Committee on Empowerment of Women – Composition, Functions, Importance & UPSC PYQs

Committee on Empowerment of Women is a crucial parliamentary committee that monitors and promotes women’s welfare in India. Its primary aim is to examine and evaluate government policies, programs, and laws related to women's empowerment, ensuring that initiatives for gender equality are effectively implemented. The committee also identifies gaps in schemes and recommends corrective actions to strengthen women-centric programs.

This topic is important for UPSC aspirants, as it is part of General Studies Paper II (Polity and Governance), GS Paper I (Indian Society), and Prelims, making it relevant for questions on parliamentary committees and social justice.

Composition of the Committee

The composition of Committee on Empowerment of Women ensures a diverse representation:

• The committee has 20 members from the Lok Sabha and 10 members from the Rajya Sabha.

• Members are nominated by the Speaker of the Lok Sabha and the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, representing multiple political parties.

• A Chairperson, elected from among the members, oversees meetings, discussions, and reporting. 

This structure allows the women's empowerment committee in Parliament to function efficiently, representing a broad spectrum of perspectives and expertise.

Functions of Committee on Empowerment of Women

The Empowerment of Women Committee has multiple key responsibilities:

• Policy Evaluation: Examines laws, programs, and policies affecting women, such as schemes on education, health, safety, and employment.

• Monitoring Government Initiatives: Tracks the implementation of women-focused schemes and suggests improvements to enhance their reach and effectiveness.

• Reporting to Parliament: Prepares reports with recommendations to Parliament for legislative and administrative reforms.

• Promoting Gender Equality: Analyzes initiatives aimed at reducing gender disparities and strengthening women’s participation in all sectors.

• Advisory Role: Guides ministries on designing programs that empower women socially and economically.

These functions help ensure that women’s issues receive focused attention in policymaking and governance.

Importance and Impact of Committee

The Parliamentary Committee on Women plays a vital role in improving the lives of women by:

• Highlighting social, economic, and legal challenges faced by women.

• Reviewing the effectiveness of government schemes and suggesting improvements.

• Guiding policy decisions to make programs more inclusive and impactful.

• Encouraging accountability and transparency in ministries working on women-related issues.

Its work ensures that the women empowerment committee in Parliament remains a priority in national development planning.

Relevance for UPSC Aspirants

For UPSC preparation, knowledge of the Committee on Empowerment of Women is valuable because:

• It forms an essential part of Polity and Governance in GS Paper II.

• It connects with social justice, women’s issues, and legislative processes in GS Paper I.

• Previous UPSC questions include topics such as gender budgeting, the role of women in development, and women’s social capital.

• Understanding its composition, functions, and impact helps answer both Prelims and Mains questions effectively

UPSC Previous Year Questions and Practice Questions

Que. Women empowerment in India needs gender budgeting. What are the requirements and status of gender budgeting in the Indian context? (150 words, 10 marks)

Q. Women’s social capital complements in advancing empowerment and gender equity. Explain. (15 Marks, 250 Words)

Que. “To awaken the people, it is the women who must be awakened. Once she is on the move, the family moves, the village moves, the nation moves.”- Jawaharlal Nehru. (150 words, 10 Marks)