and Ms. Mamata Banerjee was its founding president, and she still holds the post. .
Political leaders support ‘male-centric’ and ‘patriarchal systems.’ There is a huge difference between the theory and practice of political parties regarding gender equality. They do ‘stri vandana’ only as a show. But in reality it is not so. Ultimately, their approach is anti-women and anti-gender equality. In such a situation, to what extent can the talk of women’s empowerment in Indian politics be meaningful? This is a question worth considering. We suggest that the number of women in the executive or high command of political parties should be equal to that of men so that the gender gap can be eliminated.
Women and Panchayati Raj: A glorious constitutional revolution of women’s empowerment
After independence from British imperialism and about 562 princely states of India on August 15, 1947, 50% reservation for women in all fields was advocated by the first Prime Minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru. Socialist thinker, freedom fighter, and prominent leader of the nation, Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia also supported it. We believe that women are half the population, and they should have 50% representation in all institutions.
Before India got independence from British imperialism and Indian princely states, 82 years ago in 1943, Rahbar-e-Azam Deenbandhu Sir Chhotu Ram got the statutory provision to reserve 50% seats for women in Panchayati Raj institutions and 20% seats in the Legislative Assembly passed in the Punjab Assembly. Due to the sudden demise of Rahbar-e-Azam Deenbandhu Sir Chhotu Ram (9 January 1945), communal riots and partition of India, migration of people, etc., this Act could not be implemented, and it went into cold storage.
Gram Panchayats were described in Article 40 under the Directive Principles of State Policy (Chapter 4) of the Indian Constitution. Jawaharlal Nehru laid the foundation stone of Panchayati Raj in Bagdari village of Nagaur district of Rajasthan on 2 October 1959, the birthday of the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi. For almost three decades, from 1959 to 1987, the representation of women in Panchayati Raj institutions was almost symbolic. In 1987, for the first time, seats were reserved for women in Panchayati Raj institutions by the Government of Karnataka. As a result, about 18,000 women were elected to the Panchayati Raj institutions of Karnataka. This was an unprecedented achievement.
Subsequently, a 33% reservation for women was made in Panchayati Raj Institutions through the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act (1992) of the Indian Constitution and a 33% reservation for women in urban areas through the 74th Constitutional Amendment Act (1992). As a result, Panchayati Raj Acts were passed by various states based on the 73rd Amendment.
On 27 August 2009, the Congress-led UPA government (Cabinet) of Dr. Manmohan Singh decided that there should be 50% reservation for women in Panchayati Raj Institutions. A Revolutionary decision was taken to amend Article 243D in the Constitution to provide 50% reservation for women, as it provided for reservation of 50% of the seats to be filled by direct election for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Backward Classes.
At present, in 21 states and 2 Union territories of India, 50% of the seats in Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) are reserved for women. As a result, currently there are more than 140,000 elected women representatives in Panchayati Raj Institutions and rural local bodies of India. This is about 46% of the total elected representatives.In 141 countries of the world, 30 lakh (35.5 percent) local bodies have elected women representatives. In the list of 141 countries in the world, only 3 Countries have more than 50 percent women representatives at the level of local bodies, and 22 countries have more than 40 percent women representatives. By January 2023, India is in the category of these 22 countries, due to which it holds an important place in the field of women empowerment at the local level.
Practical Aspects:
Women’s empowerment sounds very attractive in theory, but in practice, it has a dark side too. Powers have been provided by law for women’s empowerment; in practice, women representatives have been rendered powerless due to patriarchal mindset, male chauvinism, and anti-women mindset. On behalf of women representatives, male members of their family represent them in Panchayati Raj institutions. For example, in Haryana, since 2016, due to educational qualifications being determined on the basis of legal amendments for persons contesting in Panchayati Raj Institutions elections, women in Panchayats are more literate and educated. Despite this, women Panchs and women Sarpanchs, or women members or chairpersons of Block Committees and women District Council chairpersons, do not participate in meetings even on issues related to women.
The idiom ‘Aaya Ram aur Gaya Ram’ is Haryana’s contribution to the grammar of Indian politics in the 20th century. Whereas in the current century, male members of the family represent women. As a result, in the grammar of Indian politics, new phrases like “Sarpanch Sasur,” “Sarpanch Pati,” “Sarpanch Beta,” “Sarpanch Pratinidhi,” etc., are also the contribution of Haryana. The same situation is in other states as well. According to a survey, 56 percent of women are in Panchayati Raj institutions in Jharkhand. Male Members of the family represent women. As a result, examples of vocabulary used in Jharkhand are “I am the husband of Mukhiyaji,” “I am the brother-in-law of Mukhiyaji,” and “I am the son of Mukhiyaji.” In Jharkhand, a woman’s husband is generally addressed as ‘Mukhiyaji.’. A woman’s husband is called ‘MP Pati,’, or ‘Mukhiyapati,’ or ‘Mukhiya Pratinidhi.’ These phrases are also the headlines of the general public, electronic media, and print media—newspapers.
