GS Paper 2:
Syllabus: Women
Source: PIB
Context: The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) released the 26th edition of “Women and Men in India 2024”, offering a comprehensive gender data snapshot.
Summary of the Women and Men in India 2024 Report:
- Education – Gender Parity Trends:
- Gender Parity Index (GPI) remained above 1.00 across primary (1.03), upper primary (1.02), and higher secondary (1.02) levels in 2022-23, reflecting higher female enrolment.
- Labour Force Participation (15+ years):
- Female Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) improved from 49.8% (2017-18) to 60.1% (2023-24) under usual status, showing increased female workforce inclusion.
- Banking Access and Financial Inclusion:
- Women account for 39.2% of total bank accounts and contribute to 39.7% of aggregate deposits in 2023-24.
- Rural women hold 42.2% of accounts, indicating growing financial autonomy in non-urban regions.
- Stock Market Engagement:
- DEMAT accounts surged from 33.26 million in 2021 to 143.02 million in 2024.
- Female account holders increased from 6.67 million to 27.71 million, reflecting a 4.2x growth in just three years.
- Entrepreneurship – Female-led Enterprises:
- Share of female-headed proprietary establishments in manufacturing, trade, and services grew steadily from 2021-22 to 2023-24.
- Political Participation – Voting Trends:
- Female voter turnout reached 65.8% in 2024, closely matching male turnout at 65.5%.
- This reversed earlier gender voting gaps seen in national elections.
- Women-led Startups:
- Startups with at least one-woman director recognized by DPIIT rose from 1,943 (2017) to 17,405 (2024) – over 800% growth, showcasing improved startup ecosystem inclusivity.
- Health and Fertility Trends:
- Total Fertility Rate (TFR) declined to 2.0 nationally in 2023, with female life expectancy increasing to 71.3 years, indicating better health outcomes for women.
Analysis of Report:
Positives in the Report:
- Empirical gains in digital inclusion: DEMAT and bank account penetration among women indicates widening financial empowerment.
- Education equity improving: GPI consistently above 1.0 across levels reflects progress in girl child education.
- Participation in governance: High female voter turnout and rise in women-led startups show societal engagement and leadership expansion.
- Improved labour metrics: A notable 10.3 percentage point rise in LFPR (2017–24) suggests formalisation and participation gains.
Persistent Gaps and Concerns:
- Sectoral concentration in employment: Most women remain confined to low-paid and informal sector jobs.
- Digital divide lingers: Despite growth, only 27.71 million women held DEMAT accounts versus 115.31 million men in 2024.
- Under-representation in leadership: Women still hold a smaller share in senior corporate or parliamentary positions despite educational gains.
- Urban-rural access imbalance: Internet and health access indicators show slower progress in rural women’s inclusion.
Way Forward:
- Encourage targeted skilling and formal job creation for women in high-value sectors like IT, green energy, and digital finance.
- Promote women’s leadership in decision-making bodies through affirmative actions and board-level mandates.
- Expand digital and financial literacy through rural outreach and SHG-based platforms.
- Establish a Gender Data Monitoring Dashboard to track real-time progress and enable responsive policymaking.
Conclusion:
The Women and Men in India 2024 report is more than a statistical document—it is a blueprint for inclusive governance. It reflects steady progress in gender indicators, but persistent disparities require urgent attention. For India’s development to be truly inclusive, gender equity must move from aspiration to quantifiable achievement.
PYQ:
- Examine the role of ‘Gig Economy’ in the process of empowerment of women in India. (UPSC-2021)
