Women

Women lawyers to take on leadership roles, but barriers persist: Survey

An SCBA survey shows women lawyers keen to lead, yet gender bias, pay gaps, limited mentorship and motherhood pressures continue to restrict equal access to leadership roles

PM Modi meets, congratulates Indian women's cricket team on World Cup win

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday met the triumphant Indian women's cricket team at his residence and lauded the players for their remarkable resilience and comeback in the World Cup after enduring a tough phase marked by three consecutive defeats. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur recalled meeting the Prime Minister in 2017 without the trophy. She said now that they have met him with the trophy, they would wish to meet him more often. Vice Captain Smriti Mandhana said the PM had motivated them and has been an inspiration for all of them. The victorious Indian women's cricket team led by Harmanpreet Kaur had arrived in the national capital on Tuesday evening for the meeting. The team won its first global trophy -- the 50-over World Cup -- after beating South Africa by 52 runs in the final in Navi Mumbai on Sunday, marking a defining moment for the women's game in the cricket-obsessed country.

12 states to spend ₹1.68 trillion on women's cash schemes: Report

A total of 12 states across India will collectively spend Rs 1.68 lakh crore on unconditional cash transfer schemes for women in 2025-26, up from just two states implementing such programmes three years ago, according to a new report by think tank PRS Legislative Research. The report said six of these 12 states have projected a revenue deficit this year, highlighting growing fiscal pressure linked to the rapid expansion of women-centric welfare payouts. "Among the 12 states implementing UCT schemes, six have estimated a revenue deficit in 2025-26. However, adjusting the revenue balance to exclude spending on UCT schemes shows an improvement in fiscal indicators of these states," the report said. Unconditional cash transfer (UCT) schemes, which aim to empower women from economically weaker households through monthly direct benefit payments, have become a key welfare feature in several states. The number of states providing largely unconditional cash transfers (UCT) to women has ...

Gender diversity: Women to join all shifts of Tata Steel's Jamshedpur plant

Inclusion of women in all three shifts at Tata Steel's Jamshedpur plant from February 1 next year follows its 'Udaan: Wings of Change' initiative to its advance diversity, equity, and inclusion goals

Bengal has become safe haven for criminals, not safe for women: CPI(M)

The CPI(M) on Sunday claimed that West Bengal has become a safe haven for criminals, maintaining that the state is not anymore safe for women. "In West Bengal, criminals are safe and not women," CPI(M) central committee member Sujan Chakraborty said. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday said that female boarders, especially those from outside the state, should follow hostel rules and not venture out late at night. Banerjee made the averment after a student of a private medical college in Durgapur, hailing from Odisha, was allegedly gang-raped on Friday night when she went out with a friend for dinner. Chakraborty said Banerjee, by asking female students not to venture out at night, has made it apparent that West Bengal is "not safe for women". "By asking women students not to venture out at night, the chief minister has made it clear that the propaganda that Kolkata is the safest city, or Durgapur is a safe city, is not true," Chakraborty, a former CPI(M) Lok Sabha

Tata Power ropes in 100 women as solar energy ambassadors in villages

Women volunteers are encouraging people to adopt clean energy solutions in villages under power discom Tata Power Delhi Distribution Limited's Solar Sakhi Abhiyan. The initiative, launched recently from the Pooth Khurd Village, is in alignment with the central government's PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana. At the heart of the initiative are 100 Solar Sakhi members women volunteers trained to serve as ambassadors of solar energy in villages. They will spread awareness on rooftop solar benefits, educate households on clean energy solutions, and act as a bridge between government policies and communities in more than 75 villages of Tata Power-DDL, the statement added. Each Solar Sakhi has been provided with a distinctive jacket, symbolising pride, leadership, and recognition, it said. Neeraj Semwal, Secretary (Power) in the Delhi government, said: "The Delhi government is committed to promoting renewable energy and inclusive growth. Initiatives like Solar Sakhi Abhiyan strengthen thi

Telangana govt reimburses ₹7,400 cr to RTC towards women free travel: Dy CM

Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka on Saturday said the Telangana government has reimbursed over Rs 7,400 crore to the State Road Transport Corporation (TGSRTC) towards women's free travel. Speaking at a programme organised to distribute interest-free loans to Women's Self-Help Groups, Vikramarka said that despite doubts raised by opposition parties and others over the feasibility of providing Rs 20,000 crore in annual interest-free loans, the government had already disbursed Rs 21,632 crore in the first year, setting a record and proving its commitment. "Women have availed 222.50 crore free bus journeys, with the state government reimbursing Rs 7,422 crore to TGSRTC on their behalf, saving them nearly Rs 7,000 crore in travel expenses," he said. Listing the welfare measures implemented by the Congress government, the Deputy CM said 96 lakh families are being provided six kg of fine rice per person free of cost every month. The rice, priced at Rs 50 a kg in the open market, is