When rural people, officers, MLAs, ministers, and even the Chief Ministers call him ‘Sarpanch Sahab’/’Panch Sahab.’ These political idioms gain even more justification whereas these are unconstitutional, illegal, anti-women, and supportive of the patriarchal system. We firmly believe that there is a dire need for the provision of anti-crime law in the Panchayati Raj Acts to stop this practice.In short, despite the above shortcomings, the role of women has increased phenomenally through reservations in Panchayati Raj institutions and municipal institutions, and this is a good indicator of the success of Indian democracy. We firmly believe that there is a dire need for the provision of anti-crime law in the Panchayati Raj Acts.
Governor and Lieutenant Governor: Women Representation—Gender Gap
According to Article 153 of the Indian Constitution, every state will have a governor. There are 28 states and eight union territories in India. The administrator of the Union Territory is the Lieutenant Governor. The Governor and Lieutenant Governor are appointed by the President of India. To date, 24 women have been governors of states, and 5 women have been lieutenant governors of union territories.
To date, no female lieutenant Governor has been appointed in Delhi (the national capital). It is really disappointing that to date no preference has been given to women in these appointments. This is the reason why there is a gender gap between men and women in these appointments. To overcome this gender gap, women should be given equal participation in the appointments of governors and lieutenant governors.
From 1947 to 2025: Only 18 women Chief Ministers: Gender gap
The Constitution of India came into force on 26 January 1950. In historical order, Indian Congress Party leader Smt. Sucheta Kriplani (Haryana—daughter of Ambala—1963-1967) is credited as the first woman Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh. From Smt. Sucheta Kriplani to Smt. Rekha Gupta, there have been 18 women chief ministers. But from 1950 to 2025, there have been more than 350 male chief ministers. Women chief ministers belong to regional parties as well as national political parties. After the implementation of the Constitution of India, till 2025, only 12 states and one Union Territory have had women Chief Ministers. At present (2025), there are no women chief ministers in 27 states and seven Union Territories of India.
To date, only two Muslim women—Syed Anwara Taimur (first Muslim woman chief minister—Assam) and Mrs. Mehbooba Mufti (first Muslim woman chief minister—former Jammu and Kashmir)—have been chief ministers. Out of 18 women chief ministers, five each from the Congress Party and BJP have been chief ministers of different states. While 8 women belong to other political parties. Currently, there is no woman Chief Minister in the Congress Party ruled states, while in the BJP led NDA state governments, only Mrs. Rekha Gupta (20 February 2025—) is the Chief Minister in Delhi. In short, out of 30 chief ministers, including union territories, in March 2025, only two are women—Mamata Banerjee (West Bengal) and Smt. Rekha Gupta (20 Feb 2025—-). Left parties were in power in Kerala, Bengal, and Tripura for a long time. Currently, Kerala is ruled by the Communist Party of India (Marxist)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF). To date, no woman has become Chief Minister in Left Democratic Front governments, whereas The role of women in leftist movements, including the freedom movement, has been secondary. Therefore, it is quite clear whether it is the Left Democratic Front (LDF), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led NDA, or Indian National Congress-led UPA, they all talk about women’s empowerment, but in In reality, it is not so, and they are not ready to transfer or share power with women. All the promises of these parties seem hollow and mere rhetoric. This is the main reason why political empowerment of women is at the lowest level in terms of the post of Chief Minister. As a result, women are only silent spectators in the activities.
Representation of Women in State Assemblies: Gender Gap
According to data presented in the Lok Sabha by Union Minister Kiren Rijiju in December 2022, India has more than 10% women MLAs in state assemblies, namely Bihar (10.70%), Chhattisgarh (14.44%), Haryana (10%), Jharkhand (12.35%), Punjab (11.11%), Rajasthan (12%), Uttarakhand (11.43%), Uttar Pradesh (11.66%), West Bengal (13.70%), and Delhi (11.43%).
