On March 8, 2025, as the world celebrates International Women’s Day, India will mark the occasion with a significant event: a National Conference on women-led development, themed “Nari Shakti Se Viksit Bharat” (Women’s Power for a Developed India). President Droupadi Murmu, the first tribal woman to hold the nation’s highest office, will inaugurate this landmark gathering at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi. Organized by the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD), the conference underscores India’s commitment to harnessing the potential of its women as a driving force for national progress. This event is not just a celebration of women’s achievements but a clarion call to accelerate action toward gender equality and inclusive development.
A Historic Moment for India
The choice of President Droupadi Murmu to lead this event is both symbolic and substantive. Born in a modest tribal family in Odisha, her journey to the presidency embodies resilience, determination, and the transformative power of education and opportunity—qualities that resonate deeply with the conference’s objectives. Having served as the Governor of Jharkhand before ascending to the presidency in July 2022, Murmu has consistently championed the cause of marginalized communities, particularly women. Her presence at the helm of this conference signals India’s intent to place women at the forefront of its developmental narrative.
International Women’s Day, observed annually on March 8, has its roots in the early 20th-century struggles for women’s rights, including demands for suffrage, fair wages, and equitable working conditions. In India, this day has evolved into a platform to recognize women’s contributions across diverse fields while addressing persistent challenges such as gender-based violence, economic disparity, and limited access to education and healthcare. The 2025 conference, timed with this global observance, aligns with the United Nations’ theme of accelerating action for gender equality, tailoring it to India’s unique socio-economic context through the lens of “Nari Shakti” (women’s power).
The Vision of “Nari Shakti Se Viksit Bharat”
The theme “Nari Shakti Se Viksit Bharat” encapsulates India’s ambition to achieve the status of a developed nation by 2047, the centenary of its independence, with women as key architects of this transformation. The phrase “Viksit Bharat” (Developed India) has become a cornerstone of the current government’s policy framework, emphasizing economic growth, technological advancement, and social equity. By integrating “Nari Shakti” into this vision, the conference highlights the indispensable role of women in realizing these goals.
India is home to over 600 million women, constituting nearly half its population. Yet, their potential remains underutilized due to systemic barriers. According to the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report, India ranks 135 out of 146 countries in gender parity, reflecting gaps in economic participation, educational attainment, health, and political empowerment. The conference aims to address these disparities by fostering dialogue, showcasing success stories, and proposing actionable strategies for women-led development.
The event builds on India’s recent emphasis on women’s empowerment, notably during its G20 presidency in 2023, when it shifted the global discourse from women’s development to women-led development. This paradigm shift, endorsed in the G20 New Delhi Leaders’ Declaration, positions women not as passive beneficiaries but as active agents of change—a philosophy that the March 8 conference seeks to operationalize.
Conference Highlights and Participants
The National Conference promises to be a dynamic platform, bringing together a diverse array of stakeholders. Women officers from the armed forces, paramilitary forces, and Delhi Police will participate, symbolizing the breaking of traditional gender barriers in security and defense. Grassroots contributors such as My Bharat volunteers, anganwadi workers, ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activist) workers, and members of self-help groups (SHGs) will also attend, representing the backbone of India’s rural and community-driven development efforts. Additionally, women officers from various ministries and departments will lend their expertise to the discussions.
The event will feature high-profile attendees, including Minister for Women and Child Development Annpurna Devi and Minister of State Savitri Thakur, alongside senior officials and international representatives from organizations like the World Bank, UNICEF, UN Women, UNDP, and UNFPA. This blend of national and global perspectives underscores the conference’s ambition to position India as a leader in the worldwide movement for gender equity.
The program is structured to maximize impact. Following President Murmu’s inaugural address, a high-level panel discussion will set the tone for the day. Three technical sessions will delve into specific themes:
A unique Digital Media and Interactive Zone will engage attendees with real-time discussions, multimedia exhibits, and storytelling initiatives, celebrating women’s contributions to a progressive India. The proceedings will be livestreamed on Doordarshan, the MWCD’s social media platforms, and World Bank Live, ensuring widespread reach and participation.
