Source: News on Air
Context:
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has officially reconstituted the Parliamentary Committee on Empowerment of Women for 2026-27, with senior Lok Sabha MP Daggubati Purandeswari appointed as its Chairperson. The Committee — first constituted in April 1997 during the 11th Lok Sabha — is a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) comprising 28 members (18 from Lok Sabha and 10 from Rajya Sabha), with an annual tenure. It serves as a bicameral institutional mechanism to review national policies, assess welfare initiatives, and ensure gender equality across central laws and Union Territory administrations.
Key Highlights
- Reconstituted by: Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla.
- Tenure: 2026-27.
- Chairperson: Daggubati Purandeswari, senior Lok Sabha MP.
- Committee type: Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) of the Indian Parliament.
- First constituted: 29 April 1997, during the 11th Lok Sabha.
- Composition:
- 18 Lok Sabha members — nominated by the Speaker.
- 10 Rajya Sabha members — nominated by the Chairman of Rajya Sabha.
- Total: 28 members.
- Tenure of committee: Not exceeding 1 year; reconstituted annually.
- Working principle: Members rise above party lines, functioning as a cross-party cohesive unit.
- Key functions:
- Reviewing NCW reports and recommending action.
- Evaluating gender equality in public and private life.
- Monitoring women’s representation in legislatures, public services, education.
- Appraising welfare programmes for women.
- Action-taken monitoring on previous recommendations.
- Special remits referred by the Lok Sabha Speaker or Rajya Sabha Chairman.
- Broader context: Comes amid implementation pathway of the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, 2023 (128th Constitutional Amendment) — providing 33% reservation for women in Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies post-delimitation.
About the News
What has happened?
The Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has reconstituted the Parliamentary Committee on Empowerment of Women for 2026-27, with Daggubati Purandeswari as its Chairperson.
What is the Committee on Empowerment of Women?
A Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) of the Indian Parliament that reviews policies, assesses welfare initiatives, and works toward ensuring gender equality across central laws and Union Territory administrations.
When was it first constituted?
On 29 April 1997, during the 11th Lok Sabha — making it one of the older bicameral committees dedicated to a thematic concern.
What is its composition?
The Committee has 28 members in total: 18 from Lok Sabha — nominated by the Speaker. 10 from Rajya Sabha — nominated by the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.
What is its tenure?
The Committee’s term does not exceed one year — it is reconstituted annually, ensuring continuous review while allowing fresh perspectives.
What are its main functions?
(a) Reviewing the reports of the National Commission for Women (NCW). (b) Examining gender equality measures in public and private spheres. (c) Monitoring women’s representation in legislatures, public services, education. (d) Appraising centrally sponsored welfare schemes for women. (e) Action-taken monitoring on previous committee recommendations. (f) Special examination of issues referred by the Speaker or Chairman.
Why is the cross-party principle important?
Because women’s empowerment is treated as a national, non-partisan priority. The Committee’s strength lies in its ability to build consensus across political lines — recommending reforms that have broader legitimacy and implementation backing.
How does it interact with the National Commission for Women (NCW)?
The NCW — set up under the NCW Act, 1990 — submits annual and special reports to Parliament. The Committee on Empowerment of Women examines these reports, deliberates on their findings, and recommends legislative or executive actions to the Union Government.
Why is this reconstitution timely?
(a) The Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam (128th Amendment, 2023) awaits post-delimitation implementation of 33% women’s reservation. (b) PLFS 2025 data has shown persistent low urban female labour force participation (22.2%) and high youth unemployment among urban women (18.9%). (c) Continuing concerns over women’s safety, healthcare, education, and legal access. (d) Crime in India 2024 data shows rising trends in crimes against women in certain categories.
What is the broader policy ecosystem the committee operates within?
The Committee complements: (a) Ministry of Women and Child Development (WCD). (b) National Commission for Women. (c) National Policy for Women. (d) Schemes like Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, Mission Shakti, Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana, One-Stop Centres, and SHE-Box. (e) State-level Women’s Commissions.
Background Concepts
What are Parliamentary Committees in India?
Parliamentary Committees are panels of MPs appointed to carry out detailed legislative, financial, or thematic work that the full House cannot undertake due to time constraints. They allow specialised, evidence-based deliberation away from the floor of Parliament.
What are the major types of Parliamentary Committees?
(a) Standing Committees — permanent (reconstituted periodically), including:
- Financial Committees — Public Accounts Committee (PAC), Estimates Committee, Committee on Public Undertakings.
- Department-related Standing Committees (DRSCs) — examine ministry-wise demands for grants, bills, and policies.
- Other Standing Committees — e.g., Business Advisory Committee, Privileges Committee, Committee on Empowerment of Women. (b) Ad Hoc Committees — formed for specific tasks, including Select / Joint Committees on Bills, Joint Parliamentary Committees (JPCs) on specific issues.
What is a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC)?
A committee composed of members from both Houses of Parliament (Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha) — typically with a 2:1 ratio in favour of the Lok Sabha. The Committee on Empowerment of Women is one such permanent JPC. Other notable JPCs have been issue-specific (e.g., Securities Scam, Bofors, 2G Spectrum).
Who is the Lok Sabha Speaker?
