July 21, 2026

India

‘Rise in instability in Iran’: Indian embassy sounds alarm; urges people to leave, postpone travel | India News

‘Rise in instability in Iran’: Indian embassy sounds alarm; urges people to leave, postpone travel | India News

Vamsikrishna03 mins mins

‘Rise in instability in Iran’: Indian embassy sounds alarm; urges people to leave, postpone travel NEW DELHI: The Indian Embassy in Iran on Sunday issued a revised travel advisory, urging Indian nationals to postpone all travel to the country.It also advised Indians already in Tehran to consider temporarily leaving the country using available commercial flights,…

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‘People’s safety our highest priority’: Assam govt requests Army, Air Force to remain on standby for flood evacuations | India News

‘People’s safety our highest priority’: Assam govt requests Army, Air Force to remain on standby for flood evacuations | India News

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Morigaon: People carrying their belongings cross a flood-affected area on a boat, in Morigaon district, Assam. (PTI Photo) NEW DELHI: With parts of Assam continuing to reel under floods, chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday said the state government has requested the Army and the Air Force to remain on standby to assist in…

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‘Stay here for the night’: CJP’s Abhijeet Dipke calls for night-long vigil ahead of ‘Chalo Sansad’ march | India News

‘Stay here for the night’: CJP’s Abhijeet Dipke calls for night-long vigil ahead of ‘Chalo Sansad’ march | India News

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Abhijeet Dipke is currently on a hunger strike at Jantar Mantar (Image/PTI) NEW DELHI: Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke on Sunday called on supporters to hold a night-long vigil at Jantar Mantar ahead of the outfit’s proposed ‘Chalo Sansad’ march to Parliament on Monday.Meanwhile, activist Sonam Wangchuk’s wife said he would end his…

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‘We intend to work with PM Modi’: Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar announces entry into NDA with 20 Mamata rebels | India News

‘We intend to work with PM Modi’: Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar announces entry into NDA with 20 Mamata rebels | India News

Vamsikrishna03 mins mins

Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar (ANI file photo) NEW DELHI: Once a Mamata loyalist and now an NCPI leader after rebelling against the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress, Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar on Sunday announced that she would join the ruling NDA in the Lok Sabha ahead of Monsoon Session. She said 20 former TMC MPs, who have formed…

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‘Parliament should discuss if new anti-defection law needed’: Congress’ Manish Tewari after TMC, Shiv Sena (UBT) splits | India News

‘Parliament should discuss if new anti-defection law needed’: Congress’ Manish Tewari after TMC, Shiv Sena (UBT) splits | India News

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Congress MP Manish Tewari (File photo/PTI) NEW DELHI: Congress MP Manish Tewari on Monday called for a discussion on whether there should be a new anti-defection law, saying the current composition of the Lok Sabha no longer reflects the mandate given by voters in the 2024 parliamentary elections.“The fundamental point is that in 2024, the…

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‘Avoid cloak-and-dagger tactics’: Derek O’Brien writes to PM Modi on delimitation bill, seeks all-party meet | India News

‘Avoid cloak-and-dagger tactics’: Derek O’Brien writes to PM Modi on delimitation bill, seeks all-party meet | India News

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Derek O’Brien writes to PM Modi on delimitation bill, seeks all-party meet NEW DELHI: Trinamool Congress (TMC) Rajya Sabha leader Derek O’Brien on Sunday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging him to convene an all-party meeting to discuss the government’s proposed delimitation legislation and the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment bill, describing the measures as…

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NIOS Successfully Completes ASHA Certification Training with Ambitious Goal to Certify 10 Lakhs Workers | India News

NIOS Successfully Completes ASHA Certification Training with Ambitious Goal to Certify 10 Lakhs Workers | India News

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NEW DELHI: The National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) has concluded a two-day national training programme for officials associated with the ASHA Certification Programme, with the next phase targeting certification of 10 lakh Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) workers across the country.Organised under the joint aegis of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW)…

