On International Women's Day 2026, India’s President praised women’s growing roles and called for equal opportunities, amid a political dispute over a Santal conference.

On International Women's Day 2026, President Droupadi Murmu praised women as the foundation of India, highlighting their growing contributions in education, science, sports, arts, and defense. She called for equal opportunities, guidance, and empowerment to enable women to thrive based on merit, stressing their critical role in building a progressive nation. Her message, issued on March 8, coincided with global celebrations of gender equality and came amid a political exchange over the 9th International Santal Conference, where she expressed disappointment with the venue and the absence of key figures, including West Bengal’s Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.