Women Empowerment

Join us on August 21st in New Delhi at News18 SheShakti 2025- the biggest celebration of India's most inspiring women, who are breaking barriers and building a better Bharat. They are redefining progress and leadership, not just thinking differently but creating a world without limits. Whether in boardrooms, grassroots movements, policymaking, or start-up ecosystems, they are the leaders, change-makers, and nation-builders who are paving the way for others. Experience their stories of determination, vision, and relentless drive- Live and be inspired by the voices shaping India's future.

Union Budget 2025: How Much Of India’s Budget Goes To Women | N18L

The Indian government has exceeded its gender budget allocation each year post-Covid, with revised spending for FY24 reaching Rs 2.75 lakh crore, 15.5% higher than the original estimate. Since FY21, total spending on gender-focused schemes has amounted to Rs 8.68 lakh crore, surpassing budgeted figures. The government plans to allocate over Rs 3 lakh crore in FY25, marking the highest level of spending on women-centric schemes in over a decade, accounting for 6.8% of total expenditure. This increase includes a planned Rs 300 crore for women empowerment, the largest allocation yet. The government has prioritized funding programs exclusively for women, significantly boosting women-specific initiatives like PMAY and LPG connection schemes.

MVA to transform Ladki Bahin Yojana into rights-based scheme: Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan

Senior Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan on Wednesday said the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) will transform the Ladki Bahin Yojana for women .

Elevate, Empower, Inspire: Celebrating Women Leaders at News18 SheShakti 2024

The lineup for SheShakti 2024 is truly inspiring, featuring a diverse array of influential women leaders and changemakers from various fields.

News18 SheShakti 2024: Celebrating the Power of Women Breaking Barriers

Following the triumph of its debut, News18 SheShakti returns with its highly anticipated second edition, set to honour the extraordinary achievements and contributions of women across India. Themed “Breaking Barriers”, SheShakti 2024 will spotlight the diverse roles women play in advancing gender equality and driving societal progress.

Prashant Kishor unveils Jan Suraaj's 2025 vision: Focus on women empowerment, local job creation

"In 2025, Jan Suraaj will contest on 243 seats and at least 40 women candidates will be nominated. We have also said that in 2030, 70-80 women will be made leaders from Jan Suraaj," Kishor stated.

PM Modi calls crimes against women "unpardonable sins", calls for accountability from all

"Crime against women is an unpardonable sin. Whoever is guilty, he should not be spared. Those who help him in any form should not be spared," the PM said asserting that this accountability must be across all institutions.

10 years of women-centric success beats 70 years of past governments, says PM Modi

Prime Minister Modi praised the empowerment of women through Self Help Groups (SHGs) and highlighted the remarkable progress made in boosting their economic standing.

From the C-suite to the bottom of the pyramid, women are vanishing from India’s economic landscape

There is a lot of talk on women’s empowerment and how their participation in all parts of the economy needs to increase. Unfortunately, the numbers show nobody is walking the talk

Smriti Irani lists 'historic strides' in women's financial empowerment

Irani echoed India's commitment to gender equality, positioning the nation as a global torchbearer for women's financial inclusion and empowerment.

Interim Budget 2024 makes a progressive leap towards inclusive growth, says Zuno Insurance CEO

It is heartening to see the government put its might behind fostering financial independence and empower of women across the strata of society, says Shanai Ghosh, MD and CEO, Zuno General Insurance.

Women's economic empowerment takes center stage in Interim Budget; Lakhpati Didi scheme expanded to 3 cr women

FM Sitharaman announced a substantial increase in the target for the Lakhpati Didi scheme, originally set at 2 crore women, now expanded to 3 crore women.

Republic Day 2024: Nari Shakti takes centre stage at 75th R-Day parade

For the first time, an all-women tri-services contingent marched down the Kartavya Path, reflecting the country’s growing ‘Nari Shakti’ (women power). In another first, the parade was heralded by over 100 women artistes playing Indian musical instruments such as sankh, naadswaram and nagada instead of traditional military bands kickstarting the celebrations

Odisha's Republic Day tableau showcases women empowerment, 'war horse' of Konark Temple

A big umbrella on Odisha's tableau denoted the support of the central and state governments to the artisans under the 'Viksit Bharat' programme.

Govt policies need to boost women-led development, say experts

At a panel discussion on ‘We the women - India’s next growth engine’ at the Moneycontrol Policy Next - India’s $10 trillion Run', experts said providing finance to women can be an engine of growth that would drive social change.

PM Modi reviews progress of schemes to empower women announced in I-Day address

In his address, the prime minister had spoken about making two crore 'Lakhpati didis' — making two crore women engaged in self-help groups or anganwadis 'Lakhpatis'.

Nobel Peace Prize 2023 awarded to Narges Mohammadi for her fight against oppression of women in Iran

The Iranian regime has arrested Narges Mohammadi 13 times, convicted her five times, and sentenced her to a total of 31 years in prison and 154 lashes. Mohammadi is still in prison.

Women emerging as driving force of India’s growth journey: PM Modi

In a wide-ranging interview, Prime Minister Modi also spoke about how different countries need to work together to combat inflation, the damage from freebies and fiscally irresponsible policies, how climate change is a shared reality for the world and much more.

Independence Day 2023: Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted India's approach on women-led development

From the ramparts of the Red Fort, Prime Minister Narendra Modi pushed for women-led development. In a strong pitch for women empowerment, the PM also mentioned the new policies the government is working on to make women more self -reliant. Modi spoke about an agri-tech scheme for the women self-help groups (SHG), under which the government will train women to operate, drive and repair drones in the agricultural sector

RBI report on growing women’s deposits is a clarion call to bank on women better 

Women depositors are on the upswing, aided by financial inclusion policies like JAM trinity, DBT and MGNREGA. But women are still not part of banking in proportion to their numbers. Levelling this gap accords great growth opportunities for banks, for India’s macroeconomic performance, and for women themselves 

Bihar’s Bicycle Didi who has spent a lifetime with the Musahars

This Dalit History Month, training the spotlight on Sudha Varghese, who travelled from Kerala to Bihar as a teenager to live with the Musahar community, considered Dalits among the Dalits in the country, five decades ago. She never left

Women-led development is governance mantra of Modi govt: Smriti Irani

Addressing the India Global Forum annual summit, the women and child development minister said Prime Minister Narendra Modi exhorted communities to ensure women have access to financial services and that is why more than 213 million Indian women now have a bank account under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana.

It is the best time to be a woman in India: Permanent Representative to the UN Ruchira Kamboj

"In India, there has been enormous, enormous growth in the past eight-nine years particularly and today, I think it is perhaps the best time to be a woman in India. I mean that very sincerely, " India's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Kamboj said.

Women's Day: Is India doing enough to boost Nari Shakti?

Gender Budgeting is a promising framework for ensuring women-led development. It is laudable that the narrative has shifted from women’s development to women-led development 

International Women's Day: Are startups enabling higher female workforce participation?

International Women's Day: With policies like period and child support leave for women with children under 10, startups are helping build a whole new workplace for women in corporate India.