📄 Abstract
Women empowerment became a fresh debatable subject once again in the context of recent attempts to pass the women reservation bill in the Lok Sabha in India in April 2026. Empowering women through education is crucial for inclusive and sustainable development, especially in relation to Sustainable Development Goal 5 (SDG-5), which centers on gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls. This research examines the latest government initiatives in India aimed at improving women's empowerment, particularly in educational achievement. Using a descriptive-analytical research approach, this study relies on secondary data from sources such as UDISE+, government reports, and international datasets. The analysis employs a capability-based framework to evaluate how policy measures convert into real educational opportunities and results for women. The findings show that while India has made significant progress in increasing girls' access to education, as evidenced by high enrollment at the primary and elementary levels, serious challenges persist regarding retention, progression to secondary education, and completion rates. Structural barriers, including socio-cultural attitudes, financial difficulties, digital divides, and institutional gaps, continue to hinder the effective translation of educational access into true empowerment. The research also highlights regional disparities and intersectional inequalities that intensify these challenges. The paper concludes that achieving SDG-5 in India requires a shift from policies focused merely on access to strategies that boost capabilities, prioritising retention, digital inclusion, and socio-cultural change. It recommends introducing targeted, context-sensitive policies and improving monitoring systems to ensure that educational progress leads to lasting empowerment. Women's Educational Empowerment, Sustainable Development Goal 5, Gender Inequality in Education, Public Policy Analysis.
📚 How to Cite:
Dr D. Ramanjulu , EDUCATIONAL EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN IN INDIA: A CONTEMPORARY POLICY ANALYSIS IN THE FRAMEWORK OF SDG-5 , Volume 12 , Issue 5, May 2026, EPRA International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research (IJMR) , DOI: https://doi.org/10.36713/epra27471