Ranjana Kumari is a prominent activist and widely regarded as leading force in the women’s movement in India. She is actively involved in research pertaining to gender and women issues and participates regularly at various international fora. Her national as well as international experience concerning women’s empowerment has given her a significant place in the women’s movement in India. She is actively engaged in the process of establishing Gender Balanced Governance Processes and Political Participation of Women in South Asia.

At, present, Ranjana Kumari is the Director of the Centre for Social Research (CSR) a Non Governmental Organisation, which is working on the issues, related to Women’s Rights. Under her leadership, Women Power Connect, the Indian Women’s Lobby has been established in February 2005. Ms. Kumari is the National General Secretary of the Mahila Dakshata Samiti, an all India Women’s Organisation. She is involved in the research, advocacy, lobbying, mobilizing campaign and training for the protection of women’s human rights. She is the Coordinator of the Joint Action front for Women (JAFW) consisting of 97 organizations. She was also appointed as the Senior Advisor to the Ministry of Labour. She is the Convener of the External Affairs & Legal Empowerment Committee of National Commission for Women and is member of the PC&PNDT Committee. Dr. Ranjana Kumari is member of Central Advisory Board (statutory body) on PC & PNDT ACT (to prevent female foeticide) and Central Advisory Committee For Prevention of Trafficking in Women and Children, Govt. of India. She has been a member of the Task Force on Industrial relations for The International Labour Organisation (ILO) in Geneva. She is also the coordinator of South Asian Forum for Women’s Political Empowerment. 

A doctorate in Political Science from Jawaharlal Nehru University, Dr. Ranjana Kumari is an author of 9 books, including the world famous, “Brides are not for burning” and “Women in Decision Making”. As an activist in the women’s movement, and ardent supporter of reservation of seats for women in parliament, Dr. Ranjana Kumari has actively campaigned for the issue for over a decade. She is also involved in the research, advocacy, lobbying, mobilizing campaign and training for the protection of women's human rights.

Centre for Social Researchis one of the leading Women's Institutions working in the field of social action in India. CSR was founded in 1983 by a group of concerned social scientists dedicated to promote the empowerment of women and deprived castes and groups. CSR aims to empower women and provide them with the resources to be self-reliant individuals. CSR works at the grassroots, regional and international levels to raise women's awareness of their rights, build inroads into decision-making institutions from Panchayats (Indian local government bodies) to Parliament and to eliminate violence against women. CSR has six major areas of focus: research, capacity building, counselling, advocacy, networking and gender sensitization.