Published Paper Details:

This research critically evaluates the impact of women-centric policies and yojanas introduced post-2014 on female empowerment and development in Bharat, with a focus on awareness and academic choices among female youth. The methodology involves a combination of purposive and convenience sampling of young women in higher education institutions, utilizing Google Forms for data collection. The analysis integrates primary data from surveys of college going young girls aged above 18 years of age (n = 63) and secondary data from government reports to assess policy effectiveness. The findings highlight the Maternity Benefit Amendment's significant improvements in maternity leave provisions and the Women Entrepreneurship Platform's role in supporting female entrepreneurs. However, gaps in policy implementation and awareness are evident. The Criminal Law Amendment Act has introduced stricter penalties for sexual offenses, aiming to enhance social security. Meanwhile, the Reservation Bill and the Triple Talaq Bill are examined in terms of their socio-political implications and contributions to gender equality. The study reveals that while these policies have made notable strides in empowering women, there remains a disparity in awareness and access among female youth, impacting their academic and career decisions. This research contributes to the literature on women's empowerment by providing empirical insights into the real-world outcomes of recent policies and offering recommendations for enhancing their effectiveness and reach.