The Week that Was: Women's Safety, All-female Spaceflight, Women in Senior Police Roles & More

By: WE Staff | Saturday, 19 April 2025

In the recent decade, India has seen a significant rise in women breaking barriers and rewriting narratives across every sphere, from boardrooms to sports arenas, and from grassroots leadership to global platforms. Empowerment is no longer a distant ideal but a visible reality, driven by the increasing presence of women in leadership roles, as ad agency Liqvd Asia appoints Anasuya Chaudhuri-Ghosh as Independent Director. Similarly in sports, chess grandmaster K Humpy outplays D Deshmukh in round 3 of FIDE Women's Grand Prix.

The women entrepreneurs review team has curated such notable news about reports, recognitions, appointments, sports legacy, and women's empowerment during this week.

Have a look!

17 Additional 'One-Stop Centres' to be established in UP to Boost Women's Safety

The Uttar Pradesh government is expanding its 'One Stop Centres' initiative to 17 more, providing immediate relief and comprehensive support to women affected by violence. The centers aim to provide immediate support and services like medical assistance, legal aid, counselling, and police support, all in one location, improving women's safety, dignity, and empowerment. These centres, in close coordination with the central government, will provide immediate relief and holistic support for women affected by violence.

6 Women embark on Space Exploration in First all-female Spaceflight

Blue Origin made history with its first all-female crewed spaceflight, NS-31, launched from West Texas on April 14, 2025. The mission, which lasted 11 minutes, crossed the Kármán line and experienced weightlessness. The mission celebrated diversity and inspired future generations to dream big.

The spaceflight carried six accomplished women: Katy Perry, a global pop star; Gayle King, Veteran journalist; Lauren Sanchez, Pilot and fiancée of Jeff Bezos; Aisa Bowe, Aerospace engineer and former NASA rocket scientist; Amanda Bowe, Civil activist and Nobel Peace Prize nominee; Kerianne Flynn, Film producer focused on gender issues. The launch was attended by celebrities like Oprah Winfrey, Jeanette Epps, Mae Jemison, Kris Jenner, and Khloé Kardashian.

India Justice Report 2025: Fewer Than 1,000 Women Hold Senior Police Roles

The 2025 India Justice Report (IJR), published on April 15, points out that of 20.3 lakh police personnel across the country, less than 1,000 women hold top positions. The report further finds that none of the States or Union Territories has achieved its own reservation goals for women within the police force.

The IJR, published on April 15 and led by Tata Trusts with civil society partners, is the nation's sole ranking of States on justice delivery in four pillars of importance — Police, Judiciary, Prisons, and Legal Aid. It reported that out of 20.3 lakh police officers, less than 1,000 women are in senior ranks, and none of the States or Union Territories has attained its own quota of women in the police force. Only one State, Karnataka, has attained gender quotas both in the police and judiciary.

Chess Grandmaster K Humpy Outplays D Deshmukh in Round 3 of FIDE Women's Grand Prix

With a promising situation that could have resulted in a victory, K Humpy almost touched her bishop while contemplating her 31st move. Feeling the moment, her opponent Divya Deshmukh automatically picked up her pen to note the anticipated move.

K Humpy, with the opportunity to put her nose in front, first thought of moving her bishop on move 31 but instead played a wiser move—Qc8. Her game was not flawless by computer analysis, but her experience glistened. She outplayed overnight leader Divya Deshmukh calmly with the white pieces, registering a closely fought win in 53 moves over almost five hours in Round 3 of the FIDE Women's Grand Prix on Wednesday.

FlexiBees' Shreya Prakash Chosen Among 5 Global Winners of Aurora Tech Award 2025

Shreya Prakash, co-founder and CEO of FlexiBees, has won third place in the prestigious Aurora Tech Award 2025, a global recognition for women-led technology startups. The award ceremony in Cairo celebrated innovators from diverse industries, including artificial intelligence, fintech, and health tech. Prakash's achievement demonstrates her dedication to empowering women and fostering economic inclusion.

Ad Agency Liqvd Asia Appoints Anasuya Chaudhuri-Ghosh as Independent Director

In its initiative to strengthen its leadership and governance, Liqvd Asia, a digital-first advertising agency in India, has named Anasuya Chaudhuri-Ghosh as an Independent Director.

With over 25 years of varied experience spanning insurance and digital innovation, Anasuya has a thorough industry understanding backed by keen strategic acumen. Perfectly suited to a business like Liqvd Asia that exists at the convergence point of creativity and technology.