Since 2014, under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, transformative policies have empowered women across all sectors. From ensuring dignity to financial empowerment, the last 11 years have paved the way for a more inclusive and dynamic future for Nari Shakti. The government has adopted a holistic approach towards women's empowerment by securing each phase of women’s life through reformative policies and initiatives.

Ensuring Dignity and Safety of Women

When PM Narendra Modi talked about the dignity and hygiene of women in his maiden Independence Day address in 2014, a momentum unfolded. It all started with the launch of the Swachh Bharat Mission, a mission that went far beyond creating toilets. In the last 11 years, over 12 crore toilets have been constructed and have been restoring women’s safety and dignity. With 100% rural saturation coverage achieved, gone are the days when women had to stop having food or water to control the urge to defecate or urinate. This has also improved their menstrual hygiene, dignity, and well-being.

Building on this momentum, PM Modi’s vision led to the launch of the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) in 2019. This initiative has transformed lives by ensuring safe and adequate water for every household. It has improved health, reduced waterborne diseases, and empowered women by freeing them from the daily struggle of fetching water. From a mere 3 crore household tap water connection since independence to 2019, the coverage has now increased fivefold, with more than 15 crore households across India now connected to household tap water. This shift has freed women’s time, allowing them to focus on education, skill development, and work. In fact, a study has reported that for every 8.3 percentage point drop in households relying on outside water sources, there is a 7.4 percentage point rise in women’s participation in agriculture and allied work. Similarly, more than 10 crore smokeless kitchens have become a reality with free LPG connections under the PM Ujjwala Yojana. This has freed women from the burden of collecting firewood and the health hazards of traditional chulhas.

The government moves beyond making women's lives easier on a day-to-day basis. One such move was the abolition of Triple Talaq in 2019. This landmark decision safeguarded the constitutional rights of Muslim women, putting an end to an archaic and unjust practice that shattered countless lives.

The government also enables women’s voice in household decision making by giving them ownership of their houses under the PM Awas Yojana. Now, more than 70% of PM Awas houses are solely or jointly owned by women. This is not just a roof over the head but also a bold step towards strengthening women’s status within the household and in society.

Every vision of PM Modi has led to creating a safer and empowered India for women. In this regard, the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Abhiyan is a notable one. This has addressed deep-rooted gender biases in our societies and created an overall shift in mindset, as now daughters are seen as agents of empowerment rather than a burden on families.

One of the first steps was for the government to focus on addressing the vulnerabilities of Indian women, prioritising their safety, dignity, and basic needs through welfare-centric policies.

Real empowerment of Nari Shakti is half realised without a safe environment for them. Recognising this, a robust support system has emerged to protect women in distress. Whether it's One Stop Centres, the Universal Helpline for women, or dedicated Women Help Desks in police stations, every component of Mission Shakti is strengthening women's safety and making justice more accessible.

Giving Wings to Women’s Aspirations: Making Women the Job Creators

Women are leading change in India like never before. Today, nearly half of Indian startups have at least one-woman director. This change is driven by holistic policies and digital innovation, with PM Modi’s leadership keeping ‘Nari Shakti’ at the forefront.

The government is investing in women’s aspirations. Through initiatives like the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana, nearly 70% of loan beneficiaries are women. With improved access to capital, they are successfully launching and running their businesses, and in many cases, creating employment opportunities for others. Similarly, 75% of Stand-Up India loans are given to women beneficiaries. Also, 55% of Jan Dhan Accounts are owned by women. These initiatives are powering financial independence and inclusive growth.

At the grassroots level, financial and entrepreneurial empowerment among women has seen a significant rise. Self-Help Groups (SHGs) have brought a big change in the lives of rural women across India.

Today, more than 10 crore women are part of over 90 lakh SHGs. These groups are helping women stand on their own feet and become entrepreneurs. One of the biggest successes of this movement is the rise of Lakhpati Didis, over 1 crore women who are now earning well, becoming financially strong and driving rural prosperity.

These efforts have placed ‘Nari Shakti’ at the core of India’s development journey. Women are not just participating in the change—they are leading it, building businesses, and shaping stronger communities across the country.

From Household Decision Makers to Policy Makers

Under the leadership of PM Modi, India has witnessed a transformative shift in its governance landscape, particularly concerning women's representation. A landmark reform—the implementation of a 33% reservation for women in legislative bodies under Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam has redefined women’s stake at the national decision-making level.

At the grassroots level, Elected Women Representatives have become catalysts for change. As of recent data, women constitute approximately 46% of the total elected representatives in Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs), with over 14 lakh women serving in these rural local bodies. This substantial representation ensures that the voices of women resonate in local governance, leading to decisions that genuinely reflect community needs.

The impact of this shift transcends mere numbers. With more women in leadership positions, policies have become more attuned to the priorities of women, which were primarily missed by earlier governments.

Moving Towards Women-Led Viksit Bharat

The last eleven years under PM Modi’s holistic vision, the nation has witnessed a period of systemic, inclusive transformation, with Nari Shakti at the heart of it. Women are no longer confined to the background but are leading the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.

Standing in a sharp contrast to earlier decades, India has reached a remarkable milestone with women now making up nearly 50% of total enrolments in higher education. Since 2017–18, the Female Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) has even surpassed that of males. Similarly, over 50 women scientists and engineers played key roles in the Chandrayaan-3 success, a proud and powerful reminder of women-led development.

The current government is making every single attempt to create a future where empowered women drive progress, shape policies, and inspire generations. For instance, initiatives such as Namo Drone Didi are creating an exclusive group of women trained with advanced drone technologies, which is going to add more to the agricultural sector and also increase avenues of income for women.

Women's empowerment is not a mere slogan now; it is visible in every policy decision of the PM Modi-led government. From building over 12 crore toilets to ensuring women’s access to financial resources to start a business, policies passed since 2014 have empowered women across all sections of society. With dignity, safety, health, education, and opportunity, women are no longer waiting for change; rather, they are driving the change.