On December 9, 2022, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju told the Lok Sabha that 19 state assemblies—Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Goa, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, etc.—have less then 10% women MLAs. In the state of the Prime Minister and Home Minister, Gujarat, 8.2% of women are elected to the Assembly. In the 68-member Himachal Pradesh Assembly, only one woman, Reena Kashyap, is an MLA. After the formation of Nagaland, not a single woman representative was elected in the 13 assembly elections till 2023. For the first time in the March 2023 elections, two women of the NDPP, Ms. Hekani Jakhalu, and Ms. Salhotunuo Kruse, were elected. There are innumerable constituencies in various states of India from where, to date, not a single woman has been elected to the Legislative Assembly. In short, to date, the women’s representation in the Legislative Assemblies is less than 20%.
The story of the representation of women in Haryana in the Lok Sabha is also very interesting. From 1966 to 2024, not a single woman has been elected to the Lok Sabha from Karnal, Rohtak, Hisar, Faridabad, Gurugram, and Sonipat districts in Haryana. Not only this, but women candidates do not contest elections in all the constituencies. For example, despite the Bharatiya Janata Party’s emphasis on the slogan ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao,’, in the 2019 elections, only 52 assembly constituencies had women candidates. In other words, 48 constituencies did not have a single woman candidate. Unless women are fielded as candidates, all claims of women’s empowerment are hollow and empty rhetoric. Because without political power, there can be no change in the economic and social lives of women.
Women Leaders of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha and Provincial Assemblies: Gender Gap
After the first general elections in India, the first Lok Sabha was constituted on 17 April 1952, and its first meeting was held on 13 May 1952. In 73 years, only two women leaders, Smt. Sushma Swaraj (BJP-led NDA) and Smt. Sonia Gandhi (Congress-led UPA), have been the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha. The role played by these two women leaders as opposition leaders in the Lok Sabha is highly commendable.
Till now, 13 women have been the Leader of Opposition in various provincial assemblies. Arutla Kamala Devi (freedom fighter, women leader of Telangana arms movement against Nizam Hyderabad, and leader of the Communist Party of India) has been the leader of the opposition of Andhra Pradesh (1 March 1964 to 1 March 1967—3 years 8 days). Arutla Kamala Devi is the first Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly of India. At present, former chief minister , Mrs. Atishi, is the Leader of the Opposition in the Delhi Legislative Assembly (23 February 2025).
Speakers of Lok Sabha and State Assemblies: Gender gap
Out of the 17 Speakers of Lok Sabha, from 17 April 1952 to date, only two have been women Speakers. Meera Kumar (15th Lok Sabha—1 June 2009-11 June 2014—Congress Party) is credited as the first woman Speaker, and Smt. Sumitra Mahajan (16th Lok Sabha—June 2014-June 2019—BJP) has been the second woman Speaker. According to the report published in March 2025, 22.43 percent of the MPs of different countries of the world are women Speakers, whereas in India at present there is no woman Speaker in both the Houses. The surprising thing is that to date no woman has been the Speaker in Rajya Sabha. On 6 December 1966,Mrs. Shanno Devi (Kaithal) got the privilege of assuming the post of the first woman Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of the newly created state of Haryana and India.
President and Vice President from 1950 to 2025: Gender gap
Out of the 18 Presidents (including three Acting Presidents) since the implementation of the Indian Constitution in 1950, only two have been women—the first woman President of India, Smt. Pratibha Devi Singh Patil (25 July 2002-25 July 2012), and the second is the current President, Smt. Draupadi Murmu (25 July 2022-present). That is, the gender gap from 1950 to 2025 is -18:2.
India also has the post of Vice President (Articles 63-73 of the Constitution). The Vice President is the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. From 1950 to 2025, 14 vice presidents have held this post. So far, not a single woman has been elected to this post among the 14 vice presidents. This means that the gender gap is zero (14:00).
Prime Minister: Gender gap -14:1
Article 74(1) of the Constitution states that there shall be a Council of Ministers with the Prime Minister as its head to ‘aid and advise’ the President of India. According to Article 75 of the Constitution, the Prime Minister shall be appointed by the President, and other Ministers shall be appointed by the President on the advice of the Prime Minister. The ministers shall hold office during the pleasure of the president.
India has had 14 prime ministers since 15 August 1947. India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru (15 August 1947 to 27 May 1964), is still the longest-serving in Indian history, and Atal Bihari Vajpayee was Prime Minister for only 13 days in 1996. The current Prime Minister, Narendra Bhai Damodardas Modi (Narendra Modi), is the 14th Prime Minister of India (30 May 2014 to date). Dr. Manmohan Singh (minority religion: Sikhism), leader of the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA), has been the Prime Minister for 10 years (2004-2014). However, till now there have been two prime ministers from backward classes (H.D. Deve Gowda and current Prime Minister Narendra Modi).
