India Slips in Global Gender Gap Report 2025
Global Landscape 2025
- The global gender parity score stands at 68.5%, meaning nearly a third of the gender gap remains unclosed.
- At the current pace, gender equality globally would only be achieved around 2158, far removed from the 2030 SDG target.
India’s Ranking & Score
- In the 2025 report, India is ranked 131 out of 148 countries, with a gender parity score of 64.4%.
- This reflects a slight absolute improvement (+0.3 points), even though India slipped two spots from 129th in 2024.
- The ranking drop is driven more by other countries improving than any decline in India.
Four Pillars: India’s Performance
1. Economic Participation & Opportunity
- India remains among the lowest globally (around 39.8–40% parity) . Key issues include low income parity (~28.6%), under-representation in managerial roles (~14.4%), and a labor force participation rate of about 45.9%.
- Unpaid care work, often unseen in GDP, disproportionately burdens women—estimated at $10 trillion in value—or ~13% of global GDP.
- McKinsey notes that tapping into this would boost India’s GDP by up to 60% by 2025.
2. Educational Attainment
- India excels in parity of secondary school enrollment, closing over 96% of the gender gap.
- However, literacy rate disparities persist—about a 17.2% gender gap—and dropout rates remain high, particularly during adolescence and in rural areas due to menstrual hygiene and infrastructure challenges.
3. Health & Survival
- Health indicators show India has closed about 95% of the gender gap.
- Despite this, some groups—such as Dalit women—face persistent inequalities by own community & family, including reduced access to antenatal care.
4. Political Empowerment
- India ranks 65th on this pillar—its strongest relative position.
- Yet, representation is low: only 6.9% of ministerial posts, ~13–17% of parliamentary seats, and just 2 women in the current cabinet of 30.
- The Women’s Reservation Bill (33% reservation in Lok Sabha & state assemblies) is in place, but implementation awaits post-delimitation by 2026.
Key Drivers & Impacts in India
1. Unpaid Care Burden
Women shoulder ~75% of unpaid domestic and caregiving duties , limiting paid employment, especially in high-value sectors.
2. Socio‑cultural Barriers
Persistent norms restrict girls from completing education, participating in governance, pursuing STEM, and entering the workforce.
3. Safety & Mobility
Safety concerns, especially in workplaces and public spaces, hinder female workforce participation.
4. Economic Cost
Studies (e.g., by OECD) estimate gender discrimination costs up to $12 trillion globally. For India, raising female labor force participation to global averages (~50%) could add 15–30% to GDP.
What India Is Doing
- Nationwide campaigns: Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, Mahila Shakti Kendra, Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana.
- Structural reforms: 33% reservation in Panchayati Raj, the pending Women’s Reservation Bill, expanded maternity and paternity leaves.
- Economic empowerment: Stand‑Up India, Mahila‑e‑Haat, entrepreneurship schemes, and NGO‑led grassroots programs.
- Caregiver support: Introducing paternity leave (e.g., Intel India, Accenture augmenting benefits) and early-stage corporate recognition of unpaid work.
| Dimension | Score (%) | Observations |
|---|---|---|
| Economic Participation & Opportunity | 40.7% | Low labor force participation, wage gap, unpaid care work burden |
| Educational Attainment | 96.2% | Near parity in school enrollment, but gaps in literacy remain |
| Health & Survival | 95.0% | Good parity but regional & caste-based disparities exist |
| Political Empowerment | 25.3% | Under-representation in Parliament and ministerial roles |
Final Take
India's 64.4% parity score reflects notable strides in education and health, but stubborn economic and political gaps persist. The Global Gender Gap Report 2025 highlights not just systemic gender issues but also national growth opportunities: closing these gaps could catalyze a GDP surge of 15–60%.
India’s path forward lies in holistic action—structural reforms, cultural shifts, and enforced economic inclusion. Integrating safety, education, economic opportunity, and political voice is essential. By doing this, India won’t just bridge gender divides—it will unlock powerful economic and societal dividends.