India’s Low Global Gender Gap Ranking

Why in News ?  India stands at a global crossroads — it is recognized as a rising economic power, a digital innovator, and home to the world’s largest youth population. Yet, gender inequality remains a deep-rooted challenge. The Global Gender Gap Report 2025 by the World Economic Forum places India at a dismal 131st out of 148 countries, particularly underperforming in economic participation and health and survival.

Relevance : UPSC Pre &  Mains

Prelims : Global Gender Gap Report 2025

Mains :   GS 1 & 2

Key Issues Highlighted in the Article

 Low Global Gender Gap Ranking:

• India ranks 131/148 globally.
• Especially poor in economic participation and health and survival.

Health and Nutrition Neglect:

• Women’s healthy life expectancy is now lower than men’s.
• 57% of women (15–49 years) are anaemic (NFHS-5).
• Lack of reproductive and preventive healthcare.
• Widespread son preference continues to skew sex ratio at birth.

Economic Participation Deficit:

• India ranks 143rd in Economic Participation and Opportunity.
• Women earn less than a third of what men do.
• Female labour force participation remains critically low.
• Underrepresentation in decision-making spaces and formal economy.

Invisible and Unpaid Care Work:

• Women perform 7 times more unpaid domestic work than men (Time Use Survey).
• This labour remains unrecognized in national accounting and underfunded in policy.

Missed Economic Opportunity:

• McKinsey had projected a $770 billion GDP boost by closing gender gaps by 2025 — this target is now missed.
• Current trends indicate it may take over a century to close the gender gap globally; India lags even further behind.

Demographic Pressures:

• Elderly population to double by 2050, mostly comprising old women.
• Falling fertility rates will shrink the working-age population, increasing dependency burden.
• Without women’s active participation, fiscal and social stability is at risk.

Way Forward:

Invest in Women’s Health:

• Expand primary healthcare and reproductive health services.
• Tackle anaemia and malnutrition through targeted nutritional programs.
• Prioritize preventive care for rural and low-income women.

Recognize and Reduce Unpaid Care Work:

• Use Time Use Surveys to quantify women’s unpaid work.
• Invest in care infrastructure: crèches, elder care, maternity support.
• Provide direct financial support and public funding for caregiving responsibilities.

Promote Economic Inclusion:

• Implement gender budgeting effectively at the central and state levels.
• Ensure equal pay, provide safe workspaces, and enable re-entry policies for women.
• Increase representation of women in formal sectors and policy-making bodies.

Demographic Readiness:

• Plan for ageing population care, especially for vulnerable elderly women.
• Create a national care economy policy integrated with labour and health sectors.
• Use global best practices (e.g. Uruguay, South Korea) to develop inclusive models.

Treat Gender Equality as Economic Imperative:

• Move beyond slogans and tokenism.
• See women as agents of economic growth, not just beneficiaries.
• Integrate gender equality into macroeconomic planning and national development strategy.

Conclusion:

India’s demographic dividend and economic ambitions will remain incomplete if half its population continues to be excluded or under-supported. The Global Gender Gap Report 2025 is a wake-up call — not just for equality, but for economic logic. True development cannot take place without healthy, empowered, and economically active women. The time for policy intent is over; the time for policy action and investment is now.