Synopsis Female labour has been an important segment of the workforce of India. With the changing Socio-economic scenario, women's productive roles have assumed new dimensions. The observance of the International Women's Year in the last quarter of the 20th century, was a historic landmark in the calendar of women's progress. Frankly speaking, it was in recognition of crucial importance and need that women's participation has always been necessary for the success of social and economic development. Over the years, the main objective of the policies of the Government of India with regard to female labour has been to remove the handicaps under which they work, to strengthen their bargaining capacity, to improve their wages and working conditions, to augment their skills and to open up better employment facilities for them. It is hoped that Female Labour in India will be well received in various academic circles.