Inaugural Session of the G20 Ministerial Conference on Women Empowerment

At a G20 meeting in Gandhinagar during India's presidency, Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed leaders to Gandhi's ashram and emphasized India's progress in women-led development, including 46% female representation in rural local bodies, doubled technical education enrollment, 43% women STEM graduates, and key roles in defense and climate initiatives like the Chipko movement. Minister Smriti Irani highlighted G20 advancements such as a digital inclusion platform in 120 languages, the G20 Empower best practices playbook with 149 entries, expanded SME KPIs, and new themes on women as climate change makers. These initiatives underscore a commitment to global equity, education, enterprise, and grassroots leadership for sustainable progress.