Raghav Chadha Calls for Greater Women's Role in Governance

By: Women Entrepreneurs Review Team | Friday, 11 September 2026

Rajya Sabha member Raghav Chadha has called for stronger political representation of women as India advances its vision of women-led development. Speaking at the 12th Inter-Parliamentary Union Global Conference of Young Parliamentarians in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, he stressed the need for women to play a greater role in governance and decision-making.

During a session on “Ensuring Women’s Political Rights,” Raghav said women’s participation in democracy should go beyond casting votes. He called for greater opportunities for women to hold positions of authority and actively influence government policies and decisions.

“In India, we have seen that under the Honorable Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has made a deliberate shift from women’s development to women-led development. That means a woman is not merely seen as a beneficiary of policy; she is an active account holder, an entrepreneur, an elected representative, and a decision maker,” Raghav said.

Key Highlights:

• Raghav calls for greater women’s role in political decision-making
• Women’s political participation in India has grown through voting and grassroots governance
• Raghav says women must have greater authority in shaping government decisions

He pointed out that India's strides in women's political participation could be gauged at three stages – at the ballot box, at grassroots level of government and at the apex of political decision making.

Speaking about the voter turnout, Raghav said that in the 2024 general election, more than 476 million women had been registered to vote in India, with women's turnout rate at about 67 percent, marginally higher than men.

“This was the second general election in succession in which women’s participation exceeded that of men. Indian women are not waiting at the doors of democracy; they are helping determine its direction,” he said.

Raghav further noted women's participation in India's Panchayati Raj institutions, the third tier of government. He estimated that about 1.45 million women are serving as elected representatives at that level in these institutions, representing some 46 per cent of all the elected representatives on that level.

“Twenty-one Indian states have gone beyond the constitutional minimum provision of having 50 per cent reservation for women in panchayats. These women are not just symbols of office holders. They lead communities, prepare local plans, and deliver public service,” he said.

The Women's Reservation Bill (The Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam) provided the constitutional framework for one-third reservation of seats in the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies at the national and state level respectively, Raghav said.

“This does not merely mean representation; it’s the voice, the authority, and the decision-making power being given to women,” Raghav said.

In his concluding remarks, Raghav underlined that the message of the conference was that women should not only be encouraged to come out to vote, but they should also be given meaningful roles in governance in India.

“India’s message from Samarkand is simple: do not only ask women to vote, enable them to govern. Give them a seat, give them authority, and do not only speak of empowerment, but also build institutions that make it irreversible,” he said.