India's Women Representation in Parliament Lags Behind Global Average
How India Compares With World On Women Representation In Parliament
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India's representation of women in Parliament stands at approximately 15%, significantly below the global average of 26-27%. This disparity persists despite the recent enactment of the Women’s Reservation Act 2023, which aims to reserve one-third of seats for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies.
- 01Women make up about 15% of India's Parliament compared to a global average of 26-27%.
- 02The Women's Reservation Act 2023 aims to reserve one-third of parliamentary seats for women.
- 03Only 78 women serve in the Lok Sabha and 24 in the Rajya Sabha.
- 04Rwanda leads globally with 64% female representation in its lower house.
- 05UN Women estimates gender parity in legislatures may not be achieved until 2063.
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India's representation of women in its Parliament is approximately 15%, falling short of the global average of 26-27%. This statistic is highlighted by the recent notification of the Women’s Reservation Act 2023, which aims to reserve one-third of seats for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies. Currently, there are 78 women in the 542-member Lok Sabha and 24 women in the 224-member Rajya Sabha. While global representation has improved, with women now constituting about 27.5% of parliamentarians—up from 11% in 1995—India remains closer to the lower end of the spectrum. Countries like Rwanda, Cuba, Nicaragua, and Bolivia have surpassed 50% female representation. Despite these advancements, UN Women warns that achieving gender parity in national legislatures may not occur until 2063 if current trends continue.
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The enactment of the Women's Reservation Act could significantly increase the number of women in Indian politics, influencing policy decisions and representation.
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