This paper examines the impact of political reservation on women’s leadership effectiveness in the Gram Panchayats of Aligarh district, Uttar Pradesh. Based entirely on secondary data, the study evaluates the level of women’s participation, administrative capabilities, decision-making autonomy, and involvement in development activities. The analysis shows a steady rise in women’s representation in Aligarh, especially after the implementation of 33% reservation. Although significant improvements are visible in areas such as health, sanitation, water supply, and education, challenges like patriarchal norms, financial illiteracy, proxy leadership, and limited training continue to hinder women’s full leadership potential. The study concludes that political reservation is a necessary but insufficient step, and enhanced capacity-building measures are required to strengthen women’s effectiveness in rural governance.