Published: 7 March 2026PIBGovernance
International Women's Day 2026: India Celebrates 'Nari Shakti as Foundation of Viksit Bharat'
India observed International Women's Day on March 8, 2026 with the theme 'Nari Shakti as the Foundation of Viksit Bharat', aligning with the UN theme 'Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls.' A 'Shakti Walk' was organised along Kartavya Path from India Gate to Vijay Chowk with over 3,000 women from 200+ ministries and sectors participating.
Key data highlighted: female labour force participation rose from 22.9% in 2018 to 35.3% in 2025. The World Bank's $830 million PM-SETU Programme, approved in February 2026, will revamp Industrial Training Institutes with a commitment that at least 25% of students are women. President Murmu and Vice-President Radhakrishnan participated in celebrations at Manekshaw Centre and Tripura respectively.
Mains angle
Q: How do initiatives highlighted on International Women's Day 2026 reflect India's progress toward gender-inclusive development?
Answer (50 words):
Female labour-force participation rose from 22.9 percent in 2018 to 35.3 percent in 2025. The World Bank's $830 million PM-SETU Programme commits 25 percent enrollment to women in revamped Industrial Training Institutes. A Shakti Walk on Kartavya Path drew 3,000 women from over 200 ministries, advancing gender mainstreaming across economic domains.
6-axis classification
CoverageNationalSubjectNationalExamBasic Computer Instructor · CET Graduation · CET Senior Secondary · EO/RO · LDC · Mahila Supervisor · Patwar · PTI · RAS · REET · RPSC SI · School Lecturer · Senior Computer Instructor · Senior Teacher · UPSC · Vanpal · BothSourcePIB
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Linked questionMedium
The 60th DGP-IGP Conference held in Raipur in November 2025 had which theme?
Explanation · Correct answer CThe 60th DGP-IGP Conference (Nov 28-30, 2025) in Raipur was themed 'Viksit Bharat: Security Dimensions'.
Frequently asked questions
What was India's theme for International Women's Day 2026?
India's theme for International Women's Day 2026 was **'Nari Shakti as the Foundation of Viksit Bharat'**, aligned with the **UN theme 'Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls.'** A **Shakti Walk** was organised along Kartavya Path from India Gate to Vijay Chowk with **over 3,000 women** from **200+ ministries** and sectors participating.
How much has India's female labour force participation rate changed between 2018 and 2025?
India's female labour force participation rate rose significantly from **22.9% in 2018 to 35.3% in 2025** — an increase of **12.4 percentage points** in seven years. This data was highlighted during International Women's Day 2026 celebrations.
What is the World Bank PM-SETU Programme approved in 2026 and what is its commitment for women?
The **World Bank's $830 million PM-SETU Programme**, approved in **February 2026**, will revamp **Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs)** across India. It includes a commitment that **at least 25% of students** enrolled in ITIs are women, as highlighted during International Women's Day 2026.
Where did President Murmu participate in International Women's Day 2026 celebrations?
**President Droupadi Murmu** participated in International Women's Day 2026 celebrations at **Manekshaw Centre** in New Delhi, while **Vice-President Radhakrishnan** participated in events in **Tripura**.
What was the Shakti Walk on International Women's Day 2026 and where was it held?
The **Shakti Walk** was organised along **Kartavya Path** from **India Gate to Vijay Chowk** in New Delhi on **March 8, 2026** for International Women's Day. Over **3,000 women from 200+ ministries** and sectors participated in this symbolic event celebrating women-led development for Viksit Bharat.