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Evening newswrap: HC rejects wife’s plea to move Sonam Wangchuk to private hospital; Spain’s largest wildfire burns 16,000 hectares, and more | India News

Evening newswrap: HC rejects wife’s plea to move Sonam Wangchuk to private hospital; Spain’s largest wildfire burns 16,000 hectares, and more | India News

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Sonam Wangchuk; Spain wildfires The Delhi high court, hearing a petition filed by climate activist Sonam Wangchuk‘s wife Dr Gitanjali J Angmo seeking his discharge from Safdarjung Hospital and transfer to a private hospital, declined to grant any interim relief. Around 400 ground personnel and 19 aircraft are battling Spain’s largest wildfire of the year,…

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‘Equal rights for Ram, Rahim, Ravinder and Robin’: CM Mohan Yadav after Madhya Pradesh cabinet approves UCC | India News

‘Equal rights for Ram, Rahim, Ravinder and Robin’: CM Mohan Yadav after Madhya Pradesh cabinet approves UCC | India News

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CM Mohan Yadav said the Bill reflects the constitutional principle of equality and is rooted in India’s cultural values. The Madhya Pradesh Cabinet on Sunday unanimously approved the draft Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill, with chief minister Mohan Yadav saying the law would ensure “equal rights for Ram, Rahim, Ravinder and Robin”. The Bill will…

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NEW DELHI: Flash floods and landslides triggered by torrential rain caused widespread devastation across Jammu and Kashmir’s border districts of Poonch and Rajouri on Sunday, with rescue teams racing to reach stranded residents as the weather emergency deepened. Officials said the death toll from the rain-related disasters has risen to 11, while several people remain missing.The worst damage was reported from Surankote tehsil in Poonch district, where multiple cloudbursts, landslides and flash floods swept through villages, damaging homes and cutting off roads.Dramatic visuals from the affected areas showed vehicles being swept away by raging floodwaters, piles of mangled cars, homes collapsing under the force of the floods, and residents stranded as overflowing rivers inundated entire neighbourhoods.Multi-agency rescue teams, including the army, police, national disaster response force and state disaster response force, have been deployed to trace the missing and evacuate affected families.Union home minister Amit Shah reviewed the situation with Lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha and chief minister Omar Abdullah, assuring all possible assistance from the Centre.”Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah spoke with the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, Shri Manoj Sinha, and Chief Minister Shri Omar Abdullah regarding the situation caused by heavy rainfall and assured them of all possible assistance from the Central Government,” Shah’s office said in a post on X.Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said the administration’s immediate priority was to save lives.”Since first light this morning, I’ve been closely monitoring the situation arising from the extremely heavy rain… the first priority of the administration is to safeguard precious lives,” Abdullah said on X.”The government will do everything possible to aid & assist affected people who have suffered property loss/damage due to the rains & flash floods,” he added.In Rajouri, rescue teams pulled two stranded people to safety from the Muradpur area after flash floods caused water levels to rise rapidly.Deputy commissioner Abhishek Sharma told news agency PTI, “Two persons were safely rescued from the river at Muradpur, Rajouri, after they became stranded due to the flash floods triggered by heavy rainfall.”Authorities have urged residents to stay away from rivers and other flood-prone areas as water levels remain dangerously high.Continuous rain since Saturday has triggered multiple cloudbursts and flash floods, washing away several structures along the Poonch River and damaging key infrastructure, with rescue and relief operations continuing across the worst-hit districts.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosTrump Administration Tightens F-1 Visa Rules; 4-Year Stay Limit, Shorter Grace PeriodRahul Gandhi, Kharge Seek Independent Probe Into Ram Mandir Donation Theft AllegationsSonam Wangchuk Terms Hospital Stay ‘Illegal Detention’, Calls July 20 Parliament MarchIndia Launches ‘White Rabbit’ Precision Timing Network To Secure Indian Standard TimeIndia Raises Cross-Border Terror Concerns At US Ministerial Meet; Stresses Zero ToleranceAIIMS Expert Recommends Urgent Care; Sonam Wangchuk Shifted To Safdarjung HospitalJantar Mantar Ground Report: What’s Happening at CJP Protest Site After Sonam Wangchuk’s Removal?’Police Beat Us, Dragged Sonam Sir Away Like a Sack’: Eyewitnesses Describe How Wangchuk Was RemovedMHA Replaces Delhi Police Chief, Hours Later Sonam Wangchuk ‘Forcefully Removed’ From Jantar MantarDMK’s ‘Not Yet’ on Delimitation Bill Boosts NDA Hope for Two-Thirds Majority In Lok Sabha | Stalin123PhotostoriesInside Prince Narula and Yuvika Chaudhary’s lavish Mumbai home: A dreamy walk-in wardrobe, stunning balcony views and moreFrom Homer’s Greek classic to Christopher Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey’: Key differences between the book and movie’I can be a CEO and a mother’: 7 times Priyanka Chopra said exactly what every Indian woman needed to hear11 Indian breads ranked from healthiest to least healthy10 largest birds in India and where to see themWhy are chocolate bars divided into little squares? The clever reason behind a design we rarely questionTwo seeds that can boost hair growth instantlyThink cataracts only happen after 60? Doctor warns that diabetes is making this eye condition appear decades earlierWhen words wound: Five phrases in a relationship that quietly kill new love”I have replaced rice with…”: National award winner Yam Gautam enjoys this fiber-rich seed for lunch and dinner; 8 ways you can enjoy it too123Hot PicksFIFA World Cup LiveNITI AayogSonam Wangchuk educationAIBE XXI resultAbhijeet DipkeAMRUT 2.0 water projectISRO scientists resignMahadev betting appSkyroot AerospaceTop TrendingErling HaalandJude BellinghamFIFA World Cup 2026Chhattisgarh MurderSonam WangchukAndhra Pradesh Covid 19 DeathLawrence Bishnoi GangIshowspeedAbhishek BanerjeeIran war

