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The International Women's Day is observed on 8th March every year. The National Women's Day is observed in India on 13th February which is the birth anniversary of Sarojini Naidu. The day was recognised by the United Nations (UN) in 1975. The purple color symbolises justice and dignity and green color determines hope. The UN theme for Women's Day for 2026 is 'Rights. Justice. Action. For All Women and Girls'.
The International Women's Day started when about 15,000 women marched in New York city in 1908 and demanded shorter working hours, better salary, and voting rights. In Russia, a women's strike on 8th March 1917 triggered the Russian Revolution. Presently, it is an official public holiday in over 25 countries. Interestingly, women are traditionally given yellow Mimosa flowers in Italy and red roses in Europe.
Happy Women's Day Quotes
| S.No. | Quote | Author |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | "A country's greatness lies in its undying ideals of love and sacrifice." | Sarojini Naidu |
| 2 | "We want deeper sincerity of motive and greater courage in speech and earnestness in action." | Sarojini Naidu |
| 3 | "I am not interested in power for power's sake, but I am interested in power that is moral, that is right, and that is good." | Indira Gandhi |
| 4 | "You must be the change you wish to see in the world." | Mahatma Gandhi |
| 5 | "A dream is not that which you see while sleeping; it is something that does not let you sleep." | A. P. J. Abdul Kalam |
| 6 | "The purpose of our lives is to be happy, and women's happiness lies in freedom, dignity, and equal opportunity." | - |
| 7 | "Women's empowerment is vital to India's progress; when women progress, the nation progresses." | - |
| 8 | "No nation can prosper by leaving half its population behind." | - |
National Women's Day in India
- Celebration Date: The day is observed every year on 14th February.
- Remembering Sarojini Naidu: It marks the birth anniversary of Sarojini Naidu also known as the 'Nightingale of India'. The day honors her important and valuable contributions as a freedom fighter, poet, and women's rights.
- National Recognition: It is instituted by the Bhartiya Mahila Sangh and established at the national level in 2014. The day prioritises the socio-political development and empowerment of Indian Women.
International Women's Day Quotes
| S.No. | Quote | Author |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | "There is no limit to what we, as women, can accomplish." | Michelle Obama |
| 2 | "Women belong in all places where decisions are being made. It shouldn't be that women are the exception." | Ruth Bader Ginsburg |
| 3 | "I raise up my voice—not so that I can shout, but so that those without a voice can be heard." | Malala Yousafzai |
| 4 | "Each time a woman stands up for herself, she stands up for all women." | Maya Angelou |
| 5 | "Nothing can dim the light which shines from within." | Maya Angelou |
| 6 | "I am grateful to be a woman. I must have done something great in another life." | Maya Angelou |
| 7 | "Fight for the things that you care about, but do it in a way that will lead others to join you." | Ruth Bader Ginsburg |
| 8 | "Let us make our future now, and let us make our dreams tomorrow's reality." | Malala Yousafzai |
Theme of International Women's Day
| S.No. | Year | UN Theme |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2026 | "Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls." |
| 2 | 2025 | "For ALL Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment." |
| 3 | 2024 | "Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress." |
| 4 | 2023 | "DigitALL: Innovation and Technology for Gender Equality." |
| 5 | 2022 | "Gender Equality Today for a Sustainable Tomorrow." |
History and Adoption by United Nations
- Labour Movement: It began in the early 20th century labour movement in North America and Europe. Many women participated in the movement in 1908 for their basic rights and better working conditions.
- 1st International Observance of the Day: Clara Zetkin proposed the International Women's Day every year at the International Conference of Working Women in Copenhagen in 1910. It led to the 1st multi-country celebration of Day in 1911.
- Official Adoption by United Nations (UN): The UN officially started observing the International Women's Day in 1975. After some time, It formalized 8th march as an annual celebration across the globe in 1977.
Change in the Role of Women
- Political Empowerment: The reservations for women, increase in their representation in politics, and women as leaders in the national and International governance structure.
- Economic Participation: Women have an important role to play in the economy of the nation. She transformed herself from just a domestic setup into the professional arena. She led industries in the corporate governance, entrepreneurship, and technical fields.
- Socially Independent: The increase in access to higher education, financial inclusion, and reproductive health options have significantly increased the confidence of women within the community and feel independent within the family.
| S.No. | Dimension | Historical Facts | Current Trend | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Labor Force Participation (India) | 23.3% (2017 to 18) | 41.7% (2023 to 24) | Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), MoSPI |
| 2 | Female Literacy Rate (India) |
|
77.0% (2021) |
|
| 3 | Parliamentary Representation (India) | 4.4% (1st Lok Sabha, 1952) | 14.4% (18th Lok Sabha, 2024) | Election Commission of India |
| 4 | Global Leadership Roles | < 10% corporate board seats (2000) | 23.3% global board seats held by women (2023) | Deloitte Global Boardroom Report |
| 5 | Financial Inclusion (India) | 43% bank account ownership (2014) | More than 78% female bank account ownership | PM Jan Dhan Yojana |
FAQs about Women's Day
When is International Women's Day?
The International Women's Day is celebrated on 8th March every year.
When is National Women's Day in India?
The National Women's Day is observed on 13th February annually in India.
