| Subject: | Political Science |
| Title: | Quota Mandates and Governance Reality: Scheduled Caste Women in the 2017 Delhi Municipal Corporation Election within the Journey of Women’s Laws in India |
| Author(s): | Ms. Ritu Rani & Dr. Rahul Bavge |
| Published on: | 30th November 2025 |
| Published by: | Lyceum India |
| Name of the Journal: | Lyceum India Journal of Social Sciences |
| ISSN/E-ISSN: | 3048-6513 |
| Volume & Issue: | Volume: 2, Issue: 6 |
| Pages: | 109-115 |
| Original DOI (if any): | 10.5281/zenodo.17744507 |
| Repository DOI: | |
| Abstract: | This study examines the political participation of Scheduled Caste (SC) women in the 2017 Delhi Municipal Corporation (DMC) election. Utilizing Right to Information (RTI) data, the research investigates the role of party affiliation and reservation status in shaping the representation of SC women councillors. Findings reveal that while reservations significantly increased the descriptive representation of Scheduled Caste women, the vast majority succeeded through reserved seats. This reliance exposes systemic barriers limiting their viability outside quota mandates. The study concludes that patriarchal party politics and entrenched caste hierarchies hinder substantive empowerment of Scheduled Caste women within urban governance, necessitating policy reforms to move beyond symbolic representation toward genuine political inclusion. |
| Keywords: | Scheduled Caste Women, Delhi Municipal Corporation, Gender Quotas, Substantive Representation, Symbolic Representation, Party Politics, Caste Hierarchies |
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