But no person belonging to India’s largest minority group (Muslim religion), Scheduled Caste, and Scheduled Tribe has been able to become Prime Minister yet. From 1947 to today, in 77 years, only one woman, Mrs. Indira Gandhi, has occupied this prestigious post of Prime Minister (first time 1966-1967 and second time 1980-1984). Important achievements of Smt. Indira Gandhi’s reign included the nationalisation of banks (July 1971), the abolition of the Privy Purses, victory in the Indo-Pak war (1971), the creation of Bangladesh, the surrender of 93,000 Pakistani soldiers to the Indian Army, an underground nuclear test (1974), and making Sikkim an integral part of India (1975), etc. Due to these incomparable and unprecedented achievements, Smt. Indira Gandhi’s name is written in golden letters in the category of the best prime ministers in the history of the world and will continue to shine like the Pole Star in the galaxy of international leaders.
Indian Council of Ministers: Gender Gap-Male 89.53% :Female 10.53%
From 1947 till today, there has There has been a huge gender gap in the Indian Council of Ministers. Women have not got representation in proportion to their numbers. The representation of women in the Indian Council of Ministers was 2.63% in 1947, 6% in 1957, 9.8% in 1964, 7.25% in 1967, 7.50% in 1980 and 11.93% in 1984. It was 12% in 1991, 11.36% in 1997, 11.43% in 1999, 13.79% in 2009, 15.6% in 2014, 10.53% in 2019, and (9.7%) in the BJP-led NDA government (03) in June 2024. In the BJP-led NDA government (03–June 2024), out of the 72 members of the Union Council of Ministers, only 7 are women ministers. Surprisingly, but true, there is not a single Muslim woman or Muslim man minister in the BJP-led NDA government because the NDA is ‘Muslim Mukt.’ The lack of representation of about 14 percent of the Muslim population in the ruling coalition is not a good sign for democracy. This means that ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’ is only a slogan that does not stand the test of reality. From 1947 to 2025, the representation of women in the Indian Council of Ministers is only 10.53%.
From 1947 to 2025, the share of women in the Union Council of Ministers has increased only four times. If the representation of women in the Union Council of Ministers continues at this slow pace, it will take 150 years for women to see good days, and they will have to cover a very long distance. The representation of women in the Council of Ministers proves that male-dominated thinking is dominant. Men want to remain in the ‘centre of power’ and are not ready to transfer power to women. Women should be given power and position according to their population.
Women’s representation at the global level: Gender gap
Globally, the representation of women is increasing not only in parliaments but also at the executive level. Globally, the representation of women is increasing not only in parliaments but also at the executive level. According to the data of 1 January 2025, women are the heads of state / heads of government in 25 countries. According to an estimate, there has not been a single woman head of state or head of government in 113 countries till date. Although the number of women in cabinets and councils of ministers is constantly increasing at the global level. According to the data published on 1 January 2025, 22.9% of the cabinets of different countries of the world are women. India has only 7 women in the Union Council of Ministers and only two women in the cabinet. Only nine countries in the world have 50% or more women in the cabinets.
But as far as departmental leadership is concerned, there is a gender gap. More women are in top positions in departments related to women’s development, gender equality, social inclusion, social security, indigenous people, minorities, etc. But in the fields of public administration, education, environment, energy, natural resources, fuel, mining, transport, etc., there are very few women in top positions in the cabinets and councils of ministers of different countries. In In contrast, more important departments like finance, economy, national security, defence, foreign department, home department, etc. are dominated by men at the global level. At the global level, men control the finance, justice, defence, and home departments. As a result of many reasons, including a patriarchal mindset, male dominance is established, and women are on the back foot in national cabinets.
