UN Women's Office in India, based in New Delhi, works with the Government of India, other UN agencies, civil society, the private sector and influencers to achieve India's strategic priorities for women's advancement. Our programmes focus on upholding women's human rights and providing opportunities for women and girls to live up to their full potential.

Investing in women’s economic empowerment is intrinsic to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It sets a direct path towards gender equality, poverty eradication, and inclusive economic growth. Yet despite the important progress that has been made in these areas, large gender gaps in economic opportunities and outcomes still remain across all countries and regions.

The transgender (TG) community is one of the most marginalized social groups in India. Historically subjected to structural violence, the TG community continues to face widespread stigma and discrimination at the hands of their own families, society and even the state. Despite some recent progressive measures by the government, the community’s social mainstreaming and access to rights and entitlements remains shrouded in challenges. 'The Transgender Question in India: Policy and Budgetary...

An assessment of programmes and schemes for the empowerment of religious minorities in India reveals that Muslim women and girls remain largely invisible in the overall policy framework. 'People at the margins: Whose Budgets? Whose Rights? - Locating Muslim Women in Indian Policy', published by UN Women and Ford Foundation draws from a study of the Prime Minister’s New 15 Points Programme in the four states of Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and Odisha, to identify key gaps in policy...

UN Women commissioned BASIX--a new generation livelihood promotion institution--to carry out a gender analysis of banking sector policies, financial products and services in India. The project commenced in September 2012 and concluded in April 2013. Select banking sector policies were reviewed to identify barriers women face while accessing financial support and the appropriateness of financial products for women’s empowerment. Methods to draw gender responsive indicators for effective...

UN Women partnered with ANANDI to strengthen gender perspectives in National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM). Pilots were initiated in select districts under the State Rural Livelihoods Missions in Bihar (JEEViKA BRLPS) and Madhya Pradesh (MPSRLM). National and state level workshops were conducted for the Missions’ Project Implementation Agencies for developing indicators and strategies for gender responsive implementation. The project also worked with women’s collectives...

Tailoring, embroidery, tie-and-dye, sujani (kaatha work) and carpet making are all done by women workers, who have little formal training and education.

This policy brief is an effort to highlight critical gender concerns in key government interventions such as Swadhar Greh, Swadhar and Short Stay Homes, and provide policy recommendations to address them. It culls out gaps in policies, implementation and budgets, and suggests how these schemes can be strengthened.

This document is a more detailed version of the presentation titled “Towards Economic Growth: Ideas Emerging from Gendered Analysis” prepared by the Working Group of Feminist Economists in the context of the Twelfth Plan Approach and shared with the Planning Commission.

This policy brief outlines key policy recommendations to address critical shortcomings in delivery of services and identifies gender concerns in the ICDS Scheme. It challenges the assumption that schemes meant largely for women and children are inherently gender responsive and need no scrutiny from a gender perspective.

This policy brief is an effort to highlight key policy recommendations to address critical gender concerns in the higher education sector. The recognition and redressal of inequalities in higher education has become a matter of considerable urgency in contemporary India.

This policy brief is an effort to highlight key policy recommendations to address critical gender concerns in the manufacturing sector; it specifically focuses on increasing remunerative employment in this sector.

This policy brief is an effort to highlight critical gender concerns in the Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission – the single largest initiative of the Government of India for planned urban development.

The study was designed to provide evidence in informing UN Women’s programme, “Promoting Women’s Political Leadership and Governance in India and South Asia.” A major focus of the study is on domestic violence.

The Concept Paper on Gender Responsive Governance examines the manner in which governance processes can be understood through a gendered framework. It discusses the evolving and expanding notion of governance.

The report ‘Evaluation of UN Women’s Work on Gender Responsive Budgeting in India’ was conducted to review the UN Women GRB programme’s current strategy and work plan, and to share learnings which will guide its future direction.

South Asia is home to around one fifth of the world’s population, making it both the most populous and densely populated geographical region in the world. In South Asia as a whole, women now live longer and are better educated.

This report presents the results and successes of joint programmes between the Government of India and UN Women to strengthen the leadership skills and confidence of women leaders in gram panchayats (village councils) so they can make informed decisions that benefit all.

This report by the Planning Commission, Government of India, presents the findings from the Planning Commission’s Mid Term Assessment of the Eleventh Five-Year Plan.

This Handbook prepared for the Government of India codifies norms and procedures for Gender Budgeting in India and presents concepts and gender budgeting tools across Ministries and Departments.