Women empowerment as a concept and philosophical basis of social policy is of recent origin. But the meaning, theme and the struggle it includes is of ancient origin. The concept of women’s empowerment in the modern context can be traced to the latter half of the 1970s when it was increasingly discussed and promoted by Third World feminists and women’s organizations. Women’s empowerment forms a theoretical framework that emphasizes the subordination of women. The significance in the role of women in development had been recognized by the Government of India right from the First Five Year Plan (1951-1956). Women’s inclusion in inclusive growth is only then possible when inclusive democracy turned to be reality not the myth. In the Five Year Plan women were considered as the subject of welfare and as the weaker section of the society. In this paper attempts were made to examine and highlight the status of empowerment of women through Five Year Plans in India.