Where are the Women in Politics? 13% of 18th Lok Sabha but 45% in PRIs

By: Damini Mehta

At the national level, the 18th Lok Sabha, elected in 2024, has 77 women MPs making 13.63% of the elected strength of the Lower House, this is down from 78 in the 17th Lok Sabha which was 14.3% of its members out of 543 seats.

On 6^th January 2025, a group of Scheduled Tribe women representatives of Panchayati Raj Institutions met with the President of India, Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre today (January 6, 2025). The group met with the President under the National Commission for Women’s ‘Panchayat se Parliament’ initiative organised in collaboration with the Ministry of Tribal Affairs and Lok Sabha Secretariat.  As of date, India has about 14 lakh women serving as elected members of Panchayati Raj Institutions and rural local bodies across the country.

Women’s representation in India’s political landscape has seen notable progress, particularly at the grassroots level, yet challenges remain in achieving genuine gender parity across all levels of governance. The 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act of 1993 was a landmark move, mandating one-third of seats in Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) for women. This policy has led to women occupying approximately 44.4% of elected positions in local governments, according to recent estimates. However, this progress at the grassroots has not translated effectively to higher levels of governance, where women's participation remains significantly lower.

At the national level, the 18th Lok Sabha, elected in 2024, has 77 women MPs making 13.63% of the elected strength of the Lower House, this is down from 78 in the 17th Lok Sabha which was 14.3% of its members out of 543 seats. This decline over previous elections underscores the persistent underrepresentation of women in Parliament, despite their growing role in local governance. To address this disparity, the Parliament of India passed the Women's Reservation Bill in 2023, ensuring 33% reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies. This historic legislation, which had been pending for decades, marks a critical step toward enhancing women's representation at higher levels of decision-making.

Despite these initiatives, socio-cultural barriers and systemic challenges often limit the impact of women's participation. In many cases, women elected to PRIs serve as symbolic representatives, with real decision-making power often exercised by male relatives or community elders. This phenomenon of "proxy" representation diminishes the transformative potential of women’s inclusion in governance. Furthermore, the lack of training and capacity-building programs for women representatives hampers their ability to navigate the complexities of governance and deliver effective leadership.

To bridge these gaps, policy measures must focus on empowering women leaders. Comprehensive training programs, societal awareness campaigns to challenge gender biases, and mentorship initiatives linking experienced female leaders with new entrants can significantly enhance women’s effectiveness in leadership roles. Moreover, monitoring mechanisms to ensure substantive participation, rather than symbolic presence, are essential for achieving meaningful outcomes.

While the Women’s Reservation Bill is a step in the right direction, its implementation and impact need careful monitoring to ensure that it translates into real empowerment. By addressing entrenched socio-cultural challenges and supporting women with the necessary resources, India can move closer to achieving gender equality in its political representation, creating a more inclusive and equitable democracy.