GS4 · UPSC Mains

In the recently announced result of the Civil Services Examination, for the second year in a row, a female candidate has secured the top rank. Overall, of the total of 933 successful candidates, 320 are women. This is the highest percentage of women candidates selected in any year. But these numbers are far less than the proportion of women in the population. Even in the bureaucratic hierarchy, women seldom hold top posts as compared to men. In the medical sector, on an average more women join medical colleges compared to men in India. But at the post-graduation and doctoral levels, the percentage of female doctors is around one-third of the male doctors. It is also observed that positions of leadership in academics and administration are still mostly occupied by men. Additionally, in the field of politics, the representation of women in leadership positions remains relatively low. In the Lok Sabha, women hold only around 14% of the seats. In the State Legislatures, the representation of women varies, with some states showing higher percentages than others. However, there is still a long way to go to achieve gender parity in political representation. In this context, answer the following questions. (a) What are the key barriers and challenges that hinder the path of women in their journey towards leadership roles in their respective fields? (b) How do the social and cultural norms affect women's employment in India? (c) Discuss how gender parity in employment opportunities and career growth be ensured for women in India. (Answer in 250 words)

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