The Committee on Empowerment of Women (CEW) is a Joint Parliamentary Committee — a body whose members are drawn from both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha — that oversees government actions related to women's welfare, equality, and empowerment. It is not a department-related standing committee, nor a statutory body. It exists via parliamentary resolutions and is governed by the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business of the Lok Sabha (Rules 331C and 331P).
Its core role is to act as a watchdog over the Union Government's gender-equity policies, review reports of the National Commission for Women, and ensure women receive equality, status, and dignity as mandated by the Constitution.
| Parameter | Detail |
|---|---|
| Type | Joint Parliamentary Committee (not a Standing Committee; not a statutory body) |
| Nature | Parliamentary — exists by resolution, not by an Act of Parliament |
| Constituted by | Resolutions of both Houses (moved March 8, 1996); first constituted April 29, 1997 |
| Lok Sabha anchor | Rules 331C and 331P of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha |
| Subject | Women's welfare, equality, status, dignity |
| Ministry connected | Ministry of Women and Child Development (WCD) — primary but not exclusive |
| Oversight body reviewed | National Commission for Women (NCW) — reports considered by this Committee |
| International link | Scrutinises India's compliance with CEDAW (Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women) |
The committee is often called simply "Empowerment of Women Committee" in news; its full official name is Committee on Empowerment of Women. Do not confuse with the National Commission for Women (NCW), which is a statutory body under the NCW Act, 1990.
UPSC frequently asks whether the CEW is a statutory body — it is NOT. It is a parliamentary committee created by resolution. Similarly, it is NOT a department-related standing committee (DRSC). It is a joint parliamentary committee with its own distinct character.
The Committee's birth was a product of sustained advocacy for women's parliamentary representation in the 1990s. The key trigger was the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (1995), which called on governments to strengthen parliamentary mechanisms for gender equality. India responded with a twin-Houses resolution route.
The resolutions were moved on March 8, 1996 — International Women's Day. The committee was not constituted until April 29, 1997 — a gap of over a year. UPSC may test: "The committee was first constituted in 1996" — this is WRONG. 1996 = resolutions. 1997 = constitution.
The 1974 "Towards Equality" report, the 1992 NCW establishment, and the 1995 Beijing Declaration form the three pillars behind the CEW's founding. In the UPSC world, linking the Beijing Declaration to parliamentary gender mechanisms is a standard analytical connect.
| Feature | Detail | Exam Significance |
|---|---|---|
| Total Strength | 30 members | Exact number frequently tested |
| Lok Sabha members | 20 — nominated by the Speaker | Who nominates LS members = Speaker |
| Rajya Sabha members | 10 — nominated by the Chairman, Rajya Sabha | Who nominates RS members = RS Chairman |
| Term | Does NOT exceed one year | Not a permanent standing committee |
| Reconstitution | Every year after dissolution | Annual rhythm = new Chairperson possible |
| Chairperson | Appointed from among the members (typically a Lok Sabha member) | Not elected — appointed/nominated |
| Cross-party mandate | Members expected to work across party lines for women's empowerment | Unique non-partisan charter |
| Who can be a member? | Only Members of Parliament (both LS and RS); not ministers or retired MPs | Not an independent expert body |
| Governing rule | Rules 331C and 331P of the Rules of Procedure of Lok Sabha | Rule numbers occasionally asked |
| Name | House | Role / Party |
|---|---|---|
| Dr D. Purandeswari | Lok Sabha | Chairperson · BJP |
| Hema Malini | Lok Sabha | Member · BJP |
| Harsimrat Kaur Badal | Lok Sabha | Member · SAD |
| Mahima Kumari Mewar | Lok Sabha | Member |
| Smita Uday Wagh | Lok Sabha | Member |
| Sagarika Ghose | Rajya Sabha | Member · TMC |
| Swati Maliwal | Rajya Sabha | Member · AAP |
| Sudha Murty | Rajya Sabha | Member · Nominated |
| PT Usha | Rajya Sabha | Member · Nominated |
The 2:1 ratio of Lok Sabha (20) to Rajya Sabha (10) members reflects the proportional strength convention for joint committees. UPSC often gives a wrong ratio like 25:5 or 15:15 — the correct split is 20 Lok Sabha + 10 Rajya Sabha = 30 total. The Speaker nominates LS; RS Chairman nominates RS.
"The Committee on Empowerment of Women is chaired by the Minister of Women and Child Development." — WRONG. The Chairperson is a Member of Parliament, not a minister. Ministers are typically not members of parliamentary committees overseeing their own ministries.