The presiding officer of the Lok Sabha, elected by its members at the start of each new Lok Sabha. The Speaker: (a) Maintains order in the House. (b) Decides on the admissibility of questions, motions, and points of order. (c) Nominates members to committees. (d) Has the deciding vote in case of a tie.
Who is the Rajya Sabha Chairman?
The Vice-President of India, who is the ex officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha under Article 64 of the Constitution.
Who is Daggubati Purandeswari?
A senior BJP parliamentarian from Andhra Pradesh — daughter of former CM N.T. Rama Rao. She has served as a Member of Parliament from multiple constituencies and previously held Union Minister of State portfolios.
What is the National Commission for Women (NCW)?
A statutory body established in 1992 under the National Commission for Women Act, 1990. It: (a) Reviews legal and constitutional safeguards for women. (b) Recommends remedial legislative measures. (c) Investigates matters relating to violation of women’s rights. (d) Submits annual and special reports to the Union Government and Parliament.
What is the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, 2023?
The 128th Constitutional Amendment Act, which provides for reservation of one-third (33%) of seats in the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies for women. Its actual implementation is contingent on the next delimitation exercise, which itself depends on the next Census.
What are the major constitutional provisions for women?
(a) Article 14 — Equality before the law. (b) Article 15(1) — Prohibition of discrimination on grounds of sex. (c) Article 15(3) — Special provisions for women. (d) Article 16 — Equality of opportunity in public employment. (e) Article 39(a) and (d) — Equal right to means of livelihood and equal pay for equal work. (f) Article 42 — Just and humane work conditions and maternity relief. (g) Article 51A(e) — Fundamental duty to renounce practices derogatory to women’s dignity.
What is the Ministry of Women and Child Development (WCD)?
The central ministry responsible for holistic development of women and children through laws, policies, schemes, and welfare programmes. Established as a Ministry in 2006 (earlier a Department under the MHRD).
What are key women-focused schemes in India?
(a) Beti Bachao Beti Padhao. (b) Mission Shakti — umbrella scheme for women’s safety, security, empowerment. (c) Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana — maternity benefit. (d) One Stop Centres / Sakhi Centres. (e) SHE-Box — online complaint redressal for workplace harassment. (f) Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana — clean cooking gas for poor women. (g) Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana — significant female participation.
Why does Parliament have a dedicated Committee on Empowerment of Women?
Because women’s issues are cross-cutting — spanning safety, education, health, economic participation, political representation, legal rights, and dignity — and require continuous, institutional, cross-ministerial review that executive ministries alone cannot fully deliver.
Practice MCQs
Q1. With reference to the Committee on Empowerment of Women, consider the following statements:
- It is a Joint Parliamentary Committee of the Indian Parliament.
- It was first constituted in April 1997, during the 11th Lok Sabha.
- It comprises 18 Lok Sabha members and 10 Rajya Sabha members.
- Its tenure does not exceed one year and it is reconstituted annually.
How many of the above statements are correct? (a) Only one (b) Only two (c) Only three (d) All four (e) None
Q2. Consider the following statements about Parliamentary Committees in India:
- Standing Committees are reconstituted periodically.
- Department-related Standing Committees examine demands for grants, bills, and policies.
- The Public Accounts Committee is one of India’s Financial Committees.
- Joint Parliamentary Committees include members only from the Lok Sabha.
Which of the above are correct? (a) 1, 2 and 3 only (b) 1, 3 and 4 only (c) 2 and 4 only (d) 1 and 4 only (e) All four
Q3. Consider the following statements about the National Commission for Women (NCW):
- It is a statutory body established under the National Commission for Women Act, 1990.
- It was set up in 1992.
- It reviews legal and constitutional safeguards for women and recommends remedial measures.
- It functions under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Which of the above are correct? (a) 1, 2 and 3 only (b) 1, 3 and 4 only (c) 2 and 4 only (d) 1 and 4 only (e) All four
Q4. Consider the following statements about constitutional provisions for women in India:
- Article 15(3) permits the State to make special provisions for women and children.
- Article 39(d) provides for equal pay for equal work.
- Article 42 provides for just and humane work conditions and maternity relief.
- The Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam was passed as the 128th Constitutional Amendment.
Which of the above are correct? (a) 1, 2 and 3 only (b) 1, 3 and 4 only (c) 2 and 4 only (d) 1 and 4 only (e) All four
Answer Key
- (d) — All four statements are correct.
- (a) — Statements 1, 2, 3 are correct. Statement 4 is wrong; Joint Parliamentary Committees include members from BOTH Houses (Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha) — that is what makes them “joint.”
- (a) — Statements 1, 2, 3 are correct. Statement 4 is wrong; the NCW functions under the Ministry of Women and Child Development (WCD), not the Ministry of Home Affairs.
- (e) — All four statements are correct.
Exam Relevance
| Exam | Relevance |
|---|---|
| UPSC Prelims | GS Paper II — Polity (Parliamentary Committees, NCW, Women’s empowerment); Constitutional provisions |
| UPSC Mains | GS Paper II — Polity, Governance, Welfare schemes; Issues related to women |
| BPSC / State PCS | Polity, Welfare, Current Affairs |
| Banking (RBI Gr B, NABARD) | ESI / Economic and Social Issues — moderate importance |
| SSC / Insurance / Railway | Static + Current GK on Parliament, Committees, NCW |
