The Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD), Government of India, hosted a 17-member delegation of the European Parliament’s Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality (FEMM Committee) during its official mission to New Delhi from 16-20 February 2026. The delegation was led by Ms Lina Gálvez (S&D, Spain), Chair of the FEMM Committee.

Welcoming the delegation, Minister of State for Women and Child Development, Smt. Savitri Thakur, stated that India values its strategic partnership with the European Union and views gender equality as a core pillar of the Joint India–EU Strategic Agenda 2030.She noted that the meeting built upon discussions initiated during earlier high-level engagements and reflected the shared commitment of both sides to advancing women’s rights and inclusive development.

Highlighting India’s approach, the Minister emphasised that gender equality and women’s empowerment are firmly anchored in India’s constitutional and policy framework, and are central to the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047 under the leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.

She briefly outlined key progress:

• The Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam provides one-third reservation for women in Parliament and State Assemblies, with nearly 46% of women representatives in local bodies.
• Strong gains in girls’ education and STEM participation, supported by large-scale scholarship programmes.
• Expanded financial inclusion, with nearly 70% of Mudra loans and over 31 crore Jan Dhan accounts benefiting women.
• Strengthened safety mechanisms through Mission Shakti, One Stop Centres, fast-track courts, and dedicated helplines.

The Minister underlined that India, and the EU are natural partners in promoting inclusive and sustainable development and expressed confidence that continued dialogue would deepen cooperation in areas such as gender-responsive trade, digital inclusion, climate action, and people-to-people exchanges.

The meeting concluded with both sides reaffirming their commitment to advancing gender equality and strengthening collaboration for the empowerment and protection of women and children.

Had a productive meeting with the Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality (FEMM Committee) of the European Union at the Ministry of Women and Child Development, with the 17-member delegation led by Ms. Lina Gálvez. The discussions focused on women’s rights, gender… pic.twitter.com/2ht2XSCRo3

— Savitri Thakur (@savitrii4bjp) February 19, 2026

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