According to the recent ranking by IPU-Parline, India ranks 150th globally in electing female Members of Parliament to the Lok Sabha, trailing behind 149 other countries. Despite being the world’s largest democracy with over 48% of its population being women, their representation in Parliament remains significantly low. In the latest elections, women held only 73 out of the 543 seats in the Lower House, down from 78 seats in 2019.

In 2023, India passed the Women’s Representation Bill, aiming to reserve 33% of seats in Parliament for women. Despite its enactment, implementation was deferred in the recent elections due to procedural requirements like census and delimitation. This legislative step is crucial for enhancing women’s political participation and empowerment.

Susan Ferguson, UN Women’s India Country Representative, emphasized the importance of this critical mass in fostering women’s empowerment. Comparatively, Rwanda, which leads globally in female parliamentary representation, reserves 30% of its seats for women. With India’s higher reservation percentage and the anticipated implementation of the bill in future elections, there is optimism for improved gender parity in Indian governance.

The Women’s Representation Bill represents a significant stride towards gender equality in political leadership, albeit challenges persist in achieving proportional representation reflective of India’s demographic diversity. As the nation progresses, ensuring substantive gender inclusion in decision-making processes remains pivotal for realizing comprehensive socio-political development and equity.

Re-reported from the article originally posted in She the people.