Women Representation in Indian Parliament: Gender Gap
India is the world’s largest democracy. But the representation of women in the Indian Parliament (Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha) and state assemblies is only symbolic. 18 Lok Sabha elections have been held from 1951-1952 to 2024. In the first general election (1951-52), the number of women representatives in the Lok Sabha was 22. This was only 4.4 percent of the total number of seats (499). From the 15th Lok Sabha election (2009) to 2019, there has been a steady increase in the representation of women in the Lok Sabha. The 15th Lok Sabha (2009) had 59 women MPs and this is 10.9% of the total number of MPs (545). The 16th Lok Sabha (2014) had 61 women MPs and this is 11.2% of the total number of MPs (545). Whereas in the 17th Lok Sabha (2019), 78 women won the elections and this is 14.6% of the total number of MPs (545). But in the 18th Lok Sabha (2024), there are 74 (13.6%) women MPs. This number is four less than the number of women MPs in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
India ranks 152nd in the global ranking–lower than China and Pakistan
From the first Lok Sabha election in India (1951-52) to the 17th Lok Sabha election (2019), only 690 women have been elected to the Lok Sabha in 7 decades. Out of these, the number of Muslims women is only 25. Currently, the total number of women MPs in the Lok Sabha (74) is 13.6 percent. However, we always claim that India is the world’s ‘largest democracy and mother of democracy’. In the 2014 world ranking, India was ranked 149th in the list of 193 countries in terms of women representatives. According to the data of 1 February 2025, India is ranked 152nd in the list of 185 countries. In other words, we slipped three steps down in the ranking in 2014. In contrast, in the world women ranking, India’s neighbouring country Pakistan is ranked 137th in the world with 17 percent women MPs and China is ranked 93rd with 26.5 percent women. Rwanda is ranked first in the world women ranking according to the data of 63.8%. According to the report of 1 February 2025, the representation of women among the world’s MPs is 26.5 percent. In short , the representation of women among the world’s MPs is 26.5%, which is 12.9% more than India (13.6%)… But at the global level, male representation is 63.5% and female representation is 26.5%.
Obstacles in the path of women:
The most important obstacle in the path of women in the world is the sick mentality of the society. Indian Society is afflicted with “Son Stroke” due to male dominance. The thinking of the society is negative and anti-women towards women. In theory, women are worshipped as Goddess, Lakshmi, Saraswati, Durga etc. in the society but girls are “murdered in the womb”. The womb of women is not a place to give birth to a child but a “graveyard”. Murder in the womb has been criticised as ‘genocide’ in the International Women’s Conference held in China. Anti-women mentality is present in every sphere of life in Indian society. Apart from this, illiteracy, ignorance despite being educated, backwardness, poverty, criminalization of politics, corrupt political culture, character assassination of women entering politics, gender violence, conservative view of society, family’s responsibility on women, anti-women view of political parties and politicians, less representation of women in top positions in political parties except a few, political communalism, fanaticism, muscle power, deceit, fraud, money, hooliganism, trickery being common in politics etc. are the main reasons. Apart From these, nepotism is present in every political party. Due to nepotism, family members or relatives are given tickets by political parties. Ordinary hard working, loyal, combative women workers do not get tickets. That is why Women hesitate to enter politics. Not only in India, but in the entire world, Women are treated indecently from national leaders to local leaders. All these factors are the basic reasons for the gender gap.
Suggestions for political empowerment of women
Many methods have been adopted in different countries of the world for the political empowerment of women. In more More than 100 countries of the world, quota has been fixed for women in the legislatures through constitutional amendments and laws. In India, the Act (2023) has been passed regarding the provision of 33% reservation for Parliament and Legislative Assembly, but it has not been implemented yet. Although 50 percent reservation has been arranged for women at the Panchayati Raj level in 21 states and two Union territories. Despite many shortcomings, it is considered a good start. Along with constitutional reservation and laws, Political parties should fix quotas in their organisations from village level to national level to give representation to women. It is necessary to make such a law that if political parties ignore the prescribed quota in their organisations and while distributing tickets, then their recognition should be terminated by the Election Commission.
Along with law making and constitutional amendment in India, there is a great need for change in the thinking of the society towards women. The more women are politically empowered, the stronger the nation will be. Because most women are more intelligent, sensitive, cooperative, coordinator and full of goodwill.An example of women’s political empowerment is the former Prime Minister of India, Mrs. Indira Gandhi. The way Mrs.Indira Gandhi achieved success in the creation of Bangladesh with the help of the Indian Army, despite the opposition of a powerful country like America. There is no other example similar and incomparable to Mrs.Indira Gandhi in the written history of the world.
Finally, women should be given power and position according to their population. Therefore, the motto should be “the greater the number, the greater the share”, only then the gender gap coming in the way of political empowerment of women in the world of ‘male-centric’ and ‘patriarchal system’ will end.
(>> Comment>>) (The article is a revised version of the presidential lecture given on the topic ‘Role of women in building a value-based society’ organised at Ch.Ishwar Singh Kanya Mahavidyalaya,Pundri on the occasion of International Women’s Day on 8 March 2025. I express my gratitude to Chaudhary Tejbir Singh, Chairman of the Managing Committee, Principal Dr. Amita, Coordinator of Women’s Cell and Law Cell Dr. Nidhi, NSS Coordinator Dr. Sonia ,and above all the girl students.)
