Section Article

SOCIAL SECURITY POLICIES FOR WOMEN IN INDIA: AN EVALUATION
Author(s): Govind Chinna

Abstract
Social security policies for women in India have gained unprecedented significance as the nation moves deeper into the 21st century particularly in the context of economic transitions demographic shifts technological expansion and evolving social structures leading up to 2025. Women constitute a critical segment of India’s workforce family systems and social fabric yet they continue to face vulnerabilities related to health income security employment instability violence social exclusion and unequal access to opportunities. In response India has developed a wide spectrum of social security frameworks including maternity entitlements healthcare schemes financial inclusion programs pension benefits livelihood support employment safeguards and protection from gender-based violence. However despite policy expansion disparities persist between formal and informal sectors rural and urban populations and different socio-economic groups. This study evaluates the evolution design implementation and effectiveness of women-focused social security policies in India drawing from pre-2025 research and contextualizing their relevance in a rapidly changing socio-economic environment. The paper analyzes how social protection systems respond to emerging challenges such as economic restructuring digital labor markets rising care burdens health crises and increasing demands for gender-sensitive welfare. Through a comprehensive examination of legislative frameworks institutional mechanisms welfare outcomes and structural barriers the research highlights both the transformative potential and persistent limitations of India’s social security architecture for women. The study argues that empowering women through effective social security is essential for achieving inclusive development gender justice and sustainable social progress.