The Committee's mandate, as drawn from the Rules of Procedure of Lok Sabha and the founding resolutions, covers four distinct functional pillars:
| # | Function | Key Details |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Review NCW Reports | Consider reports submitted by the National Commission for Women (NCW) and report on the measures the Union Government should take to improve women's status. This is the primary link between the NCW and Parliament. |
| 2 | Monitor Equality Measures | Examine steps taken by the Union Government to secure equality, status, and dignity for women in all matters — constitutional, legal, social, and economic. |
| 3 | Education & Representation Oversight | Examine steps for comprehensive education of women and their adequate representation in legislative bodies, services, and other fields. |
| 4 | Inter-House Referrals | Examine matters referred to it by the Lok Sabha Speaker or Rajya Sabha Chairman from time to time — making it responsive to emerging issues (including SHG policies, cyber safety, maternal health, etc.) |
The NCW submits its annual reports and special reports to the Central Government (Ministry of WCD). Those reports are then considered by the CEW, which examines whether the Union Government has acted on NCW recommendations. CEW = parliamentary accountability layer over NCW.
Unlike the NCW, the CEW does NOT have quasi-judicial powers (no civil court powers, no summons power). It is a deliberative/oversight body. It can summon officials but in the parliamentary sense (through committee procedure), not as a court. This distinction is tested.
| Can Do ✅ | Cannot Do ❌ |
|---|---|
| Review NCW reports and comment on government action | Directly summon private individuals as a court would |
| Call ministers/officials for depositions before the committee | Issue binding orders to the government |
| Refer matters to both Houses through reports | Take suo motu cognizance of individual women's complaints |
| Scrutinise CEDAW compliance | Review laws (that is the NCW's function) |
| Examine budget allocations for women | Conduct field investigations independently |
This is one of the highest-frequency trap zones in UPSC Polity. The CEW and the NCW are both women's bodies at the national level, but they differ fundamentally in nature, creation, powers, and scope. A wrong answer here costs marks that could decide your Prelims fate.
| Parameter | Committee on Empowerment of Women (CEW) | National Commission for Women (NCW) |
|---|---|---|
| Nature | Parliamentary Committee (Joint) | Statutory Body (independent) |
| Created by | Two identical resolutions passed in both Houses on March 8, 1996; governed by Rules of Procedure (LS Rules 331C, 331P) | NCW Act, 1990 — enacted by Parliament; came into force January 31, 1992 |
| Year of establishment | 1997 (first constituted April 29, 1997) | 1992 (January 31, 1992) |
| Members | 30 MPs (20 LS + 10 RS) — only Members of Parliament | Chairperson + 5 Members + Member Secretary — NOT MPs; nominated by Central Government |
| Appointed by | Speaker (LS members) + RS Chairman (RS members) | Central Government (President on advice of CoM) |
| Term | ≤ 1 year | Chairperson and members: 3 years |
| Quasi-judicial powers? | No — deliberative/oversight body only | Yes — powers of a civil court (summons, documents, witnesses) |
| Take up individual complaints? | No | Yes — receives and investigates individual complaints from women |
| Review laws? | Not primarily; defers to NCW on legal review | Yes — recommends amendments to laws, reviewed Dowry Act, MTP Act, etc. |
| Relationship to each other | Reviews NCW's annual reports — Parliamentary oversight of NCW | Submits reports to government; those reports then go to CEW for parliamentary scrutiny |
| Ministry supervised by | No direct ministry — reports to both Houses of Parliament | Ministry of Women and Child Development (WCD) |
| International link | Scrutinises CEDAW compliance | Consulted in preparation of CEDAW reports |
"The Committee on Empowerment of Women was established under the National Commission for Women Act, 1990." — COMPLETELY WRONG. The NCW Act, 1990 created the NCW. The CEW was created by parliamentary resolutions. Two completely different legal foundations.
Think of it this way: NCW = the actor (does the work, investigates, recommends). CEW = the director (reviews whether the actor's work is being followed up by government). CEW is Parliament's eye on NCW + on the Government's gender policies.
