Empowering Women: Raghav Chadha Advocates for Women's Leadership at IPU Conference

At the recent IPU Global Conference in Samarkand, Raghav Chadha highlighted India's shift towards women-led development under Prime Minister Modi. He emphasized the importance of women's active participation in governance, showcasing impressive statistics on women's electoral turnout and representation in local governance. Chadha called for empowering women not just to vote but to lead, advocating for legislative measures that ensure their voices are heard in decision-making processes. His address underscored the need for institutions that support women's leadership, aiming to create a more inclusive political landscape in India.

By Narendra Chaudhary Sep 10, 2026, 13:55 IST

Raghav Chadha's Address at the IPU Conference

File image of BJP Rajya Sabha member Raghav Chadha at 12th IPU Conference in Samarkand, Uzbekistan(Photo: @ians_india/X)

Samarkand, Sep 10: During the 12th Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Global Conference of Young Parliamentarians held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, Raghav Chadha, a member of the Rajya Sabha from the BJP, emphasized India's shift from focusing solely on women's development to fostering women-led development under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

In his remarks at the session titled 'Ensuring Women's Political Rights', Chadha articulated India's stance on enhancing women's roles in democratic governance, asserting that their involvement should extend beyond voting rights to active participation in decision-making processes.

Chadha stated, "In India, under the leadership of our Honourable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, we have transitioned from women's development to women-led development. This signifies that women are not just beneficiaries of policies; they are entrepreneurs, elected officials, and decision-makers in their own right."

The BJP representative outlined India's advancements in women's political engagement across three critical dimensions: electoral participation, grassroots involvement, and high-level decision-making.

Regarding electoral participation, he noted, "In the upcoming 2024 general elections, over 476 million women are registered to vote, with a turnout rate of approximately 67 percent—surpassing that of men. This marks the second consecutive election where women's participation has outstripped men's. Indian women are not merely waiting for democracy; they are actively shaping its course."

At the grassroots level, Chadha highlighted the significant representation of women in India's Panchayati Raj institutions, which form the third tier of governance.

He mentioned that India boasts around 1.45 million elected women representatives in these institutions, making up nearly 46 percent of all elected officials at this level.

"Twenty-one Indian states have exceeded the constitutional minimum requirement of 50 percent reservation for women in panchayats. These women are not just placeholders; they are community leaders, planners, and service providers," he added.

At the highest echelons of political decision-making, Chadha referred to the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, or the Women Reservation Bill, as a pivotal advancement for women's representation in Parliament and state assemblies.

He explained that this legislation establishes a constitutional framework to reserve one-third of seats for women in the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies, marking a significant stride towards ensuring women's involvement in crucial decision-making bodies.

"This goes beyond mere representation; it grants women a voice, authority, and the power to make decisions," Chadha remarked.

In conclusion, the Rajya Sabha member stated, "India's message from Samarkand is clear: do not just encourage women to vote; empower them to lead. Provide them with seats at the table, grant them authority, and move beyond discussions of empowerment to create institutions that solidify this progress," he asserted.