Women's political participation in India

The term political participation encompasses a broad range of activities through which individuals engage with political processes. These include the right to vote, contest elections, join political parties, engage in political activism, influence public policy, and cultivate political consciousness. For women, political participation is not only a matter of democratic right but also a key pathway to achieving gender equality and social empowerment.

Women in India vote, run for public office, and join political parties. Still, their overall participation remains lower than that of men. Political activism and voting are the strongest areas of women's political engagement. To combat gender inequality in politics, the Indian government has instituted reservations in seats in local governments.

During India's 2014 parliamentary general elections, the voter turnout for women was 65.63%, slightly lower than the 67.09% turnout for men. However, after a decade, in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, women's voter turnout slightly surpassed that of men, with 65.8% of women casting their votes compared to 65.6% of men. Although there has been progress worldwide, women continue to be underrepresented in political institutions. Deep-rooted social norms, structural inequalities, and restricted access to resources still pose significant obstacles to their full participation. India was ranked 143rd out of 183 nations. However, Indian women have achieved significant milestones, serving as President, Prime Minister, and Chief Ministers of various states. For decades, they have been elected to state legislative assemblies and the national parliament.