Theme for International Women’s Day 2026: “Rights. Justice. Action For ALL Women and Girls.”
- India’s development approach has evolved from development for women to women-led development, recognising women as drivers of economic and social progress.
Steps taken for Women Led Development in India:
- Gender-responsive public investment: FY26 features India's highest-ever gender budget at ₹5.01 lakh crore (9.37% of the Union Budget).
- Women building rural economies:
- Lakhpati Didi: Over 3 crore rural women are actively progressing toward building sustainable, high-income livelihoods
- NaMo Drone Didi Yojana: Provides agricultural drones to 15,000 SHGs with an 80% subsidy, integrating women into the tech ecosystem.
- Finance fuelling entrepreneurship
- Financial Inclusion: Women comprise 68% of the PM MUDRA loan beneficiaries and hold 56% of all Jan Dhan accounts.
- Stand-Up India: Supported over 2 lakh women entrepreneurs in launching greenfield enterprises.
- Start-Up India: Has supported over 75,000 women-led startups.
- Skills, Innovation, & Leadership
- Skilling Programs: Women make up nearly 45% of Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana trainees.
- Social Justice & Empowerment: Abolition of Triple Talaq criminalizes instant divorce, ensuring dignity, equality for Muslim women.
