Fifty years ago, in 1974, the landmark ‘Towards Equality’ report for the first time critically analysed the status of women in India. The report laid out the systemic barriers that confined Indian women to the margins of education, employment and politics. As we mark its golden jubilee, it is imperative to examine the progress made, the challenges that persist, and the opportunities that lie ahead for achieving true gender equality in India. It is to be underlined that the report and its critical comments on the status of women were for the State, where the State was ruling, not the market. There has been mixed progress in the past 50 years where remarkable change was registered in the areas of women’s education and health but in several other areas, there has not been appreciable progress. Issues like unfavourable sex ratio to girls, lower economic participation, migration, informalisation of labour, poor representation of women in leadership positions, new forms of crimes against women in the digital era, climate change and its disproportionate impact on women etc. continue to demand the attention of the State and, since liberalisation, of the markets to work together to move the needle further.
In 1974, women’s access to education in India was hindered by deep-rooted social prejudices and limited opportunities. The literacy rate for women stood at a dismal 22%, compared to 46% for men, with early marriage, lack of infrastructure, and social norms preventing many girls from accessing schools. Though various barriers still exist, significant progress has been made in the last 50 years. Women’s literacy has crossed 60% with various programmes right from the national literacy mission, Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, Right to Education to Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, coupled with increasing awareness among people to send their female wards to education. Girls’ enrolment in schools and colleges has surged, and they now represent an impressive 43% of students in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) fields.
Improvements in access to education are driving change in other areas too. However, gender disparities persist, particularly in rural areas and among marginalised communities. Girls, especially from marginalised communities, often drop out of school due to early marriage, financial constraints, or a lack of sanitation facilities. The digital divide has further widened gender inequality in education. Hence, the next phase must focus on retaining girls in school, bridging urban-rural divides, and ensuring their education translates into meaningful careers. Further, despite educational advancements, women’s representation in STEM careers remains disproportionately low. It is necessary that the support for women’s careers starts right from family, to state, market, law, media etc.
Since the report, women’s workforce participation has increased significantly – the female labour force participation rate has grown to 41.7% but is lower than the global average of 48%. Furthermore, most of this growth is driven by informal and self-employment. Wage gaps remain and in the formal sector, despite growing educational achievements, women occupy only 19% of senior management roles. Government schemes like Stand-Up India and MUDRA have helped but women-led businesses often remain small-scale ventures with limited economic impact due to persistent barriers like restricted access to larger credit, markets, and mentorship.
Quantitative and qualitative improvements in women’s labour force participation can only be made through introduction and strict enforcement of policies to improve childcare infrastructure, enforce equal pay, and incentivise women’s entry into formal, high-paying jobs.
Political participation: A mixed bag
In 1974, despite trailblazing leaders like Indira Gandhi, women’s political presence was virtually invisible. The report underscored the absence of women in decision-making roles, with their participation often limited to token representation. The 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments marked a turning point in correcting this through a constitutional mandate of 33% reservations for women in local governance. Today, there are more than 20 states that have gone for even higher 50% reservation for women in local governance. Women constitute over 45% of elected representatives in Panchayati Raj Institutions now. However, at the state and national levels, women’s representation remains critically low, with women holding only 13.26% of parliamentary seats which is significantly below the global average. Moreover, women’s role in political decision-making is even more constrained, as only seven women hold ministerial position.in the 18th Lok Sabha.
Implementation of the 33% reservation for women in Parliament and State assemblies remains uncertain due to its dependence on the politically sensitive process of delimitation. To address this gap, India must prioritise legislative reforms and actively promote women’s leadership beyond grassroots levels. To enhance women’s political participation, political parties should implement pre-election capacity-building programmes tailored for female candidates.
The past 50 years have witnessed a remarkable journey for Indian women – from exclusion to inclusion in education, the economy, and governance. However, equality is not just about numbers. It is about dismantling structural barriers and building an environment where women can thrive as equal partners in development. By investing in education, fostering economic independence, and ensuring political representation, India can drive inclusive growth. While quantitative improvements have taken place, the qualitative change in terms of social transformation in gender roles and accepting women as equal partners of development by recognising their agency has not.
The ‘Towards Equality’ report was a clarion call for change. In the context of commemorating its 50th anniversary, India must renew its commitment to gender equality, ensuring that the next 50 years bring greater opportunities, empowerment, and justice for all women. Women are not homogeneous and any analysis based on tokenism in fields with a few women’s presence cannot be accepted as women from the marginalised communities continue to suffer the worst. Hence, the intersectional perspective of understanding the issues of women in the margins and a special policy towards addressing the same will go a long way in ensuring Sustainable Development Goal 5 and developing solutions to the issues pointed in the ‘Towards Equality’ report. The road may be long, but the journey is well underway.
Jyoti is an associate fellow, National Council of Applied Economic Research, Delhi; Manimekalai is Director, Centre for Women’s Development Studies, Delhi. Views are personal.