Women in India face disadvantage and discrimination in several aspects of life. In education, the literacy rate for women is only 54 per cent compared to 76 per cent for men. Parents often prefer to spend resources on sons, leading to girls dropping out of schools despite performing well.

In terms of work, an average Indian woman works one hour more than an average man daily, yet much of her work remains unpaid and invisible. Even for the same work, women are paid less than men, despite the Equal Remuneration Act, 1976. Furthermore, women face harassment, exploitation, and violence both in public spaces and within their homes.

Finally, women are disadvantaged in political representation. Their share in state assemblies is less than 5 per cent, and the percentage in Lok Sabha has only recently touched 14.36 per cent.