UPSC Mains 2023 GS4 Q3b: model answer

Nehru saw women's empowerment as the key that unlocks social progress. When a woman is educated and confident, the benefits spread outward.

What it conveys

• The family moves: educated mothers ensure better nutrition, health and schooling for children; studies show female education lowers child mortality.
• The village moves: women's self-help groups under DAY-NRLM, with crores of members, and women sarpanches have improved water, sanitation and local spending.
• The nation moves: higher female workforce participation could add greatly to GDP; women lead in science, sports and governance, as at ISRO in Chandrayaan missions.

In the present context

• The shift from women's development to women-led development, a theme of India's G20 presidency.
• The 106th Amendment (2023) reserves one-third of legislative seats for women.
• Gaps remain: low labour participation, safety and unpaid care burdens.

Empowering women is not only justice; it is the fastest route to national progress.