Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Women in Lok Sabha 2024
Mains level: Different Demographic Observations and What Needs to Be Done?
Why in the news?
Over time, there has been a general inclination towards enhancing women’s representation in the Lok Sabha. However, the advancement has been gradual and inconsistent.
Women in Lok Sabha 2024 (PRS data):
- Number of Women MPs: India has elected 74 women MPs to the Lok Sabha in 2024, which is four fewer than in 2019.
- Percentage of Representation: Women MPs make up just 13.63% of the elected strength of the Lower House.
- Party-wise Distribution: Women MPs come from 14 different parties, with the BJP leading with 31 women MPs, followed by the Congress with 13.
Different Demographic Observations:
- Trend in Representation: Over the years, there has been a slow and non-linear increase in women’s representation in the Lok Sabha.
- Historical Trends: Women’s representation started at 4.41% in 1952 and peaked at 14.36% in 2019.
- New Faces: Out of the 74 women MPs elected, 43 are first-time MPs, indicating a higher percentage of newcomers compared to the overall House.
- Younger Representation: The average age of women MPs is 50 years, younger than the overall House age of 56 years.
Comparison with Other Countries:
- International Comparison: India lags behind several countries in terms of women’s representation, with countries like South Africa, the UK, and the US having higher percentages of women MPs.
- Global Rankings: Women make up 46% of MPs in South Africa, 35% in the UK, and 29% in the US.
What Needs to Be Done?
- Increase in Representation: There is a need for greater efforts to increase women’s representation in the Lok Sabha to achieve gender parity.
- Policy Measures: Implementation of policy measures such as reserving seats for women in the Lok Sabha could help improve representation.
- Encouraging Participation: Encouraging more women to enter politics and providing support for their political careers can contribute to greater representation.
- Education and Awareness: Promoting education and awareness about the importance of gender equality in politics is essential for fostering a more inclusive political environment.
Mains PYQ:
Q What are the continued challenges for Women in India against time and space? (UPSC IAS/2019)
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