Table of Contents
Relevance: Gender and Society
For Prelims:
Women and Men in India Report, MoSPI, Sex Ratio at Birth, Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER), Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR), Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR), Time Use Survey
For Mains:
gender equality, women empowerment, socio-economic indicators, labour participation, human development, gender parity, inclusive growth, health inequality, digital inclusion
Why in News?
- The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) released the 27th edition of the “Women and Men in India 2025” report in Bhubaneswar.
- The report provides a comprehensive statistical overview of gender-related socio-economic indicators in India.
What is the Report?
- The “Women and Men in India” report is an annual statistical publication, institutionalized in 1995.
- It serves as a comprehensive data compendium on the status of women and men across multiple sectors.
- It compiles data from various ministries, surveys, and administrative sources.
- It covers domains such as population, health, education, economic participation, and safety.
- The report provides evidence-based insights to support gender-sensitive policymaking.
Key Data and Statistics
- Sex Ratio at Birth improved from 904 (2017–19) to 917 (2021–23), indicating better survival of female children.
- Infant Mortality Rate declined steadily for both males and females between 2008 and 2023.
- Gender parity has been achieved across all levels of school education from primary to higher secondary.
- Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) for females increased from 28.5 to 30.2 between 2021–22 and 2022–23.
- Female GER (30.2) is now higher than male GER (28.9) in higher education.
- Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) increased for both genders, with strong gains among rural women.
- Rural female LFPR rose from 37.5% to 45.9% between 2022 and 2025.
- Women in managerial positions increased by 102.54% between 2017 and 2025.
- Adolescent fertility rate (15–19 years) has been declining steadily since 2021.
Rise of Equality (Positive Trends)
- Educational Parity has been achieved at all school levels, ensuring equal foundational opportunities for girls.
- Higher Education Participation has improved, with women now surpassing men in enrolment ratios.
- Economic Participation of women is rising, particularly in rural areas and professional sectors.
- Leadership Representation has improved, as seen in the sharp rise in women in managerial roles.
- Health Outcomes have improved significantly, with declines in maternal and infant mortality rates.
- Marriage Age is increasing, with the mean age reaching 24.3 years in 2023, allowing greater educational and career opportunities.
- Financial Autonomy is increasing due to higher labour force participation.
Persistent Inequalities
- Health Screening Gap remains significant, with very low participation in cervical and breast cancer screening.
- Only about 1.7% of women have undergone cervical cancer screening (NFHS-5 data).
- Literacy Gap persists, with a 14.4 percentage point difference between male and female literacy rates.
- Unpaid Care Work burden remains disproportionately high for women, limiting their economic participation.
- Digital Divide exposes women to higher risks of cyber fraud and limits access to digital services.
- Underreporting of crimes against women continues due to lack of awareness and access to reporting mechanisms.
Significance of the Report
- Provides a comprehensive gender data framework for policymaking.
- Helps track progress on gender equality and SDG Goal 5.
- Highlights both achievements and gaps in women’s empowerment.
- Supports evidence-based planning for inclusive development.
- Acts as a benchmark for measuring socio-economic transformation.
Way Forward
- Strengthen awareness and access to health screening services, especially in rural areas.
- Promote targeted skill development programs to sustain female labour force participation.
- Expand adult literacy initiatives focusing on older women.
- Improve digital literacy and cybersecurity awareness among women.
- Encourage gender-sensitive budgeting and policy design.
- Strengthen institutional mechanisms for reporting and addressing crimes against women.
Conclusion
The Women and Men in India 2025 report highlights significant progress in gender equality, especially in education, employment, and leadership. However, persistent challenges such as literacy gaps, health inequalities, and unpaid care burdens indicate that structural barriers still exist. Achieving true gender parity requires sustained policy efforts to convert statistical progress into real-life empowerment for women across all sections of society.
CARE MCQ
Q. With reference to the “Women and Men in India 2025” report, consider the following statements:
- It is published by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.
- It shows that female Gross Enrolment Ratio in higher education is higher than that of males.
- It reports that all women in India have access to health screening services.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Ans: (a)
Explanation:
Explanation:
Statement 1 is correct:
The report “Women and Men in India” is an annual publication brought out by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI). It compiles gender-disaggregated data across sectors such as education, health, employment, and decision-making.
Statement 2 is correct:
Recent editions of the report highlight that the female Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) in higher education has marginally exceeded that of males, reflecting improving gender parity in education.
Statement 3 is incorrect:
The report does not claim universal access to health screening services for all women. While access has improved, significant gaps remain, particularly across regions and socio-economic groups. Hence, this statement is incorrect.
