President graces women’s day celebrations in New Delhi

On the occasion of International Women’s Day, the President of India Smt Droupadi Murmu graced and addressed the event organised by the Union Ministry of Women and Child Development in New Delhi today (March 8, 2026). This national-level event was organised to celebrate the achievements and contributions of women across diverse fields and reaffirm the collective commitment towards gender equality, safety, dignity and empowerment of women.

Addressing the gathering, the President said that women are playing leading role in every field—education, administration, judiciary, military, medicine, science, technology, arts and entrepreneurship. Women in rural areas are becoming financially self-reliant through Self-Help Groups. They are providing leadership to rural development in panchayats. Many women are leveraging their abilities and capabilities to provide leadership in industry, startups and the corporate world. They are excelling in sports too. Such examples instil confidence that, given the opportunities and support, women can achieve excellence in every field.

The President said that despite numerous efforts toward women’s empowerment, many obstacles still remain in their journey of development. For example, even today, many women face problems such as discrimination, unequal pay for equal work and domestic violence. These cannot be addressed solely through legislation. A shift in societal mindset is essential. Only when we move beyond the mindset of gender-based discrimination can we truly establish equality in society.(UPDATED ON 8TH MARCH 2026)