Gender, Adult Education And Sustainable Development: Linking Women's Empowerment With India's Critical Mineral Strategy

Abstract

The global transition towards clean energy has increased the strategic importance of critical minerals, making their governance a key policy priority for India. This paper examines the interrelationship between gender, adult education, and sustainable development in the context of India's critical mineral strategy from a political science perspective. Using a qualitative approach based on policy documents, government reports, and recent scholarly literature, the study analyses how adult education and women's empowerment can strengthen inclusive and sustainable mineral governance. The paper argues that gender-responsive policies, lifelong learning, and participatory governance enhance women's access to education, green skills, employment, leadership, and decision-making across the critical mineral value chain. It further proposes an integrated governance framework linking resource security with environmental sustainability, community participation, and human capital development. The findings suggest that embedding adult education and gender equality into India's critical mineral policies can improve governance effectiveness, promote social justice, support the green economy, and contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).