International Women’s Day 2025: Education, Financial, Digital, Safety and Protection Initiatives by the Government of India

International Women’s Day (IWD), observed on March 8 each year, is a global platform to commemorate women’s contributions in various fields, including social, economic, political and cultural fields. The theme for 2025 is “Empowering to Every Woman: Equality, Progress, Inclusion”, emphasizing the importance of universal rights and opportunities to ensure that every woman and girl can contribute to a more equitable future.

What is the significance of International Women’s Day 2025?

This year marks a major milestone in the world as the world reflects the thirty years since the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (1995), a landmark commitment to promoting gender equality. The anniversary is an opportunity to assess progress made in legal reform, economic inclusion, social equity and the struggle against gender stereotypes.

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What are India’s initiatives for the development of women’s leadership?

India has shifted its focus from a woman-centric development to a model in which women actively promote progress. This shift is visible in policy frameworks, legislative progress and grassroots initiatives, promoting education, financial inclusion and leadership. As IWD advances in 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi encourages women to share their success stories through the Namo App Open forum, providing others with a platform that will inspire and showcase their achievements on March 8.

Legal and constitutional safeguards for gender equality

Key Constitutional Provisions

article

Terms

Article 14

Ensure equality before the law

Article 15

Discrimination on a gender basis is prohibited

Article 39

Ensure equal livelihood opportunities and fair wages

Article 42

Provisions on authorizing maternity welfare

India International Commitment is a participant in a variety of global efforts aimed at ensuring gender equality:

    • Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948)
    • Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women in All Forms (1979)
    • Beijing Statement and Action Platform (1995)
    • United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (Agenda 2030)

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Governmental programs that promote women’s empowerment

  1. Education and skills development education is the cornerstone of gender equality. The government has launched several programs aimed at expanding educational opportunities for girls.

Notable procedures:

    • The Right to Education Act of 2009: Ensure free and mandatory education.
    • BETI BACHAO BETI PADHAO (BBBP): Initiatives to enhance girls’ education and increase children’s ratio are the focus.
    • Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan: Enhanced school education from preschool to level 12 to ensure equitable and quality learning.
    • National Education Policy (NEP) 2020: It aims to create responsible and active citizens who build a fair, inclusive and diverse society based on constitutional values.
    • The number of female students enrolled in the STEM field reached 4.19 million, accounting for 42.57% of the total enrollment.
    • More than one million girls have received scholarships for STEM subjects.
  1. Ensuring access to health care is essential to reduce the health disparity between genders.

Main health plans:

plan

Objective

PM Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY)

Providing financial assistance to pregnant women

Poshan Abhiyaan

Focus on maternal nutrition

Ayushman Bharat

Extended healthcare access

Health Achievements:

  • During the 2014-16-2018-20 years, maternal mortality rate (MMR) decreased from 130 to 97, respectively.
  • In addition, the mortality rate for under 5 years (U5MR) dropped from 43 times in 2015 to 32 in 2020.
  • Life expectancy for women increases to 71.4 years (2016-20), and is predicted to reach 74.7 years by 2031-36.
  1. Economic empowerment and financial inclusion financial autonomy play a crucial role in making women’s independence and security.

Key Financial Plans:

  • The Indian Position Program has provided 84% of loans to female entrepreneurs.
  • In the afternoon, Jan Dhan Yojana had an €3.04 billion account, with women having 55% of the accounts.
  • Self-help groups (SHGs) provide more than 10 billion members of SHGs in India.
  • Under the MUDRA program, 69% of micro-persons are given to women.

Leadership and workforce women:

  • In India, women now have the opportunity to join the National Defense Academy (NDA), take on combat roles, and attend the Sainik School as part of the Indian Armed Forces.
  • 15% of pilots in India are female, while 5% worldwide.
  • 10% of Sidbi funds are reserved for women-led businesses to encourage women in startups.
  1. Digital and technological inclusion technology is an equalizer that bridges the gender gap in access to resources.

Digital India Plan:

  • PMGDISHA: 60 million rural citizens have received digital literacy training.
  • General Service Center (CSC): 67,000 female entrepreneurs are managing digital service centers nationwide.
  • Sankalp Hub: 742 regions have established hubs to support female entrepreneurs.
  1. The government also prioritizes women’s safety and security.

Key legal provisions:

law

Purpose

Criminal Law (Amendment) Act 2018

Stricter punishment for sex crimes

Act 2005 on the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence

Prevent domestic abuse

Sexual harassment under the Workplace Act 2013

Ensure a safe workplace

POCSO Act, 2012

Protect children from sexual offences

Safety Plan:

initiative

Influence

One-stop center (OSC)

802 centers help 1 million+ women

Nirbhaya Fund

Rs 112,98 crore allocated

Special Court for Rapid Tracks (FTSC)

750 operation, 408 dedicated to POCSO cases

Women help table

Of the 14,658 equipped police stations, 13,743 are led by women.

in conclusion

India has made great progress in empowering women through policies, legal frameworks and socio-economic initiatives. The country’s transition to a development model of women-led is promoting an inclusive society that enables women to actively shape the country’s progress. As the world celebrates International Women’s Day 2025, the focus remains on accelerating gender equality, creating leadership opportunities and ensuring a safe future for all women and girls.

Call for action: We can also contribute to gender equality by:

  • Support inclusive policies and equal opportunities.
  • Encourage women’s education and skills development.
  • Advocate for stronger security measures and leadership representatives.
  • Recognize and expand women’s achievements globally.