Role of Women — Practice Questions
UPSC-pattern practice questions on women in Indian society: women's organisations, laws, constitutional provisions, schemes and Mains answer frameworks.
Questions
These are original UPSC-pattern practice questions. Attempt each one before revealing the answer.
Consider the following pairs:
| Organisation | Year of founding |
|---|---|
| 1. Women’s Indian Association | 1917 |
| 2. All India Women’s Conference | 1927 |
| 3. Self-Employed Women’s Association | 1972 |
How many of the pairs given above are correctly matched?
Solution
All three are correct.
- WIA — Madras, 1917 (Annie Besant, Margaret Cousins, Dorothy Jinarajadasa).
- AIWC — first session at Poona, 1927.
- SEWA — Ahmedabad, 1972 (Ela Bhatt).
Answer: D
Under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013, an Internal Committee must be constituted by every employer having at least how many employees?
Solution
The threshold is 10 employees. Smaller workplaces, and complaints against the employer, go to the district-level Local Committee. The figure 50 is the threshold for a creche under the Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act, 2017 — a common mix-up.
Answer: B
With reference to the National Commission for Women, consider the following statements:
- It is a constitutional body.
- It was set up under an Act of Parliament passed in 1990.
- It can investigate matters relating to the safeguards provided for women under the Constitution and other laws.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Solution
Statement 1 is incorrect — the NCW is statutory. Contrast the National Commissions for SCs (Article 338), STs (Article 338A) and Backward Classes (Article 338B), which are constitutional. Statement 2 is correct — National Commission for Women Act, 1990; constituted in January 1992. Statement 3 is correct — it is one of the Commission’s core functions.
Answer: C
Which one of the following judgments of the Supreme Court held that a daughter’s right as a coparcener in Hindu joint family property arises by birth, whether or not her father was alive on the date of the 2005 amendment?
Solution
Vineeta Sharma v. Rakesh Sharma (2020). The others: Joseph Shine (2018) — adultery provision struck down; Shayara Bano (2017) — instant triple talaq set aside; Vishaka (1997) — workplace sexual harassment guidelines.
Answer: A
Mains
Female labour force participation in India has risen in recent years. Does this indicate the economic empowerment of women? Examine.
Solution
Introduction: PLFS annual reports show female LFPR (15+, usual status) rising from 23.3% in 2017-18 to 41.7% in 2023-24 — a large increase that needs to be read alongside the type of work women are doing.
Body:
- Positive signs: more women in the labour force, especially in rural areas; SHG-linked livelihoods (DAY-NRLM); higher financial inclusion (78.6% of women use their own bank account — NFHS-5).
- Caveats: much of the rise is self-employment and unpaid help in household enterprises; low share in regular salaried jobs; low urban participation; wage gaps; heavy unpaid care work.
- Constraints: safety and mobility, lack of creches, social norms on women’s work, skill mismatch.
Conclusion: Participation is a necessary but not sufficient condition for empowerment. Decent, paid and secure work — supported by care infrastructure and safe transport — is what turns participation into empowerment.
“Reservation for women in local bodies has created a generation of women leaders, but not without limits.” Critically examine in the light of the 106th Constitutional Amendment.
Solution
Introduction: The 73rd and 74th Amendments (1992) reserved not less than one-third of seats and chairpersons’ posts in panchayats and municipalities for women; several States have raised this to 50%. The 106th Amendment (2023) extends the idea to the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies.
Body:
- Gains: large numbers of elected women representatives; greater attention to water, sanitation, schools and health in local agendas; role models and political pipelines.
- Limits: “proxy” representation by male relatives in some areas; rotation of reserved seats limits continuity; weak devolution of funds, functions and functionaries; social barriers for Dalit and Adivasi women leaders.
- Lessons for the 106th Amendment: capacity building, party nomination practices, rotation design, and the time lag until delimitation after the next Census.
Conclusion: Reservation opens the door; empowerment needs training, real devolution and social change. The 106th Amendment can build on the local experience if implementation is timely and accompanied by these supports.