In a significant move aimed at enhancing women’s participation in public service, the Punjab Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, has approved a regulation providing 33% reservation for women in all state government jobs across Group A, B, C, and D categories.
Social Security, Women and Child Development Minister Dr. Baljit Kaur said the decision will not only create employment opportunities but also ensure women’s involvement in administrative and decision-making roles, strengthening the social and administrative structure of the state.
“This initiative is expected to boost both confidence and morale among women in Punjab,” Dr. Kaur added.
The move follows other initiatives by the state government to support women, including financial assistance under the Aashirwad Scheme for the marriages of daughters from economically weaker sections. Recently, over ₹13 crore was released under the scheme, benefiting thousands of families.
In addition, the government has introduced programs aimed at economic empowerment, such as the Mukhyamantri Mahila Samman Yojana, which provides monthly financial assistance to women.
Experts note that while female literacy in Punjab has improved over the years, women’s participation in the workforce remains below the national average. Government data indicates that female workforce participation in the state was 21.1% in 2020-21 and rose to 25.2% in 2022-23, compared with the national average of around 36%. The new reservation policy is expected to help reduce this gap.
The Punjab government emphasized that this policy is part of a broader effort to promote social equality and gender justice, and its impact is likely to be seen both in society and in the administration of the state, contributing toward the vision of a “Rangla Punjab.”