Context
- Nimcha Kipgen was recently appointed as the first woman Deputy Chief Minister of Manipur in the Cabinet of N. Biren Singh, reopening debate on women’s political representation.
- India’s 18th Lok Sabha has only 74 women MPs (13.6%), declining from 78 MPs (14.2%) in the 17th Lok Sabha, highlighting India’s continued under-representation of women compared to global standards.
What is Women’s Representation in Legislatures?
Women’s representation refers to the participation of women in elected law-making bodies such as Parliament and State Assemblies.
Present Status
- Parliament (Lok Sabha)
- 74 women MPs out of 543 → 13.6%
- Global average: ~29%
- South Africa: ~46%
- UK: ~35%
- State Legislatures
- National average: ~8%
- Tripura: ~15% (9 women MLAs out of 60)
- Nagaland elected its first women MLAs only in 2023
- Historical Contrast
- First woman MLA: Dr. Muthulakshmi Reddy (1927)
- First woman Chief Minister: Sucheta Kripalani (1963)
- Despite nearly 100 years, progress remains extremely slow.
Global Gender Gap Index (World Economic Forum)
- India ranks 131 out of 148 countries (fell from 129).
- Economic participation: moderate
- Education: improving
- Health: improving (lower MMR, higher life expectancy)
- Political empowerment: extremely weak
- This single pillar drags India’s overall ranking down.
Why Women’s Representation Matters?
- Democratic Justice: Women form nearly 50% of India’s population. Low representation violates the spirit of Article 15 and weakens democratic legitimacy.
- Cleaner Politics: Women candidates have fewer criminal charges and lower involvement in money–muscle politics. Currently, around 46% of MPs face criminal cases, and higher women participation can reduce political criminalisation.
- Better Governance Outcomes: Esther Duflo showed women leaders invest more in water and education, improving learning outcomes and scheme delivery. Indian example: Chhavi Rajawat transformed village development indicators.
- Gender-Sensitive Policymaking: Women legislators strengthen focus on maternal health, nutrition, & reproductive rights, including MTP reforms, making policies closer to lived realities.
- Economic Empowerment: Women leadership promotes higher female labour participation, stronger aspirations, and long-term GDP gains.
- Compassionate Leadership: Examples include Jacinda Ardern after the Christchurch attack and Manipur’s Deputy CM emphasising caregiving leadership during ethnic conflict.
- Long-Term Social Change: Normalises women in power (“Netaji” to “Netri”), builds intergenerational role models, and reshapes societal expectations.
How India Has Responded So Far?
- Constitutional Measures: 73rd & 74th Amendments: 33% reservation in Panchayats and Urban Local Bodies (some States like Bihar raised it to 50%).
- 106th Constitutional Amendment (Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam)
- Provides 33% reservation in Lok Sabha, State Assemblies and Delhi Assembly
- Key Features: Implemented after next Census and delimitation (post-2028) and will be valid for 15 years with rotation of reserved constituencies.
- Purpose: Organic progress remained stuck at 5–14%, making legal intervention necessary to reach 33%.
Challenges and Way Forward
| Challenges | Way Forward |
| 1. Reservation may lead to tokenism – Women may be seen as winning only because of quota, not capability. | Ensure political parties give tickets based on merit and performance, not just reservation compliance. |
| 2. Lack of leadership training – Many first-time women legislators may not receive proper training in lawmaking and governance. | Provide structured training in governance, budgeting, and legislative procedures before and after election. |
| 3. Dynastic dominance – Political families benefit more, while marginalised women remain excluded. | Encourage grassroots women leaders and reduce family-based political nominations. |
| 4. Proxy politics – “Sarpanch Pati / Vidhayak Pati” phenomenon where male relatives control decisions. | Strengthen accountability rules and independent functioning of elected women representatives. |
| 5. Criminalisation and money power discourage women – Politics dominated by muscle and money reduces female participation. | Implement state funding of elections (as suggested by the Goswami Committee) to reduce financial barriers. |
| 6. Delay in implementing 33% reservation – Depends on Census and delimitation (post-2028). | Fast-track Census and delimitation to operationalise the Nari Shakti Act quickly. |
| 7. Rajya Sabha not covered under reservation – Women remain only around 15%. | Extend reservation debate or introduce party-level nomination quotas in Rajya Sabha. |
| 8. Interstate disparities – Some States show progress while others lag behind (Tripura vs Nagaland). | Develop uniform national standards and monitor State-level representation. |
Conclusion
Women’s leadership is not symbolic—it strengthens democracy, governance, and social justice. Reservation must be supported by party reforms, leadership capacity building, and cultural change to ensure genuine empowerment and lasting political transformation.
FAQs
Q1. What is the current status of women’s representation in India’s Parliament?
In the 18th Lok Sabha, only 74 women MPs (13.6%) are present, below the global average of ~29%.
Q2. How do Indian State Legislatures perform with respect to Women’s representation?
On average, women hold ~8% of seats. Tripura has ~15%, while Nagaland elected its first women MLAs only in 2023.
Q3. Why does women’s representation matter?
It strengthens democratic justice, reduces political criminalisation, improves governance outcomes, and ensures gender-sensitive policymaking.
Q4. What constitutional measures exist to improve representation of women in the legislature?
The 73rd & 74th Amendments mandate 33% reservation in local bodies, and the 106th Amendment (Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam) provides 33% reservation in Lok Sabha and State Assemblies (post-2028).
Q5. What challenges remain in women representation in the legislature despite reservation?
Tokenism, dynastic dominance, proxy politics, lack of training, criminalisation of politics, and delays in implementing the Nari Shakti Act.
