Social development, gender equality, and economic growth are all significantly influenced by women's employment. This paper traces the origins of women's labor force participation in India from the earliest reform movements to the present. The groundwork for women's future economic participation was laid by historical figures like Savitribai Phule and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, who played a crucial role in promoting women's rights and education. Women's access to employment was progressively enhanced after independence by a number of legislative changes and improvements in education. But even with advancements, there have been notable swings in India's female labor force participation rate. Due to sociocultural barriers, a lack of employment opportunities, and discrimination based on gender, participation fell in the early 2000s after reaching a peak in the late 20th century. Current patterns indicate a favorable change, with increased participation in the formal economy, digital platforms, and entrepreneurship brought about by government programs, microlending, and rising levels of digital literacy. Increased household income, better child welfare, more innovation, and possibly a rise in India's GDP are among the advantages. On the other hand, issues like underrepresentation in leadership roles, unequal pay, informal work, and restricted access to safe workplaces and childcare continue to exist. The study comes to the conclusion that despite the fact that Indian women are becoming more educated and skilled, structural obstacles still prevent them from reaching their full economic potential. India must enact gender-sensitive labor laws, increase educational and skill-development opportunities, and create encouraging work environments in order to attain inclusive growth as well as home