Bridging the Paradox: Women's Political Participation and Leadership in Contemporary India

Introduction: The Paradox of Power

Women form nearly half of India’s population and vote at rates comparable to or higher than men. Yet representation remains low.

• 797 women contested the 2024 general election (≈9.5% of candidates).
• 74 women were elected to the Lok Sabha (13.6%), down slightly from 78 in 2019 (14.4%).

This underrepresentation persists despite India’s history of powerful women leaders and the passage of the Women’s Reservation Act (2023).

Structural Underrepresentation: The Numbers

Party-wise Representation (18th Lok Sabha)

Representation Metric	India (18th Lok Sabha)	Global Comparison
Women in Lok Sabha (MPs)	13.6% (74 MPs)	Global average ≈ 26.9%
Women in State Assemblies	~9% average	No state exceeds 20%
Women in Local Bodies	~44% (≈1.37M reps) via 73rd/74th Amendments	Demonstrates quota effectiveness

The TMC’s relatively high proportion underscores the role of party will and gatekeeping.

The Women’s Reservation Act, 2023

• Mandate: Reserves 33% of seats for women in the Lok Sabha, State Assemblies, and Delhi Assembly.
• Sub-reservation: Includes SC/ST women within the quota.
• Implementation: Contingent on the next census and subsequent delimitation—likely post-2029.

Persistent Structural Challenges

• Economic constraints: High campaign costs and asset ownership gaps limit entry.
• Socio-cultural barriers: Patriarchal norms influence party nominations and mobility.
• Violence and security: Gendered threats, including pervasive online abuse, deter participation.

Path Forward

A multi-stakeholder approach is essential: implement the Reservation Act effectively; improve safety and financing access; and dismantle party gatekeeping by recruiting and promoting women from grassroots structures.

Party	Women MPs	Proportion of Party MPs
BJP	31	12.9%
INC	13	13.1%
TMC	11	39.3% (highest)