Page 26 - NIS English 01-15 Aug, 2026

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Independence Day Special
Cover Story

9 Women

Empowerment

It is difficult to envision a developed nation without empowering and making
self-reliant the country’s female population—which constitutes half of its
citizenry. That is why the holistic development of women remains a top
priority for the government...

60

Girls’ enrollment at
the secondary level

61

80.2%
75.51%
2014-15 2024-25 Jal Jeevan Mission

n The 'Beti Bachao Beti Padhao' n At the national level, 12.65+
scheme was launched on January the sex ratio at birth crore Additional tap connections
22, 2015, to eliminate the declining improved from 918 were provided to rural households
child sex ratio and widespread in 2014-15 to 929 in between the mission's launch on
gender-based discrimination. 2024-25. August 15, 2019, and July 10, 2026.

62 n Only 3.23 crore rural
households had tap connections
when the mission was launched.
Schemes like Mudra Yojana & Stand-Up India

68% of the total beneficiaries under the 15.88+
Mudra Yojana are women, which has
crore Households now receive tap
helped them access easy loans and
expand their businesses. water; there are over 19.35 crore
rural households in the country.
n From home-based activities n Through the Stand-Up India n This mission, announced on
to full-fledged businesses, portal, women receive guidance Independence Day, has saved
Mudra is instilling confidence on applications, access to the time women previously
in women; the scheme has training, and mentorship. spent fetching water; women
completed 11 years. are becoming empowered by
utilising this time for economic
n Stand-Up India: Women activities.
can avail loans ranging from
₹10 lakh to ₹1 crore, with a
repayment period of up to 7
years.

24 NEW INDIA SAMACHAR || Aug 01-15, 2026