The Broader Context: Women in India Today
India’s journey toward gender equality is a tale of contrasts. On one hand, women have scaled remarkable heights: from Kalpana Chawla, the first Indian-origin woman in space, to Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, a biotech pioneer, and Smriti Irani, a prominent political leader. The 2023 Republic Day parade showcased women’s prowess, with contingents of female soldiers and a performance by an all-women band. On the other hand, challenges persist. The female labor force participation rate hovers around 23%, one of the lowest globally, according to the International Labour Organization. Rural women, in particular, face limited access to education and healthcare, while urban women grapple with workplace discrimination and safety concerns.
Government initiatives have sought to bridge these gaps. Programs like Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (Save the Daughter, Educate the Daughter) aim to improve the child sex ratio and promote girls’ education. The Mahila Samriddhi Yojana, recently announced in Delhi, offers shelter and support to vulnerable women, while the PM Awas Yojana has prioritized housing titles for women, enhancing their economic security. Self-help groups, numbering over 7 million, have empowered rural women by providing microfinance and entrepreneurial opportunities, contributing to what Prime Minister Narendra Modi has termed “Sahkar Se Samriddhi” (Prosperity through Cooperation).
Yet, these efforts must be scaled and sustained. The conference provides a platform to evaluate their impact, identify gaps, and chart a forward-looking agenda. By focusing on women-led development, it aligns with global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 5 (Gender Equality), while reinforcing India’s national priorities.
President Murmu’s Role and Message
As the keynote speaker, President Murmu is expected to deliver a powerful message rooted in her personal and professional experiences. Having dedicated her life to uplifting the downtrodden, she has often emphasized education and empowerment as pathways to progress. In her 2024 International Women’s Day message, she noted, “This day is dedicated to recognize the achievements of women and their efforts in raising awareness about gender equality… Even today, women face several challenges which we need to address.” Her address on March 8, 2025, will likely urge collective action to break barriers, drawing from her own story of overcoming adversity.
Murmu’s tribal heritage adds a unique dimension to her leadership. Tribal women in India, numbering over 50 million, often face compounded discrimination due to gender, ethnicity, and socio-economic status. Her presence at the conference amplifies their voices, reinforcing the need for inclusive policies that reach the most marginalized.
Global and National Implications
The conference’s international dimension—marked by the participation of global organizations—positions India as a key player in the worldwide gender equality movement. It builds on precedents like the 2023 CGIAR GENDER Impact Platform conference, also inaugurated by Murmu, which focused on resilient agri-food systems. By hosting such events, India asserts its soft power, showcasing its commitment to sustainable development and women’s empowerment.
Nationally, the conference could catalyze policy reforms. Potential outcomes include enhanced funding for women’s entrepreneurship, stronger legal protections against gender-based violence, and initiatives to boost female participation in STEM and leadership roles. The #SheBuildsBharat campaign, launched alongside the event, aims to amplify these efforts through public engagement, encouraging citizens to recognize and support women’s contributions.
Challenges and the Road Ahead
Despite its promise, the conference faces challenges. Translating discussions into tangible outcomes requires political will, financial resources, and grassroots implementation. Critics may argue that such events risk being symbolic rather than substantive, pointing to past initiatives that have faltered due to bureaucratic inertia or inadequate follow-through. Moreover, the diversity of India’s women—spanning urban professionals, rural farmers, and tribal communities—demands nuanced, region-specific solutions.
The road ahead is long but not insurmountable. Historical movements, from the suffragette rallies of the early 20th century to India’s own freedom struggle, where women like Sarojini Naidu and Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay played pivotal roles, demonstrate that collective action can yield change. The conference, by uniting voices from the panchayat to the parliament, lays the groundwork for such a movement in contemporary India.
Conclusion
On March 8, 2025, as President Droupadi Murmu inaugurates the National Conference on “Nari Shakti Se Viksit Bharat,” India will take a bold step toward redefining its future through the lens of women’s empowerment. This event is more than a celebration—it is a commitment to action, a recognition that a developed India is impossible without the full participation of its women. From the technical sessions to the interactive zones, from the grassroots workers to the global delegates, every element of the conference reflects a shared resolve: to harness “Nari Shakti” as the cornerstone of “Viksit Bharat.” As the world watches, India has the opportunity to lead by example, proving that when women rise, nations thrive.
