Constitutional Privileges
(i) Equality before law for women (Article 14)
•The State not to discriminate against any citizen on grounds only of religion, race, caste, sex, place of birth or any
of them (Article 15 (i))
(iii) The State to make any special provision in favour of women and children (Article 15 (3))
•Equality of opportunity for all citizens in matters relating to employment or appointment to any office under the
State (Article 16)
•The State to direct its policy towards securing for men and women equally the right to an adequate means of
livelihood (Article 39(a));
•and equal pay for equal work for both men and women (Article 39(d))
•To promote justice, on a basis of equal opportunity and to provide free legal aid by suitable legislation or scheme or
in any other way to ensure that opportunities for securing justice are not denied to any citizen by reason of
economic or other disabilities (Article 39 A)
(vii) The State to make provision for securing just and humane conditions of work and for maternity relief
(Article 42)
•The State to promote with special care the educational and economic interests of the weaker sections of the people
and to protect them from social injustice and all forms of exploitation (Article 46)
(ix) The State to raise the level of nutrition and the standard of living of its people (Article 47)
(x) To promote harmony and the spirit of common brotherhood amongst all the people of India and to renounce
practices derogatory to the dignity of women (Article 51(A) (e))
(xi) Not less than one-third (including the number of seats reserved for women belonging to the Scheduled
Castes and the Scheduled Tribes) of the total number of seats to be filled by direct election in every Panchayat to
be reserved for women and such seats to be allotted by rotation to different constituencies in a Panchayat (Article
243 D(3))
(xii) Not less than one- third of the total number of offices of Chairpersons in the Panchayats at each level to
be reserved for women (Article 243 D (4))
•Not less than one-third (including the number of seats reserved for women belonging to the Scheduled Castes and
the Scheduled Tribes) of the total number of seats to be filled by direct election in every Municipality to be
The Crimes identified under the Special Laws (SLL)
Although all laws are not gender specific, the provisions of law affecting women significantly
have been reviewed periodically and amendments carried out to keep pace with the
emerging requirements. Some acts which have special provisions to safeguard women and
their interests are:
•The Employees State Insurance Act, 1948
•The Plantation Labour Act, 1951
•The Family Courts Act, 1954
•The Special Marriage Act, 1954
•The Hindu Marriage Act, 1955
•The Hindu Succession Act, 1956 with amendment in 2005
•Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956
•The Maternity Benefit Act, 1961 (Amended in 1995)
•Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961
•The Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971
•The Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act, 1976
•The Equal Remuneration Act, 1976
•The Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006
•The Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 1983
•The Factories (Amendment) Act, 1986
•Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986
•Commission of Sati (Prevention) Act, 1987
The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005
• SPECIAL INITIATIVES FOR WOMEN
National Commission for Women
• In January 1992, the Government set-up this statutory body with a specific mandate to study and monitor all matters relating to the
constitutional and legal safeguards provided for women, review the existing legislation to suggest amendments wherever
necessary, etc.
Reservation for Women in Local Self -Government
• The 73rd Constitutional Amendment Acts passed in 1992 by Parliament ensure one-third of the total seats for women in all elected
offices in local bodies whether in rural areas or urban areas.
The National Plan of Action for the Girl Child (1991-2000)
• The plan of Action is to ensure survival, protection and development of the girl child with the ultimate objective of building up a
better future for the girl child.
National Policy for the Empowerment of Women, 2001
• The Department of Women & Child Development in the Ministry of Human Resource Development has prepared a “National Policy
for the Empowerment of Women” in the year 2001. The goal of this policy is to bring about the advancement, development and
empowerment of women.
• Subhadra scheme 2024
• 105 CAA act Reservation of women in loksabha