NEW DELHI: Flash floods and landslides triggered by torrential rain caused widespread devastation across Jammu and Kashmir’s border districts of Poonch and Rajouri on Sunday, with rescue teams racing to reach stranded residents as the weather emergency deepened. Officials said the death toll from the rain-related disasters has risen to 11, while several people remain missing.The worst damage was reported from Surankote tehsil in Poonch district, where multiple cloudbursts, landslides and flash floods swept through villages, damaging homes and cutting off roads.Dramatic visuals from the affected areas showed vehicles being swept away by raging floodwaters, piles of mangled cars, homes collapsing under the force of the floods, and residents stranded as overflowing rivers inundated entire neighbourhoods.Multi-agency rescue teams, including the army, police, national disaster response force and state disaster response force, have been deployed to trace the missing and evacuate affected families.Union home minister Amit Shah reviewed the situation with Lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha and chief minister Omar Abdullah, assuring all possible assistance from the Centre.”Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah spoke with the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, Shri Manoj Sinha, and Chief Minister Shri Omar Abdullah regarding the situation caused by heavy rainfall and assured them of all possible assistance from the Central Government,” Shah’s office said in a post on X.Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said the administration’s immediate priority was to save lives.”Since first light this morning, I’ve been closely monitoring the situation arising from the extremely heavy rain… the first priority of the administration is to safeguard precious lives,” Abdullah said on X.”The government will do everything possible to aid & assist affected people who have suffered property loss/damage due to the rains & flash floods,” he added.In Rajouri, rescue teams pulled two stranded people to safety from the Muradpur area after flash floods caused water levels to rise rapidly.Deputy commissioner Abhishek Sharma told news agency PTI, “Two persons were safely rescued from the river at Muradpur, Rajouri, after they became stranded due to the flash floods triggered by heavy rainfall.”Authorities have urged residents to stay away from rivers and other flood-prone areas as water levels remain dangerously high.Continuous rain since Saturday has triggered multiple cloudbursts and flash floods, washing away several structures along the Poonch River and damaging key infrastructure, with rescue and relief operations continuing across the worst-hit districts.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosTrump Administration Tightens F-1 Visa Rules; 4-Year Stay Limit, Shorter Grace PeriodRahul Gandhi, Kharge Seek Independent Probe Into Ram Mandir Donation Theft AllegationsSonam Wangchuk Terms Hospital Stay ‘Illegal Detention’, Calls July 20 Parliament MarchIndia Launches ‘White Rabbit’ Precision Timing Network To Secure Indian Standard TimeIndia Raises Cross-Border Terror Concerns At US Ministerial Meet; Stresses Zero ToleranceAIIMS Expert Recommends Urgent Care; Sonam Wangchuk Shifted To Safdarjung HospitalJantar Mantar Ground Report: What’s Happening at CJP Protest Site After Sonam Wangchuk’s Removal?’Police Beat Us, Dragged Sonam Sir Away Like a Sack’: Eyewitnesses Describe How Wangchuk Was RemovedMHA Replaces Delhi Police Chief, Hours Later Sonam Wangchuk ‘Forcefully Removed’ From Jantar MantarDMK’s ‘Not Yet’ on Delimitation Bill Boosts NDA Hope for Two-Thirds Majority In Lok Sabha | Stalin123PhotostoriesInside Prince Narula and Yuvika Chaudhary’s lavish Mumbai home: A dreamy walk-in wardrobe, stunning balcony views and moreFrom Homer’s Greek classic to Christopher Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey’: Key differences between the book and movie’I can be a CEO and a mother’: 7 times Priyanka Chopra said exactly what every Indian woman needed to hear11 Indian breads ranked from healthiest to least healthy10 largest birds in India and where to see themWhy are chocolate bars divided into little squares? The clever reason behind a design we rarely questionTwo seeds that can boost hair growth instantlyThink cataracts only happen after 60? Doctor warns that diabetes is making this eye condition appear decades earlierWhen words wound: Five phrases in a relationship that quietly kill new love”I have replaced rice with…”: National award winner Yam Gautam enjoys this fiber-rich seed for lunch and dinner; 8 ways you can enjoy it too123Hot PicksFIFA World Cup LiveNITI AayogSonam Wangchuk educationAIBE XXI resultAbhijeet DipkeAMRUT 2.0 water projectISRO scientists resignMahadev betting appSkyroot AerospaceTop TrendingErling HaalandJude BellinghamFIFA World Cup 2026Chhattisgarh MurderSonam WangchukAndhra Pradesh Covid 19 DeathLawrence Bishnoi GangIshowspeedAbhishek BanerjeeIran war