The Committee on Empowerment of Women's mandate includes monitoring economic empowerment of women. SHG-linked schemes represent the largest grassroots economic empowerment programme in India, directly affecting over 10 crore women. The CEW examines whether government schemes for women's financial inclusion — DAY-NRLM, Lakhpati Didi, SHG-Bank Linkage — are achieving their stated goals.
| Scheme | Ministry | Key Feature | CEW Oversight Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| DAY-NRLM (Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission) | Rural Development | 10+ cr women in SHGs; interest subvention 7% on loans up to ₹3 lakh for women SHGs; launched 2011 | CEW monitors financial inclusion outcomes; examines reports on women's self-reliance |
| Lakhpati Didi | Rural Development (DAY-NRLM outcome) | Not a separate scheme — an output of DAY-NRLM; SHG member earning ≥ ₹1 lakh/year; Target: 3 crore (raised from 2 crore in Interim Budget 2024-25) | CEW reviews whether government is meeting Lakhpati Didi targets |
| SHG-Bank Linkage Programme | NABARD + RBI | Links SHGs to formal banking; 14.2 crore families covered (Eco Survey 2022-23); savings deposits ₹47,240 crore | CEW examines credit access and financial inclusion for rural women |
| Namo Drone Didi | Agriculture + Rural Dev | ₹1,261 crore; trains 15,000 SHG women as drone pilots for agriculture; Budget 2024-25 | CEW monitors skill development + technology access for SHG women |
| PM Mudra Yojana | Finance | Collateral-free loans up to ₹20 lakh; 68% of 2024 loans issued to women entrepreneurs | CEW examines gender-disaggregated lending data and financial access |
| Banking Correspondent Sakhis | Rural Development (DAY-NRLM) | SHG women trained as banking correspondents; 1,35,127 active as of 2024 | CEW reviews last-mile banking access for rural women |
| Parameter | Data |
|---|---|
| SHG definition | Informal association of 5–20 individuals from similar socio-economic backgrounds; self-governed and peer-controlled |
| Membership range | Minimum 5, maximum 20 members per SHG |
| Revolving Fund (DAY-NRLM) | ₹10,000–₹15,000 per SHG (initial corpus) |
| Community Investment Fund | Up to ₹2.5 lakh per SHG |
| Interest subvention | All-women SHGs: 7% p.a. on loans up to ₹3 lakh; additional 3% on prompt repayment |
| SHG origin India | NABARD launched SHG-Bank Linkage Programme in 1992 |
| Andhra/Telangana leadership | AP and Telangana lead in SHG count nationally |
Lakhpati Didi is NOT a separate government scheme — it is an outcome/output of DAY-NRLM. UPSC may describe it as an independent scheme — that is WRONG. It falls under the Ministry of Rural Development, not WCD. The target was raised to 3 crore in the Interim Budget 2024-25 (from 2 crore).
Committee on Empowerment of Women reconstituted for 2026–27 (effective April 21, 2026) by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. Dr D. Purandeswari (BJP MP, Lok Sabha) appointed Chairperson. The 30-member committee includes Hema Malini, Harsimrat Kaur Badal (Lok Sabha) and Sagarika Ghose, Swati Maliwal, Sudha Murty, PT Usha (Rajya Sabha). The committee is tasked with focusing on women's welfare, empowerment and development for the year.
Delhi CM Rekha Gupta announced collateral-free loans up to ₹10 crore for women's SHGs and startups at the Mega SHG Mela-2026 (organised in Rohini). The Delhi government stated it would act as the guarantor for these loans. Around 24 SHGs participated in the two-day mela, showcasing handicrafts, khadi, crochet work, and food items. The initiative is tied to the Vocal for Local, Atmanirbhar Bharat, and One District, One Product frameworks.
Lok Sabha resumes debate on Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam (Women's Reservation Act) implementation via the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026 and the Delimitation Bill, 2026. Parliament held a special sitting to discuss three bills expanding women's representation in Lok Sabha and state assemblies. This links to the CEW's mandate on "adequate representation of women in legislative bodies." The bills remain contested — implementation tied to delimitation post-2026 census.
Manipur Budget 2026–27 announced an SHG scheme benefiting 3.5 lakh women, with ₹10,000 per beneficiary via DBT in Year 1 and ₹350 crore earmarked. This is part of the broader national SHG policy environment that the CEW monitors.
The "Women and Men in India 2025" report (Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation) was released, showing female GER in higher education is now higher than male GER, female LFPR at 41.7% in 2023-24, and self-employment among women rising to 67.4% in 2024. The CEW would monitor these benchmarks in its annual review of government action on gender equality.
With UPSC Prelims 2026 scheduled for May 24, 2026, the May 2026 reconstitution of the Committee is extremely current. Expect questions on: (a) Chairperson name (Dr D. Purandeswari), (b) effective date (April 21, 2026), (c) number of members (30), and (d) the broader SHG-Mela context of Delhi's collateral-free loan announcement.