Shift in dependency as 83% of sole-earning women gig workers married: Study

Of the total women surveyed in Delhi NCR region, 16. 3 per cent responded as being sole earners

Minority affairs ministry adds UMEED portal module to aid women, orphans

In a significant step toward strengthening inclusive welfare mechanisms, the Ministry of Minority Affairs on Wednesday launched an additional module on the UMEED Portal, which enables widows, divorced women, and orphans to apply for maintenance support from certain Waqf properties. The new functionality enables widows, divorced women, and orphans to apply for maintenance support from Waqf-alal-aulad properties, in accordance with Rule 8(2) of the Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development Rules, 2025, framed under a section of the Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development Act, 1995. In a significant stride toward strengthening inclusive welfare mechanisms, the Ministry of Minority Affairs has launched the additional module on the UMEED Portal, an official statement said. The launch of this module marks a forward-looking step in making Waqf administration more people-centric, transparent and digitally enabled, the Ministry of Minority ...

Women just 9% of FMCD workforce despite 30% hiring surge in two years

Even as India's fast-moving consumer durables (FMCD) sector has posted a 30 per cent hiring growth over the past two years, women remain starkly underrepresented, making up just 9 per cent of the workforce, said a report. India's FMCD sector has demonstrated consistent hiring momentum, with a cumulative 30 per cent increase from May 2023 to May 2025, according to a report by CIEL HR titled 'FMCD Sector: Talent Trends and Insights'. The report is based on quantitative analysis, drawing on data from 1,00,000 executives working in India's FMCD sector and 1,005 job postings. It also includes insights from the career sections of FMCD companies operating in India. Despite the sector's strong growth trajectory, the report revealed a huge gender gap, with women making up only 9 per cent of the FMCD workforce, one of the lowest among major sectors. Their representation remains especially low in manufacturing, sales, and technical roles due to long-standing structural barriers, it added. "T

Sebi to offer extra incentives for first-time women investors in MFs

To encourage greater participation of women in mutual funds, markets regulator Sebi is planning to introduce additional incentives for investments by first-time female investors, its chief Tuhin Kanta Pandey said on Friday. "Financial inclusion will remain incomplete unless women are equally represented," Pandey said at an event organised by the Association of Mutual Funds in India (Amfi). "...We are thus also envisaging to introduce an additional distribution incentive for investments from first-time women investors," he added. He said that Sebi is taking a series of measures to facilitate and encourage the industry, and one such recent proposal is to incentivise distributors for investments from first-time individual investors in B30 cities (tier 2 and tier 3 cities). The move will not only bring new participants into the fold but also extend the reach of mutual funds into underrepresented regions, contributing to deeper financial inclusion. Also, to provide greater flexibility

Andhra govt to launch free bus travel for women from Aug 15: Minister

Andhra Pradesh Minister K Parthasarathy on Wednesday announced that the state government's flagship free bus travel scheme for women, a key poll promise, will be launched across the state on August 15. The scheme, titled 'Stree Shakti' (Women's Power), is expected to cost Rs 1,942 crore annuallyapproximately Rs 162 crore per monthand aims to empower women by improving access to education, employment, and mobility. "I'm happy to share that free bus travel for women will commence on August 15," said the State Information and Public Relations Minister, adding that the initiative is aimed at empowering women and enhancing their access to opportunities in education, employment, and other sectors. Addressing a press conference at the Secretariat after a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, Parthasarathy dismissed reports suggesting the scheme would be limited to select districts. "There were reports that the scheme would be restricted to certain areas, but it ha

If AIADMK wins, women house heads will get ₹1,500 monthly aid: Palaniswami

AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami on Friday announced that he would ensure a monthly assistance of Rs 1,500 to women heads of households, if his party was elected to power in 2026 Assembly poll. Asserting that there was no change in his stance of providing the monthly aid to the women in the state, he said along with this assurance, the AIADMK would fulfill all the requirements of the people. You desired for Rs 1,000 promised by the DMK and made it win the 2021 election and in the process lost a monthly grant of Rs 1,500 promised by the AIADMK then. You will surely get this sum if the AIADMK is voted to power this time, the former Chief Minister said addressing a massive gathering here during his roadshow. The sum would definitely be satisfactory to the underprivileged women and women heads of households, he added. When he urged the people, especially the poor and all those reeling under the series of taxes imposed by the DMK regime, to unite and dislodge the family r