Vamsikrishna03 mins mins

NEW DELHI: Flash floods and landslides triggered by torrential rain caused widespread devastation across Jammu and Kashmir’s border districts of Poonch and Rajouri on Sunday, with rescue teams racing to reach stranded residents as the weather emergency deepened. Officials said the death toll from the rain-related disasters has risen to 11, while several people remain…

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The motherhood dilemma Can you become an IAS officer while being an ‘expert mother’?Can women pursue demanding careers while also fulfilling the responsibilities of motherhood? Uttar Pradesh governor Anandiben Patel believes they can and should.“Whether you become an IAS officer or a teacher, first become an expert mother. Everyone should know how to cook the food prepared at home,” Patel said at the 41st convocation of Chhatrapati Shahu Ji Maharaj University.Her remarks, part of a wider message on education, family and parenting, have revived a familiar debate: what support do women have to balance careers and caregiving?Labour data suggests this balance remains difficult. For many urban women, childcare and household responsibilities, not a lack of education or ambition, remain the biggest barriers to paid work.What the numbers sayA National Statistics Office survey covering India’s 46 largest urban centres found that childcare and household responsibilities keep 69% of non-working women out of the labour force. For many women, unpaid care work remains a greater barrier to employment than education or qualifications.The gender divide is stark. Barely 1% of non-working men cite childcare or housework as the reason they are outside the workforce. Among women, it is by far the most common explanation.Women and childcareEven higher education hasn’t solved the problem. More than 60% of women graduates are neither working nor looking for work. Only around one in ten unemployed female graduates is actively searching for a job, compared with nearly eight in ten men.For many women, the challenge isn’t capability—it’s compatibility between career and caregiving responsibilities.That is something Nibha Singh Mahar, an English teacher at an Army School in Ranikhet, knows firsthand. Married at 23, she became a mother at 25 and stepped away from her career for nearly two-and-a-half years to raise her child.”I believe motherhood is an important responsibility, but becoming an ‘expert mother’ and pursuing a career are not mutually exclusive. Women should have the freedom to choose their own path. With family support, workplace flexibility and good childcare, many women successfully balance both motherhood and demanding careers,” she said.She says motherhood and professional success should never be presented as competing goals.”Moreover, motherhood is a beautiful journey that makes a woman feel complete in its own way, while becoming an IAS officer is undoubtedly a great achievement. A woman’s worth should never be measured by choosing one over the other; she should be empowered to excel in both if she wishes,” she said.Tale of two citiesThe survey also shows that women’s experiences differ sharply depending on where they live, suggesting structural differences rather than a uniform cultural mindset.In Howrah, 83% of non-working women say household and childcare duties keep them out of paid work. Surat follows at 81%, with Pimpri Chinchwad, Bhopal and Dhanbad not far behind.By contrast, the figure falls to 38% in Coimbatore and 41% in Agra, while Hyderabad, Visakhapatnam, Srinagar and Kota also report substantially lower numbers.The wide variation suggests that women’s participation in paid work may be influenced not only by social attitudes but also by factors such as childcare facilities, transport, workplace flexibility and local employment opportunities.The missing childcare supportThe contrast between cities underlines a larger reality: childcare remains largely a private family responsibility rather than public infrastructure.India has dramatically expanded girls’ access to education over the past two decades. But the systems that