Ebook Info.

India has a come a long way since independence towards women empowerment across different parameters. The idea of increased presence of women in the highest decision-making bodies of India has become a constant through populist demands, increased awareness among the general electorate, global commitments and ratifications, initiatives by some national parties by way of voluntary seat-allocation and so on. India’s progress under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) dashboard of indicators and targets in relation to improving gender equality and empowerment of women is an important 8 component of the assessment of the progress in gender issues. The SDG 5 directly addresses Gender Equality and the target 5.5 of SDG 5 directs the nations to ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic and public life. This book considers the following indicator: - 5.5.1: Proportion of seats held by women in national parliaments and local governments. India’s international commitments under SDGs and goals to be achieved by the year 2030 brings to the fore the discussions surrounding the need for women representation in parliamentary politics. This is no more a case of national aspiration rather what is at stake is India’s aesthetics and norms of its parliamentary democracy. The Indian democracy needs a renewed push and electoral reforms in favour of women for a gender-neutral policy paradigm.