Abstract

The trajectory of women’s movements in post-independence India reflects the evolution of gender justice from state-led welfare programs to autonomous feminist struggles and contemporary digital activism. Beginning with rehabilitation and legal reforms in the 1950s women’s activism expanded to challenge patriarchal institutions demand equality and redefine citizenship. The paper traces this evolution across four major phases—state feminism (1947–1975) feminist resurgence (1975–1990) intersectional mobilization (1990–2005) and digital-era activism (2005–2025). Drawing on landmark cases and movements such as the All India Women’s Conference Self-Employed Women’s Association Chipko Movement Shah Bano Case Narmada Bachao Andolan and #MeToo India the paper argues that women’s collective action has profoundly influenced law policy and democratic culture. It concludes that despite persisting structural inequalities Indian feminism continues to innovate through transnational networking digital