President Murmu addresses national International Women's Day event in New Delhi
President Droupadi Murmu addressed the national International Women's Day event organised by the Ministry of Women and Child Development in New Delhi on 8 March 2026, saying India is moving rapidly towards women-led development.
Summary
President Droupadi Murmu addressed the national-level International Women's Day event organised by the Ministry of Women and Child Development in New Delhi on 8 March 2026. She said India has achieved gender parity in school education and that more women than men are enrolled in higher education by Gross Enrolment Ratio. She noted that the Union Budget 2026â27 provides for a women's hostel in each district to help STEM students, and launches the SHE-Mart initiative to give self-help groups and rural women better markets. She said more than half of the start-ups supported under Startup India have at least one woman director and that over two lakh women-owned MSMEs are active on the Government e-Marketplace (GeM). She added that discrimination, unequal pay and domestic violence remain, and that a change in social mindset is essential.
Key facts
- Date and place
- 8 March 2026, New Delhi; organised by Ministry of WCD
- Education
- Gender parity in school education; women's GER higher in higher education
- Budget 2026â27
- Women's hostel in each district for STEM students; SHE-Mart for SHG products
- Start-ups
- Over half of Startup India-supported start-ups have at least one woman director
- GeM
- Over 2 lakh women-owned MSMEs active
Practice MCQs 2 questions
Which initiative of the Union Budget 2026â27, mentioned by President Murmu on Women's Day 2026, aims to give better markets to products of self-help groups and rural women?
Show answer
Correct answer: B â SHE-Mart
The President said the SHE-Mart initiative launched in the Union Budget 2026â27 will provide better markets for SHG and rural women's products.
According to President Murmu on 8 March 2026, how many women-owned MSMEs are active on the Government e-Marketplace (GeM)?
Show answer
Correct answer: D â Over two lakh
She said more than two lakh women-owned MSMEs are active on GeM.