allow women to remain in paid employment—affordable crèches, reliable daycare centres, after-school care, safe transport and flexible workplaces—have not expanded at the same pace.For many mothers, every working day begins with the same question: who will look after the children?The experience of Kanchan Jha, a mathematics teacher at a private school in Surat, reflects that reality. She became a mother at 29 and again at 33, spending 12 years away from paid work to care for her children before returning to teaching.Several tasks women doAsked whether she had considered leaving her job because of childcare, she says:”Like many working mothers, there have been moments when balancing work and childcare felt challenging. However, with support from family and proper planning, it is possible to continue pursuing both personal and professional goals.”She recalls that the toughest phase wasn’t teaching itself, but trying to do everything at once.”The biggest challenge was managing time and dealing with the feeling that neither role was getting my complete attention. Balancing school responsibilities, household work, and the emotional needs of a young child required careful planning and a strong support system.”Her answer to what would help more women stay employed echoes what the data suggests.”Affordable and reliable childcare support would make the biggest difference. Access to quality childcare would help many mothers continue their careers while ensuring that their children receive proper care and attention.”The gaps in this support system are also visible in the implementation of existing policies.The Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act, 2017 mandates crèche facilities in many establishments, while MGNREGA also provides for childcare at worksites. But more than 85% of India’s working women are employed in the informal sector, placing them outside the maternity law’s coverage. Even among establishments where crèches are mandatory, compliance remains poor. A 2019 VV Giri National Labour Institute study found that three out of four organisations with over 50 employees lacked the required childcare facilities.The challenge is particularly acute in agriculture, which employs more than 70% of working women, but where fewer than 1% receive maternity benefits. Under MGNREGA, awareness of childcare provisions remains low and their availability even lower. A survey in Rajasthan found that only 53% of women knew they were entitled to childcare facilities, while just 0.7% reported having a crèche at their worksite.Trust is another concern. Allegations of abuse at a Bengaluru daycare centre have also heightened concerns about children’s safety, making many mothers even more hesitant to return to work.Missing childcare infrastructureThe gender gap at workWomen who remain in the workforce also face unequal outcomes.Across the 46 cities, salaried men earn an average of Rs 30,700 a month, compared with Rs 23,700 for women—a gap of about 23%, the NSO survey says.The disparity is wider in cities such as Kalyan-Dombivli, Navi Mumbai and Nagpur, where women earn close to half as much as men. Self-employed women fare even worse, earning less than half as much as their male counterparts.The data, however, does not suggest that women are working fewer hours. Employees across these cities work an average of nearly 50 hours a week, with salaried women in Rajkot and Faridabad among those recording the longest working hours.Why it matters beyond householdsThis is not only a question of gender equality. It is also an economic issue. India has seen a gradual rise in women’s participation in the labour force. According to the latest Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), the female labour force participation rate (LFPR) for those aged 15 and above rose to 35.3% in December 2025, up from 35.1% in November. Rural female LFPR reached 40.1%, while the urban rate stood at 25.3%, highlighting the persistent gap between urban and rural India. At the same time, the NSO survey of 46 cities shows that 69% of non-working urban women cite childcare and household