These statement-type questions are characteristic of how UPSC tests parliamentary committees. Carefully read each statement and test yourself before seeing the verdict.
| # | Statement | ✅ / ❌ | Correct Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Committee on Empowerment of Women is a statutory body established under the National Commission for Women Act, 1990. | ❌ FALSE | It is a parliamentary committee created by resolutions of both Houses (March 8, 1996), not by any Act. The NCW Act, 1990 created the NCW. |
| 2 | The Committee was first constituted in 1996. | ❌ FALSE | The resolutions were passed on March 8, 1996. The Committee was first constituted on April 29, 1997 during the 11th Lok Sabha. |
| 3 | The Committee consists of 20 members from the Lok Sabha and 10 from the Rajya Sabha. | ✅ TRUE | Correct. Total 30 members — 20 LS (nominated by Speaker) + 10 RS (nominated by RS Chairman). |
| 4 | The Chairperson of the Committee is the Minister of Women and Child Development. | ❌ FALSE | The Chairperson is a Member of Parliament, not a minister. For 2026-27, it is Dr D. Purandeswari (BJP MP). |
| 5 | The Committee has the power of a civil court and can summon witnesses. | ❌ FALSE | The NCW has civil court powers. The CEW is a deliberative/oversight parliamentary body — it does not have quasi-judicial powers. |
| 6 | The Committee's term does not exceed one year and it is reconstituted annually. | ✅ TRUE | Correct. Annual reconstitution is a defining feature — unlike department-related standing committees which may continue across sessions. |
| 7 | Lakhpati Didi is a flagship scheme launched independently by the Ministry of Women and Child Development. | ❌ FALSE | Lakhpati Didi is an outcome of DAY-NRLM under the Ministry of Rural Development — not a separate scheme, and not under WCD. |
| 8 | The Committee can review India's compliance with CEDAW. | ✅ TRUE | Correct. Scrutinising CEDAW compliance is among its extended functions as per the IPU Parline database and its mandate to monitor international gender commitments. |
UPSC may say "constituted in 1996." This is a trap. 1996 = resolutions; 1997 = first constituted. The two-step founding process (resolution → committee) is a unique feature worth remembering.
Any option saying the CEW was "established under" or "created by" the NCW Act, 1990 is wrong. Two totally different legal bases. NCW = Act. CEW = resolution + Rules of Procedure.
CEW is not a permanent standing committee. Unlike DRSCs (Department-Related Standing Committees), which run across sessions until reconstituted, the CEW has a maximum term of one year and must be reconstituted each year by the Speaker.
Students often reverse this: Lok Sabha Speaker nominates LS members; Rajya Sabha Chairman nominates RS members. Do NOT say "President nominates all" — that is the NCW's appointment route, not the CEW's.
Not every joint committee = the CEW. The term "Joint Parliamentary Committee" applies specifically to bodies with members from both Houses. Some UPSC options may confuse the CEW with a Joint Select Committee (formed for a specific bill) — those are temporary committees formed for legislation, not for ongoing oversight like the CEW.
Memorise: 30 total = 20 + 10 = Speaker + RS Chairman = 1 year term = 1997 first constituted. Five numbers, one chain. Never second-guess any of these — UPSC tests all five.
For parliamentary committee MCQs, UPSC loves Statement-based questions (Statements 1/2/3 — which are correct?). Practice identifying the one incorrect statement in a set — usually about nature of body (statutory vs parliamentary), year, or powers. Always eliminate options containing "receives individual complaints" for the CEW — that belongs to NCW.
| What | Number / Date | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Total members (CEW) | 30 | Most tested number |
| Lok Sabha members | 20 (nominated by Speaker) | 2:1 ratio to RS |
| Rajya Sabha members | 10 (nominated by RS Chairman) | Part of the 30 |
| Term of Committee | ≤ 1 year | Annual reconstitution |
| Year of twin resolutions | March 8, 1996 | International Women's Day |
| Year of first constitution | April 29, 1997 | 11th Lok Sabha |
| NCW established | January 31, 1992 | CEW ≠ NCW; 5 years earlier |
| NCW members' term | 3 years (not 1) | Contrasts with CEW's 1 year |
| SHGs under DAY-NRLM | ~90 lakh SHGs, 10+ cr women | CEW oversight context |
| Lakhpati Didi target | 3 crore (Budget 2024-25) | NRLM outcome, not separate scheme |
| Delhi SHG loan (May 2026) | ₹10 crore collateral-free | Most recent current affairs peg |
| 2026-27 Chairperson | Dr D. Purandeswari | BJP, Lok Sabha MP; April 21, 2026 |