From dusty village lanes to the digital skies, from kitchen fires to commanding startups — India’s women have been rewriting their own destiny. And standing beside them is a government that’s not just talking empowerment, but weaving it into the very fabric of governance. As the Narendra Modi-led NDA government completes one year of its third term, it doesn’t just mark another political milestone — it reflects 11 years of consistent effort to place women and girls at the centre of India’s transformation
This is the story of how Nari Shakti went from slogan to strategy — and how it’s shaping a new India.
Education: Building the Foundation of Empowerment
They say education changes everything — and over the past decade, India has watched daughters dream bigger, and families stand behind them with pride. Since 2014-15, female enrolment in higher education has increased by 32%. This rise is more than just a statistic — it reflects the quiet revolution taking place in Indian homes, where more daughters are encouraged to dream bigger and aim higher.
Schemes like Vigyan Jyoti have played a pivotal role, with over 82,000 girl students from 300 districts empowered to pursue STEM fields. Women now comprise 43% of students in STEMM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics & Medicine) — a remarkable shift
towards gender parity in science and innovation. Initiatives like Curie (science programs in women’s PG colleges) and the WISER scheme (women in Indo-German research) have further cemented the path for women researchers.
Entrepreneurship & Financial Independence: Boss Women are Here! Whether it’s a corner shop in a village or a startup in a city, women are not just participating in the economy — they’re leading it.
Under PM Mudra Yojana, over 68% of account holders are women, powering small businesses and local economies. The Stand Up India initiative sees over 74% of its beneficiaries as women entrepreneurs, and 48% of recognised startups now have at least one woman director.
Through the Deen Dayal Antyodaya Yojana – NRLM, women-led Self Help Groups have accessed a staggering ₹10.20 lakh crore in bank credit since 2013-14. Initiatives like Lakhpati Didi are helping SHG members become economically self- sufficient by skilling them for income generation, while NaMo Drone Didi is placing women at the cutting edge of agri-tech by training them to operate drones in agriculture.
What was once a distant dream for many rural women — owning a business, generating income, leading a team — is now their daily reality.
Health and Safety: Protecting the Core of Society
Maternal and child health has long been a challenge in India — but now, the tide is turning. Compared to global averages, India has seen a faster decline in maternal and infant mortality — thanks to targeted government schemes, better infrastructure, and public awareness
The Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act, 2017 was a landmark reform, increasing paid maternity leave from 12 to 26 weeks, and granting leave to commissioning mothers for the first time. Women were also granted the right to work across all sectors — breaking outdated barriers.
The Ujjwala Yojana, with 32.83 crore LPG connections distributed by 2024, provided relief fromsmoke and drastically improved women’s health, dignity, and time — especially in rural
households
Housing & Dignity: Empowerment Begins at Home
A house isn’t just a structure — it’s a symbol of security, identity, and power. Under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Urban, nearly 80% of the 94 lakh approved houses are in women’s names — a symbolic and financial shift towards equality. In PM Awas Yojana – Gramin, a remarkable 73% of houses are women-owned, changing inheritance patterns and boosting women’s confidence.Because when a woman owns the house she lives in, she walks a little taller.
Political Participation: Women Leading India’s Democracy
The Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, a historic legislation passed by the Modi government, ensures 33% reservation for women in both Parliament and State Assemblies. This has laid the foundation for lasting gender equity in governance.
The progress is visible:
Lok Sabha: Women’s representation grew from 11.23% in 2014 to 13.6% in 2024 Rajya Sabha: Increased from 12.76% to 16.95%
But more than numbers, it’s the presence of women shaping laws, policies, and public dialogue that marks real progress. Women are not just casting votes; they’re making laws, shaping policy, and voicing the concerns of half the population.
Defence and Aerospace: Daughters on the Frontlines
India’s women are no longer just serving the nation quietly — they’re leading on the frontlines. Women officers have been granted Permanent Commission. Sainik Schools are now open to girls.
In 2022, the NDA welcomed 126 women cadets, and 17 from the first batch have already graduated
In the skies, India now has 15% women pilots, compared to the global average of just 5%. Additionally, 11% of flight dispatchers and 9% of aerospace engineers in India are women
— proving that no field is beyond reach.
Science & Technology: Women at the Cutting Edge From research labs to AI startups, women are now active contributors to India’s tech revolution. With schemes that support research, innovation, and science education in women’s colleges, India is slowly building an ecosystem where the next tech founder or scientist could just as easily be a girl from a Tier-2 city. Innovation clusters, grant support, and gender-inclusive research environments are making sure women aren’t just part of the future — they’re building it.
A Nation Transformed, A Future Redefined
From rights to recognition, from homes to health, from classrooms to command posts,
India’s women have come a long way. But what makes this journey remarkable is not just the policies or the numbers — it’s the millions of quiet revolutions happening in homes, villages, and towns every day.
As India continues to grow, one truth is clearer than ever: Nari Shakti isn’t just a part of India’s story. It is the story.
The Narendra Modi – led NDA government’s consistent and focused approach to women- led development is no longer a promise — it’s a proven path forward.
With each policy, each step, and each opportunity — we celebrate
11YearsOfSashaktNari.
The journey continues
Credit Sources:
- @mygovindia (on X)
- @PIB_India (on X)