responsibilities as the primary reason for staying out of the workforce. Together, the two datasets suggest that while more women are entering the labour market, caregiving responsibilities continue to prevent many—particularly in urban India—from participating in paid employment.Women in workforce The challenge, therefore, is not simply creating jobs. It is creating the conditions that enable women to take them. Without affordable childcare, flexible workplaces and better support systems, many mothers will continue to face the same practical question each morning: who will look after the children?What the data showsThe survey identifies caregiving as the most commonly cited reason non-working women remain outside the labour force. Nearly seven in ten women reported it as a barrier, although the figure varied from 38% in Coimbatore to 83% in Howrah.Nibha Singh Mahar and Kanchan Jha both returned to work after taking career breaks to raise their children. They cited family support, planning, workplace flexibility and access to reliable childcare as important factors in balancing the two roles.Kanchan described affordable and reliable childcare as the measure that would make the biggest difference for working mothers.Nibha, meanwhile, said motherhood and professional success should not be treated as competing choices.“A woman’s worth should never be measured by choosing one over the other; she should be empowered to excel in both if she wishes,” she said.Here are what infrastructural changes neededGet the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorAastha JhaAastha Jha is a writer at The Times of India, covering politics. She also writes on business, global affairs, social issues, with a focus on policy, governance and their impact on everyday lives. Her work brings together reportage and analysis, tracking developments in India and abroad while examining the broader social and economic currents shaping public discourse.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosTrump Administration Tightens F-1 Visa Rules; 4-Year Stay Limit, Shorter Grace PeriodRahul Gandhi, Kharge Seek Independent Probe Into Ram Mandir Donation Theft AllegationsSonam Wangchuk Terms Hospital Stay ‘Illegal Detention’, Calls July 20 Parliament MarchIndia Launches ‘White Rabbit’ Precision Timing Network To Secure Indian Standard TimeIndia Raises Cross-Border Terror Concerns At US Ministerial Meet; Stresses Zero ToleranceAIIMS Expert Recommends Urgent Care; Sonam Wangchuk Shifted To Safdarjung HospitalJantar Mantar Ground Report: What’s Happening at CJP Protest Site After Sonam Wangchuk’s Removal?’Police Beat Us, Dragged Sonam Sir Away Like a Sack’: Eyewitnesses Describe How Wangchuk Was RemovedMHA Replaces Delhi Police Chief, Hours Later Sonam Wangchuk ‘Forcefully Removed’ From Jantar MantarDMK’s ‘Not Yet’ on Delimitation Bill Boosts NDA Hope for Two-Thirds Majority In Lok Sabha | Stalin123Photostories5 things you should never tell your bossInside Prince Narula and Yuvika Chaudhary’s lavish Mumbai home: A dreamy walk-in wardrobe, stunning balcony views and moreFrom Homer’s Greek classic to Christopher Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey’: Key differences between the book and movie’I can be a CEO and a mother’: 7 times Priyanka Chopra said exactly what every Indian woman needed to hear11 Indian breads ranked from healthiest to least healthy10 largest birds in India and where to see themWhy are chocolate bars divided into little squares? The clever reason behind a design we rarely questionTwo seeds that can boost hair growth instantlyThink cataracts only happen after 60? Doctor warns that diabetes is making this eye condition appear decades earlierWhen words wound: Five phrases in a relationship that quietly kill new love123Hot PicksFIFA World Cup LiveNITI AayogSonam Wangchuk educationAIBE XXI resultAbhijeet DipkeAMRUT 2.0 water projectISRO scientists resignMahadev betting appSkyroot AerospaceTop TrendingErling HaalandJude BellinghamFIFA World Cup 2026Chhattisgarh MurderSonam WangchukAndhra Pradesh Covid 19 DeathLawrence Bishnoi GangIshowspeedAbhishek BanerjeeIran war

