Women’s Empowerment in India: Progress, Challenges, and Sustainable Development Strategies

Abstract

Introduction: Women's empowerment is fundamental to global sustainable development and economic growth. This study examines the multifaceted relationship between women's empowerment and economic development, specifically focusing on India's progress towards gender equality.

Objectives: The research aims to analyse economic, social, and political dimensions of women's empowerment using the CIDA framework, evaluate India's progress towards SDG 5, and investigate the bidirectional relationship between women's empowerment and economic development.

Methods: The study employs a comprehensive review of secondary data sources, including academic literature, NGO reports, government documents, and international organisation publications. UNDP indicators serve as benchmarks to assess India's current state of women's empowerment.

Results: The analysis reveals the existence of interconnections between women's empowerment and economic development. However, these links alone are insufficient to maintain a self-sustaining improvement cycle. Current progress indicates gaps in achieving gender equality targets despite various policy interventions.

Conclusions: While the relationship between women's empowerment and economic development is significant, continuous policy intervention is required to sustain progress. The study emphasises the necessity of targeted gender-specific policies alongside broader economic development initiatives to achieve and maintain gender parity.