The principle of gender equality has been enshrined in the Indian Constitution, in its Preamble, Fundamental Rights, Fundamental Duties, and Directive Principles. The Constitution not only grants equality to women but also authorizes the State to adopt measures for the empowerment of women.

Changing Status Of Women In Contemporary India

1. Over a while, numerous changes in the status of women have been witnessed in varied sectors. Whether it is about improving sex ratio or taking preventive measures for the safety and security of women, the government of India has been actively participating in improving the status of women.
2. There has been a transformation from a welfare-oriented approach to the development and empowerment of women.
3. The change can be seen in the enrolment of women in educational institutions, acquiring financial independence, availing their rights, and moving towards empowerment opportunities.
4. With the advent of industrialization, globalization, and modern techniques of work, socioeconomic changes are being depicted in the status of women.
5. The acquisition of education and obtaining employment opportunities are the major factors that have rendered a significant contribution in promoting empowerment opportunities. Thereby, a radical shift in the status of women in India has been witnessed.

Factors Responsible For Changing Status Of Women

1. Social Factors: With the measures taken for improving the sex ratio in India such as the Pre-conception and Prenatal Diagnostic Technique (PC-PNDT) Act 2011, National Plan of Action for the Girl Child (1991-2000), the social status and perception towards women have been significantly improved. Besides this, numerous campaigns have been launched for encouraging the celebration of the girl child, for example, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao campaign 2015, etc.
2. Economic Factors: For the empowerment of women, equal participation, and recognition of women in the public sphere is an essential requirement. With the achievement of the Maternity Benefit Act, women are easily ensuring their continuance participation in the economic sphere. Further, with the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act (2013), they can easily move to move ahead in their career without any stress of their security which has increased their participation in various fields.
3. Cultural Factors: one of the significant achievements in enhancing the status of women is the protection of women from domestic violence act 2005. With this act, the threat and practice of violence against women have been curbed.
4. Political Factors: being a democratic country, the representation and participation of women in the political sphere have been remarkably increased. Women now contest elections, and freely put forward their choice at the time of voting. For example, 73rd and 74th Amendments (1993) have provided for the reservation of seats in the local bodies of Panchayats and Municipalities.

Though gender inequality in India has been a known phenomenon and struggle has not ended. The World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Index 2019-2020 measures the extent of gender-based gaps in economic participation and opportunity, educational attainment, health and survival, and political empowerment. India dropped four places, from 2018, to take the 112th rank in the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Index 2019-2020. In the health and survival parameters, India’s performance is dismal, ranking 150th out of 153 countries. Hence, though India is witnessing a change in the status of women, it has to simultaneously struggle for ending violence and discrimination, attaining empowerment, equality, and access to women in all the spheres.