NEWS: Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla officially reconstituted the Parliamentary Committee on Empowerment of Women for the year 2026–27.

About Committee on Empowerment of Women:

·         The Committee on Empowerment of Womenà Is a prestigious Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) in the Indian Parliament.

·         Operates as an institutional mechanism to review policies, assess welfare initiatives, and ensure gender equality across central laws and union territories.

·         The committee was constituted for the first time on April 29, 1997, during the 11th Lok Sabha.

Composition & Tenure:

·         Lok Sabha: 18 members nominated by the Speaker.

·         Rajya Sabha: 10 members nominated by the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.

·         Tenure: The term of the committee does not exceed one year. It is reconstituted annually.

·         Working Principle: Members are expected to rise above party lines and function as a cohesive cross-party unit dedicated to women’s advancement.

Key Functions

·         Reviewing National Commission Reportsà Considers the statutory reports submitted by the National Commission for Women (NCW) and recommends legislative or executive actions to the Union Government.

·         Examines the systemic measures taken by the Centre to secure equality, status, and dignity for women in all spheres of public and private life.

·         Assesses welfare measures aimed at providing comprehensive education and ensuring adequate representation of women in legislative bodies, public services, and other fields.

·         Evaluates the execution, last-mile delivery, and overall impact of centrally sponsored women’s welfare and safety schemes.

·         Reviews and reports on the actual implementations or gaps in measures previously proposed by the committee to the Union Government and Union Territory administrations.

·         Examines specific gender-related matters referred to it dynamically by either the Lok Sabha Speaker or the Rajya Sabha Chairman.

Significance

·         The panel bridges the gap between political intent and actual execution, holding ministries accountable for gender-specific budget allocations and safety outcomes.

·         Its recommendations often lay the groundwork for major policy overhauls, such as Gender Responsive Budgeting and addressing the challenges faced by women in emerging tech-driven economies.