Women's Political Participation in India: Progress and Challenges

Despite record-breaking female voter turnout in recent elections, women's representation in Indian politics remains low. The 2024 Lok Sabha elections saw a slight decrease in women MPs, with only 13.62% female representation. While major parties like BJP and Congress fielded more women candidates, smaller regional parties showed higher percentages of female nominees. The gender gap persists in cabinet positions and state-level politics. Experts argue that addressing barriers such as gender-based violence, lack of resources, and societal norms is crucial to boost women's political participation and achieve gender parity in Indian governance.
Source: Times of India