Content:
- Tyranny of numbers
- Women in corporate leadership, the lived reality
- Beyond ‘Beijing’, unlocking a feminist future in India
Tyranny of numbers
Background and Context
- Delimitation refers to the process of redrawing the boundaries of constituencies based on population changes, ensuring equitable representation in legislatures.
- The Constitution mandates periodic delimitation, with the last nationwide exercise conducted in 2002 based on the 1971 Census.
- The 42nd Constitutional Amendment (1976) froze the total number of Lok Sabha and State Assembly seats until 2001, later extended to 2026 by the 84th Amendment (2002).
- With 2026 approaching, the debate over delimitation has resurfaced, particularly concerning the north-south divide in parliamentary representation.
Relevance : GS 2(Polity ,Governance)
Practice Question : Delimitation in India is a double-edged sword, balancing democratic representation with federal principles. Discuss the challenges of the upcoming delimitation exercise and suggest measures to ensure fairness in seat allocation. (250 words)
The “Tyranny of Numbers” Dilemma
- The phrase “tyranny of numbers” captures the conflict between population-based representation and federal equity in a diverse country like India.
- Northern States (Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan) have seen high population growth, which could increase their Lok Sabha seats post-delimitation.
- Southern States (Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana) have achieved low fertility rates and population stabilization, leading to a potential loss of representation in a future delimitation exercise.
Key Issues in the Delimitation Debate
Conflict Between Federalism and Democratic Representation
- Federalism ensures equitable representationofallStates, regardless of population.
- Democracy suggests that representation should be proportional to population.
- Delimitation threatens to tilt power towards highly populated States, reducing political influence for States that controlled their population growth.
Malapportionment in Representation
- Growing population disparity among constituencies leads to vote value distortions.
- Example: Bangalore North (Karnataka) has 3.2 million voters, while Udupi Chikmagalur has only 1.6 million.
- Such inconsistencies violate the principle of equal representation for equal votes.
Risk of Penalizing Progressive States
- Southern States argue that lowpopulationgrowth should not lead to lower representation.
- Penalizing States for effective population control contradicts progressive governance efforts.
- Tamil Nadu, for example, has expressed concerns that a seat reduction would be “indelible injustice”.
Alternative Models for Delimitation
- State-level Delimitation: Adjust seats within each State, but not across the country.
- Weighted Representation: Assign seats based on factors beyond just population (e.g., economic contribution, literacy rates).
- Upper House Empowerment: Strengthen Rajya Sabha to balance the political influence of States.
- Innovative Representation Mechanisms: Create dual representation mechanisms to ensure fairness.
Way Forward: Balancing Democracy and Federalism
- Consensus Building: The Union government should engage in extensive discussions with States to address concerns.
- Transparent Terms of Reference: The next Delimitation Commission must ensure fair criteria for seat allocation.
- Constitutional Safeguards: Provisions must be explored to prevent penalization of States that controlled population growth.
- Institutional Mechanisms: Strengthening the Inter-State Council to negotiate a balanced approach.
Women in corporate leadership, the lived reality
Current Landscape of Women in Corporate Leadership
- Women’s participation in the workforce remains significantly lower than men’s across the world.
- While women constitute 48% of the workforce in corporate America, their representation in leadership positions remains marginal.
- In India, women form 35.9% of the workforce, but their leadership presence is far lower (only 12.7% in senior and middle management roles).
Relevance : GS 2(Social Justice ,Corporate Governance)
Practice Question : Despite legal mandates and corporate policies, women continue to be underrepresented in leadership roles in India’s corporate sector. Examine the reasons for this disparity and suggest measures to improve women’s leadership participation. (250 words)
Challenges to Women’s Inclusion in Corporate Leadership
- Global Policy Reversals: The rollback of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies in the U.S. may have ripple effects worldwide.
- Tokenism vs. Meritocracy: Women appointed through DEI mandates often face skepticism about their competence.
- Limited Entry Mechanisms: While DEI provides entry points, women struggle to advance to top leadership positions.
