Why in NEWS?
India ranked 131st out of 148 countries in the Global Gender Gap Report 2025 released by the World Economic Forum, slipping two spots from 2024. India’s gender parity score is 64.1%.
What is the Global Gender Gap Index?
| Aspect | Description |
|---|---|
| Published by | World Economic Forum (since 2006) |
| Dimensions Assessed | Economic Participation, Educational Attainment, Health & Survival, Political Empowerment |
| Scoring Mechanism | 0 to 1 scale (1 = full parity, 0 = complete inequality) |
| Purpose | Benchmark tool to track and compare gender gaps globally |
Key Findings: Global Gender Gap Report 2025
India’s Performance
| Indicator | Performance |
|---|---|
| Economic Participation | Score improved to 40.7%; income parity rose from 28.6% to 29.9% |
| Educational Attainment | Near-parity at 97.1% |
| Health & Survival | Improved due to better sex ratio and life expectancy |
| Political Empowerment | Dropped by 0.6 points; Parliament representation: 13.8% ↓, Ministers: 5.6% ↓ |
South Asia Rankings
| Country | Rank |
|---|---|
| Bangladesh | 24 |
| Bhutan | 119 |
| Nepal | 125 |
| Sri Lanka | 130 |
| India | 131 |
| Pakistan | 148 |
Global Top 5 Performers
| Country | Note |
|---|---|
| Iceland | Top for 16th consecutive year |
| Finland | |
| Norway | |
| UK | |
| New Zealand |
Global gender gap closed by 68.8%, but full parity is still 123 years away.
Key Strides India Has Made
| Area | Initiatives & Outcomes |
|---|---|
| Legal Reforms | Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam (2023) – 33% reservation in legislatures |
| Education | Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, Vigyan Jyoti – GER rose from 42.5% → 46.3% |
| Economic Participation | FLFP rose to 41.7%; Schemes: Stand-Up India, Mahila e-Haat |
| Health | PMMVY, NHM – MMR dropped from 174 to 97 |
| Financial Inclusion | 28 crore women Jan Dhan accounts |
| Social Change | Media representation & changing attitudes boosting women in leadership roles |
Challenges Widening the Gender Gap in India
| Challenge | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Female Labor Force | Despite growth, women still mostly in informal, low-paying sectors |
| Literacy & Education Gap | 17% gap in male-female literacy; 40% girls aged 15–18 out of school |
| Wage Inequality | Women earn ~73% of male wages; unpaid care work worth ₹22.7 lakh crore |
| Underrepresentation in Leadership | Only 17% CXOs, 20% board roles held by women in corporate India |
| Implementation Gaps | Poor last-mile delivery of schemes, especially in rural/marginalised areas |
Major Government Initiatives
| Scheme/Policy | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Beti Bachao Beti Padhao | Promoting girl child education |
| Mahila Shakti Kendra | Empowering rural women through community participation |
| Political Reservations | 33% seats reserved in PRIs & legislatures (via 106th Constitutional Amendment) |
| Mahila Police Volunteers | Community participation for safety |
| Stand-Up India, ESSDP | Promote entrepreneurship and skilling among women |
| Mahila-e-Haat | Online platform for women entrepreneurs and SHGs |
What Can Be Done? – Way Forward
| Focus Area | Recommendations |
|---|---|
| Law Enforcement | Strengthen laws like POCSO, DV Act; expand Nirbhaya Fund, One-Stop Centres |
| Economic Inclusion | Create gender-friendly workplaces; recognize unpaid care work |
| Education & Skilling | Address dropouts, promote STEM education, bridge digital gender divide |
| Healthcare & Safety | Enhance POSHAN, reproductive care; invest in safe infrastructure |
| Governance & Data | Strengthen Gender Budgeting, empower women PRIs, collect sex-disaggregated data |
In a Nutshell: Mnemonic – GAPS FIXED
Gender budgeting
Accountability in schemes
Political reservation
Skilling & STEM promotion
Financial inclusion
Infrastructure for safety
X (Multiply) media role & awareness
Economic participation
Data-driven policies
Prelims Practice Questions
- Which of the following is NOT one of the four dimensions used in the Global Gender Gap Index?
a) Economic Participation
b) Environmental Sustainability
c) Political Empowerment
d) Health & Survival - India’s position in the Global Gender Gap Index 2025 has:
a) Improved by 5 places
b) Declined by 2 places
c) Remained the same
d) Improved by 1 place - Which country topped the Global Gender Gap Index 2025?
a) Finland
b) Norway
c) Iceland
d) UK
Mains Practice Questions
- (GS1 – Society)
“Gender disparity remains a persistent challenge in India despite policy interventions.”
Critically examine with reference to recent Global Gender Gap Report findings. - (GS2 – Governance)
Discuss the effectiveness of India’s institutional and legislative efforts in promoting gender parity, particularly in political and economic spheres.
Prelims Answers & Explanations
| Qn | Ans | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | b | Environmental Sustainability is not part of the 4 key dimensions |
| 2 | b | India fell from 129 (2024) to 131 (2025) |
| 3 | c | Iceland has topped the index for 16 consecutive years |
