Minister of State for Women and Child Development, Smt. Savitri Thakur, delivered India’s national intervention during the General Discussion at the 70th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW-70) at the United Nations Headquarters in New York on 10th March, 2026.
In her address, the Minister highlighted India’s progress towards women-led development and reaffirmed the country’s commitment to advancing gender equality and strengthening access to justice in alignment with the Beijing Platform for Action.
Underscoring that India’s development philosophy of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas has guided its vision of inclusive growth, she noted that over 100 million women, organised into nearly 9 million Self-Help Groups, have transformed the rural economic landscape by fostering grassroots leadership and entrepreneurship.
She further highlighted that women are leading over 1,000 start-ups supported under Atal Incubation Centres, while more than 8 lakh women directors are associated with active Indian companies. More than 25 million rural women have also been trained in digital services under the Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan (PM-DISHA), contributing to bridging the gender digital divide.
The Minister noted that sustained policy interventions addressing critical areas of concern under the Beijing Platform for Action have contributed to increasing India’s Female Labour Force Participation Rate to 41.7%. Emphasizing women’s participation in public life, she stated that the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam provides for reservation of one-third seats for women in Parliament and State Legislative Assemblies, while over 1.4 million women, constituting 46% of all elected representatives, serve in Panchayati Raj Institutions.
She also highlighted that around 39,000 children are benefiting from quality crèche facilities under the Palna scheme, girls’ enrolment is nearly at par with boys across all levels of education, and over 72% of 29 million rural houses constructed under the Government’s affordable housing scheme are wholly or jointly owned by women.
Referring to healthcare access, she noted that under Ayushman Bharat, 141 dedicated healthcare packages cover over 208 million women cardholders. On the priority theme, the Minister highlighted India’s comprehensive approach across the justice continuum including legal awareness, free legal aid, grassroots dispute resolution through Nari Adalats and 334 Gram Nyayalayas, as well as the Tele-Law programme, which has delivered pre-litigation advice to approximately 4 million women across the country.
She reiterated that women-led development remains central to India’s vision of Viksit Bharat@2047, with access to justice forming the foundation for the realization of all other rights, and reaffirmed India’s commitment to strengthening inclusive systems that leave no one behind.
The General Discussion at CSW-70 witnessed participation from Heads of delegations of nearly 75 countries. The General Statements were delivered in the United Nations General Assembly Hall, underscoring the shared global commitment to promote gender equality and women’s empowerment.