Ladli Behna Yojana monthly aid to be ₹1500 after Diwali: MP CM Yadav

Chief Minister Mohan Yadav also said 51 lakh girls have benefited from the Ladli Laxmi Yojana, receiving ₹672 crore in total assistance

Uttar Pradesh woman poisons son, daughter to be on 'honeymoon' with lover

A 24-year-old woman in Rodkali village here allegedly, with the help of her lover, killed two of her children because she considered them to be an obstacle in her love affair, police said on Friday. Muskan, the woman, has been arrested, while the purported lover, Junaid, is on the run, they said. Muskan's two children, son Arhan and daughter Enaya, aged five and one, were found dead Thursday in their home in suspicious circumstances, Senior Superintendent of Police Sanjay Kumar told reporters. "Investigation revealed the mother's involvement in the deaths, and she was taken into custody. During interrogation, she confessed to the crime," said the Officer. Muskan said she found her children to be an obstruction in her starting a new life with her lover, Junaid, so she decided to kill them, Kumar said. "She gave them poison, which caused their death," the officer added. Muskan had been in an illicit relationship with Junaid for a long time. Her husband, Waseem, is currently working

CAIT, Meta initiative to train 25,000 women traders with digital skills

The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) and Meta have launched an initiative to equip 25,000 women traders across India with digital skills using the WhatsApp Business App. The first phase of 'Vyaapar Sakhi' will run from June to November 2025, offering in-person training sessions in multiple Indian languages. The initiative aims to help women entrepreneurs build a credible online presence, showcase products, set up automated messages, and run ads on WhatsApp. The women's wing of CAIT will lead the training, according to a release. "India is home to millions of women-led businesses, and empowering them is not just the right thing to do; it is critical to unleashing our country's vast entrepreneurial potential. "We believe that giving women across India, especially in tier 2 and tier 3 towns, the right digital skills and knowledge to fully unlock the potential of WhatsApp will not only help them grow their businesses but it will also enable them to better support and benefit

Robotic-assisted surgery steadily transforming gynaecological care: study

A study released to coincide with Women's Health Month, is shedding light on how robotic-assisted surgery (RAS) is steadily transforming gynaecological care across the country. May month is observed as Women's Health Month worldwide, to focus on raising awareness about women's health issues and encouraging women to prioritise their physical, mental, and emotional well-being. "Women's Health Month is a time to reflect on how surgical technology innovations like the da Vinci robotic technology are enhancing healthcare outcomes for women," said Dr Rooma Sinha, Honorary Professor and Chief Gynaecologist at Apollo Health City, Hyderabad, one of the surgeons who oversaw the study. The multi-institutional study, 'Trends in Gynaecological Robotic Surgery in India: A Real-World Scenario', was conducted across five tertiary care hospitals -- Apollo Health City (Hyderabad), PGIMER (Chandigarh), Manipal Hospital (Bengaluru), Narayana Health (Bengaluru), and Tata Memorial Hospital (Mumbai). It

Happy Mother's Day 2025: 100+ wishes, messages and quotes to share

Mother's Day is celebrated every year on May 11, 2025. It is an occasion to express love and gratitude to the special women in our lives, i.e., our mother

Women placement increased 6% point to 32% in last six years: Report

One in three candidates placed by Careernet is a woman, marking the highest representation in six years and a consistent trend over the last two years

Women constitute 64.4% of India's agricultural workforce: Report

Women constitute 64.4 per cent of India's agricultural workforce but only 6-10 per cent are employed in top agri and agri-related companies, according to a new report released on Friday. The report "Women in Agribusiness Opportunities and Challenges" was launched by Godrej Agrovet Ltd in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA) and Godrej DEI Lab at its second Women in Agriculture Summit. "At Godrej Agrovet, we believe the future of agribusiness lies in empowering women through education, workplace inclusivity, and leadership development," Godrej Agrovet Managing Director Balram Singh Yadav said in a statement. "Last year, we pledged to support 100,000 women across the agri value chain, and I'm proud to share that we've positively impacted 20,000 women in just one year," he added. The report highlights that women account for 30-40 per cent of the total enrolment in agricultural studies but very few enter formal employment. Vidya Vemireddy, Faculty ..