Why in News?

India has slipped to 131st out of 148 countries in the 2025 Global Gender Gap Index by the World Economic Forum.

While gaps in economic participation, education, and health have improved or remained stable, political empowerment has worsened. Despite more women voting, their representation in top political positions remains low.

The upcoming 33% reservation for women in legislatures from 2029 may improve this, but sustained efforts are needed to ensure long-term impact.

What’s in Today’s Article?

• Reasons Behind the Fall in the Index
• Impact of Women’s Reservation on Political Representation
• From Exclusion to Participation: A Historic Shift
• Rising Voters, Stagnant Representation

Reasons Behind the Fall in the Index

• India's drop in the 2025 Global Gender Gap Index is primarily due to a decline in political empowerment indicators.
• The 18th Lok Sabha have 74 women Members of Parliament (MP), marking a slight dip from 2019 when 78 women MPs were elected.
• Additionally, the share of women in ministerial roles declined from 6.45% to 5.56%, further impacting India’s overall ranking.

Impact of Women’s Reservation on Political Representation

• The 33% reservation for women in Lok Sabha and State Assemblies, passed in 2023, will be implemented only after the next Census and delimitation, making 2029 the earliest possible rollout.
• If implemented in 2029, the law would raise women’s representation to at least 33%, significantly improving India’s political empowerment metrics on global indices.
• Current Representation Levels Remain Low
  • The 18th Lok Sabha (2024) has approximately 13.6% women members of the total 543 members.
  • In 2023, women made up only 9% of MLAs across States.
  • Chhattisgarh had the highest share (18%), while Himachal Pradesh had just one woman MLA and Mizoram had none.
• Limited Timeframe, Uncertain Long-Term Gains
  • The reservation law is valid for only 15 years, meaning it will likely apply to just two general elections (2029 and 2034).
  • Concerns remain about the sustainability of progress beyond that period.
• Gaps in Ministerial and Leadership Pipelines
  • Even with more women MPs, ministerial appointments may not rise proportionately. Despite decades of 33–50% reservation at local levels, there's no structured pathway to elevate women from panchayats to higher politics.

From Exclusion to Participation: A Historic Shift

• In 1952, 28 lakh women were excluded from voting rolls due to being listed only as someone’s wife or mother. Since then, women’s inclusion has drastically improved.
• Gender Gap in Voting Narrows
  • The voter gender gap has shrunk from 17 percentage points in 1962 to less than 2 points in 2014.
  • In the last two general elections, women voters outnumbered men, partly due to male migration for work.
• Women as a Key Votebank
  • With growing turnout, political parties now actively court women voters, launching targeted welfare schemes like free bicycles for girls and monthly cash allowances for poor women.
  • The rise in women voters is reshaping electoral strategies and policy priorities, making women a central force in India’s democratic process.

Rising Voters, Stagnant Representation

• Despite the surge in women voters, this has not led to a rise in women candidates fielded by political parties.
• Parties Avoid Giving Women Winnable Seats
  • Parties often cite “lack of winnability” to deny women tickets in stronghold constituencies.
  • Instead, they field women in reserved SC/ST seats to meet multiple quotas.
  • Experts note that women voters don’t vote solely for women. Unlike caste-based voting, women prefer performance and policies over identity.
• The Need for Systemic Change
  • Since 1952, women candidates have had a higher average winning percentage than men.
  • The issue lies in low nomination rates, with women making up only 8–9% of candidates from major parties.
  • Structural barriers, internal party dynamics, and outdated assumptions continue to block capable women from entering the political arena in larger numbers.