The motherhood dilemma Can you become an IAS officer while being an ‘expert mother’?Can women pursue demanding careers while also fulfilling the responsibilities of motherhood? Uttar Pradesh governor Anandiben Patel believes they can and should.“Whether you become an IAS officer or a teacher, first become an expert mother. Everyone should know how to cook the food prepared at home,” Patel said at the 41st convocation of Chhatrapati Shahu Ji Maharaj University.Her remarks, part of a wider message on education, family and parenting, have revived a familiar debate: what support do women have to balance careers and caregiving?Labour data suggests this balance remains difficult. For many urban women, childcare and household responsibilities, not a lack of education or ambition, remain the biggest barriers to paid work.What the numbers sayA National Statistics Office survey covering India’s 46 largest urban centres found that childcare and household responsibilities keep 69% of non-working women out of the labour force. For many women, unpaid care work remains a greater barrier to employment than education or qualifications.The gender divide is stark. Barely 1% of non-working men cite childcare or housework as the reason they are outside the workforce. Among women, it is by far the most common explanation.Women and childcareEven higher education hasn’t solved the problem. More than 60% of women graduates are neither working nor looking for work. Only around one in ten unemployed female graduates is actively searching for a job, compared with nearly eight in ten men.For many women, the challenge isn’t capability—it’s compatibility between career and caregiving responsibilities.That is something Nibha Singh Mahar, an English teacher at an Army School in Ranikhet, knows firsthand. Married at 23, she became a mother at 25 and stepped away from her career for nearly two-and-a-half years to raise her child.”I believe motherhood is an important responsibility, but becoming an ‘expert mother’ and pursuing a career are not mutually exclusive. Women should have the freedom to choose their own path. With family support, workplace flexibility and good childcare, many women successfully balance both motherhood and demanding careers,” she said.She says motherhood and professional success should never be presented as competing goals.”Moreover, motherhood is a beautiful journey that makes a woman feel complete in its own way, while becoming an IAS officer is undoubtedly a great achievement. A woman’s worth should never be measured by choosing one over the other; she should be empowered to excel in both if she wishes,” she said.Tale of two citiesThe survey also shows that women’s experiences differ sharply depending on where they live, suggesting structural differences rather than a uniform cultural mindset.In Howrah, 83% of non-working women say household and childcare duties keep them out of paid work. Surat follows at 81%, with Pimpri Chinchwad, Bhopal and Dhanbad not far behind.By contrast, the figure falls to 38% in Coimbatore and 41% in Agra, while Hyderabad, Visakhapatnam, Srinagar and Kota also report substantially lower numbers.The wide variation suggests that women’s participation in paid work may be influenced not only by social attitudes but also by factors such as childcare facilities, transport, workplace flexibility and local employment opportunities.The missing childcare supportThe contrast between cities underlines a larger reality: childcare remains largely a private family responsibility rather than public infrastructure.India has dramatically expanded girls’ access to education over the past two decades. But the systems that allow women to remain in paid employment—affordable crèches, reliable daycare centres, after-school care, safe transport and flexible workplaces—have not expanded at the same pace.For many mothers, every working day begins with the same question: who will look after the children?The experience of Kanchan Jha, a mathematics teacher at a private school in Surat, reflects that reality. She became a mother at 29 and again at 33, spending 12 years away from paid work to care for her children before returning to teaching.Several tasks women doAsked whether she had considered leaving her job because of childcare, she says:”Like many working mothers, there have been moments when balancing work and childcare felt challenging. However, with support from family and proper planning, it is possible to continue pursuing both personal and professional goals.”She recalls that the toughest phase wasn’t teaching itself, but trying to do everything at once.”The biggest challenge was managing time and dealing with the feeling that neither role was getting my complete attention. Balancing school responsibilities, household work, and the emotional