- Societal Barriers: Patriarchal structures, bias in promotions, and lack of mentorship hinder progress.
- Unequal Pay: Women in leadership still face pay disparities compared to their male counterparts.
Role of Legal Mandates in India
- Companies Act, 2013: Mandates at least one woman director on boards of certain public companies.
- SEBI Regulations (2015): Requires one independent woman director for the top 1,000 listed firms.
- Impact: Women’s representation on NSE 500 boards increased from 5% (2011) to 18% (2023).
Benefits of Women in Leadership
- Better Corporate Governance: Women leaders contribute to ethical decision-making and transparency.
- Improved Risk Management: Their diverse perspectives reduce corporate risks.
- Higher Stakeholder Engagement: Women excel in relationship-building and strategy formulation.
- Stronger Financial Performance: Companies with diverse leadership show improved profitability.
- Enhanced Corporate Reputation: Organizations with women leaders rank higher in ethical and best-workplace lists.
Real Change vs. Symbolic Representation
- Appointing women without actual power and decision-making authority is ineffective.
- More women are needed in C-suite positions, key managerial roles, and board committees.
- Equal pay and fair remuneration are critical indicators of genuine inclusion.
- Companies must go beyond optics and embrace gender diversity as a strategic asset rather than a compliance requirement.
Beyond ‘Beijing’, unlocking a feminist future in India
Introduction
- The Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (1995) remains a global blueprint for advancing women’s rights.
- India has made significant progress in gender equality through policy initiatives, grassroots movements, and women’s resilience.
- Focus areas include health, education, economic empowerment, decision-making, and violence against women.
Relevance : GS 2(Social Justice)
Practice Question : Despite remarkable progress, gender equality in India faces persistent challenges. Critically examine the impact of policy initiatives in advancing women’s empowerment while addressing the gaps that remain. (250 words)
Health and Well-being of Women
Maternal Health Progress:
- Institutional deliveries increased to 95% due to schemes like:
- Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan
- Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana
- Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) reduced from 130 (2014) to 97 (2020) per 1,00,000 births (SRS data).
- Contraceptive use: 56.5% of married women use modern contraceptives, improving reproductive autonomy.
Access to Healthcare:
- Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana offers free critical medical treatment to millions of women.
Education and Skill Development
Girls’ Education Initiatives:
- Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) improved the child sex ratio and increased school enrollment for girls.
- National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 promotes STEM participation among girls.
- Menstrual health initiatives by UNICEF improved school retention rates.
Economic and Digital Inclusion:
- Financial empowerment through Self-Help Groups (SHGs)
- National Rural and Urban Livelihood Missions linked 100 million women to financial networks.
- Digital inclusion:
- Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan trained 35 million rural women in digital literacy.
- Women increasingly use UPI and digital transactions for financial independence.
Gender-Responsive Budgeting (GRB):
- Gender Budget share increased from 6.8% (2024-25) to 8.8% (2025-26).
- $55.2 billion allocated for gender-specific programs.
Persistent Challenges: Gender-Based Violence
Prevalence of Gender Violence:
- Despite progress, violence against women remains a challenge.
- 770 One Stop Centres provide medical, legal, and psychological support.
Legal and Institutional Reforms:
- Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023 strengthens legal protections.
- Innovative responses:
- Odisha’s blockchain-based system ensures swift and confidential support for survivors.
- UNFPA-Rajasthan Police collaboration promotes gender-responsive policing.
Women’s Leadership and Representation
Political Representation Gains:
- Women’s Reservation Bill (2023) guarantees 33% reservation in legislatures.
- 1.5 million women leaders in local governance, making India the largest cohort of women political leaders globally.
Young Women as Change-Makers:
- Gender Advancement for Transforming Institutions (GATI) boosts women in STEM.
- G20 TechEquity Platform trains young women in emerging technologies.
Key Focus Areas for the Future:
- Strengthening collaborations between government and private sectors.
- Investing in young women’s leadership for long-term social transformation.
- Addressing systemic barriers like patriarchy, digital divide, and workplace discrimination.
- Enhancing safety measures to ensure unhindered participation in public life.
