New Delhi, April 9 -- India's development narrative increasingly places women at the centre of an economic transformation. As Parliament prepares to operationalize the Women's Reservation Act ahead of the 2029 elections, the focus on women's participation in public life is intensifying.

Over the past decade, policy efforts have expanded women's access to bank accounts, jobs and entrepreneurship. On paper, the gains are significant. But a closer look reveals a more complicated story, one where inclusion has expanded but empowerment remains uneven.

If India is serious about becoming a developed economy by 2047, it must move beyond counting how many women are included and start asking whether they actually have control over opportunities....