needs of a young child required careful planning and a strong support system.”Her answer to what would help more women stay employed echoes what the data suggests.”Affordable and reliable childcare support would make the biggest difference. Access to quality childcare would help many mothers continue their careers while ensuring that their children receive proper care and attention.”The gaps in this support system are also visible in the implementation of existing policies.The Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act, 2017 mandates crèche facilities in many establishments, while MGNREGA also provides for childcare at worksites. But more than 85% of India’s working women are employed in the informal sector, placing them outside the maternity law’s coverage. Even among establishments where crèches are mandatory, compliance remains poor. A 2019 VV Giri National Labour Institute study found that three out of four organisations with over 50 employees lacked the required childcare facilities.The challenge is particularly acute in agriculture, which employs more than 70% of working women, but where fewer than 1% receive maternity benefits. Under MGNREGA, awareness of childcare provisions remains low and their availability even lower. A survey in Rajasthan found that only 53% of women knew they were entitled to childcare facilities, while just 0.7% reported having a crèche at their worksite.Trust is another concern. Allegations of abuse at a Bengaluru daycare centre have also heightened concerns about children’s safety, making many mothers even more hesitant to return to work.Missing childcare infrastructureThe gender gap at workWomen who remain in the workforce also face unequal outcomes.Across the 46 cities, salaried men earn an average of Rs 30,700 a month, compared with Rs 23,700 for women—a gap of about 23%, the NSO survey says.The disparity is wider in cities such as Kalyan-Dombivli, Navi Mumbai and Nagpur, where women earn close to half as much as men. Self-employed women fare even worse, earning less than half as much as their male counterparts.The data, however, does not suggest that women are working fewer hours. Employees across these cities work an average of nearly 50 hours a week, with salaried women in Rajkot and Faridabad among those recording the longest working hours.Why it matters beyond householdsThis is not only a question of gender equality. It is also an economic issue. India has seen a gradual rise in women’s participation in the labour force. According to the latest Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), the female labour force participation rate (LFPR) for those aged 15 and above rose to 35.3% in December 2025, up from 35.1% in November. Rural female LFPR reached 40.1%, while the urban rate stood at 25.3%, highlighting the persistent gap between urban and rural India. At the same time, the NSO survey of 46 cities shows that 69% of non-working urban women cite childcare and household responsibilities as the primary reason for staying out of the workforce. Together, the two datasets suggest that while more women are entering the labour market, caregiving responsibilities continue to prevent many—particularly in urban India—from participating in paid employment.Women in workforce The challenge, therefore, is not simply creating jobs. It is creating the conditions that enable women to take them. Without affordable childcare, flexible workplaces and better support systems, many mothers will continue to face the same practical question each morning: who will look after the children?What the data showsThe survey identifies caregiving as the most commonly cited reason non-working women remain outside the labour force. Nearly seven in ten women reported it as a barrier, although the figure varied from 38% in Coimbatore to 83% in Howrah.Nibha Singh Mahar and Kanchan Jha both returned to work after taking career breaks to raise their children. They cited family support, planning, workplace flexibility and access to reliable childcare as important factors in balancing the two roles.Kanchan described affordable and reliable childcare as the measure that would make the biggest difference for working mothers.Nibha, meanwhile, said motherhood and professional success should not be treated as competing choices.“A woman’s worth should never be measured by choosing one over the other; she should be empowered to excel in both if she wishes,” she said.Here are what infrastructural changes neededGet the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorAastha JhaAastha Jha is a writer at The Times of India, covering politics. She also writes on business, global affairs, social issues, with a focus on policy, governance and their impact on everyday lives. 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