Q. India’s Female Labour Force Participation Rate (FLFPR) remains relatively low. Which of the following is considered a primary structural driver of this phenomenon?
(a) Higher educational attainment among women leading to preference for non-market activities
(b) Disproportionate burden of unpaid care and domestic work on women
(c) Legal restrictions barring women from employment in most sectors
(d) Decline in employment opportunities in the agricultural sector
Ans: (b)
Explanation:
The low Female Labour Force Participation Rate (FLFPR) in India is primarily driven by structural and socio-cultural factors, among which the unequal burden of unpaid care work is the most significant.
Women in India spend a disproportionately large amount of time on household chores, childcare, and elder care, which limits their ability to participate in paid employment.
Option (a) is incorrect:
While higher education may delay entry into the workforce, it generally enhances employability and cannot explain persistently low participation rates.
Option (b) is correct:
The unequal distribution of unpaid domestic responsibilities is widely recognized as the key constraint on women’s labour force participation.
Option (c) is incorrect:
There are no broad legal prohibitions preventing women from working in most sectors. Restrictions are limited to specific hazardous occupations.
Option (d) is incorrect:
Although structural shifts in agriculture affect employment, they impact both men and women. This is not the primary reason for low female participation.
Q. Consider the following statements regarding recessionary trends in an economy:
Statement-I: During a recession, the labour force participation rate always declines as discouraged workers exit the labour market.
Statement-II: Recessions invariably lead to deflation, with a sustained fall in general price levels.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
(a) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I
(b) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I
(c) Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect
(d) Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is incorrect
Ans: (d)
Explanation:
Statement-I is incorrect:
Although labour force participation may decline during recessions due to discouraged workers, it is not always the case. Participation rates may remain stable or even increase depending on economic necessity and demographic factors.
Statement-II is incorrect:
Recessions do not always lead to deflation. In some cases, economies experience stagflation, where inflation coexists with economic stagnation. Hence, deflation is not inevitable.
Q.Consider the following statements regarding the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS):
- PLFS is conducted by the National Statistical Office (NSO).
- It provides estimates of unemployment and labour force participation at both national and state levels.
- The survey follows a rotating panel design, where households are revisited multiple times.
- It replaced the earlier quinquennial Employment and Unemployment Surveys (EUS).
Which of the statements given above are correct?
(a) 3 and 4 only
(b) 1, 2 and 3 only
(c) 1, 3 and 4 only
(d) 2, 3 and 4 only
Ans: (d)
Explanation:
Statement 1 is incorrect:
PLFS is conducted by the National Statistical Office (NSO), not NSSO (which has been merged into NSO). The wording must be precise; hence the statement is considered incorrect.
Statement 2 is correct:
PLFS provides labour force indicators such as unemployment rate and participation rate at both national and state levels.
Statement 3 is correct:
It uses a rotating panel design, especially in urban areas, allowing tracking of employment trends over time.
Statement 4 is correct:
PLFS replaced the earlier quinquennial Employment and Unemployment Surveys, enabling more frequent and timely labour market data.
FAQs
Q. With reference to the “Women and Men in India 2025” report, consider the following statements:
- It is published by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.
- It shows that female Gross Enrolment Ratio in higher education is higher than that of males.
- It reports that all women in India have access to health screening services.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Ans: (a)
Explanation:
Explanation:
Statement 1 is correct:
The report “Women and Men in India” is an annual publication brought out by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI). It compiles gender-disaggregated data across sectors such as education, health, employment, and decision-making.
Statement 2 is correct:
Recent editions of the report highlight that the female Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) in higher education has marginally exceeded that of males, reflecting improving gender parity in education.
Statement 3 is incorrect:
The report does not claim universal access to health screening services for all women. While access has improved, significant gaps remain, particularly across regions and socio-economic groups. Hence, this statement is incorrect.
Q. India’s Female Labour Force Participation Rate (FLFPR) remains relatively low. Which of the following is considered a primary structural driver of this phenomenon?
(a) Higher educational attainment among women leading to preference for non-market activities
(b) Disproportionate burden of unpaid care and domestic work on women
(c) Legal restrictions barring women from employment in most sectors
(d) Decline in employment opportunities in the agricultural sector
Ans: (b)
Explanation:
The low Female Labour Force Participation Rate (FLFPR) in India is primarily driven by structural and socio-cultural factors, among which the unequal burden of unpaid care work is the most significant.
Women in India spend a disproportionately large amount of time on household chores, childcare, and elder care, which limits their ability to participate in paid employment.
Option (a) is incorrect:
While higher education may delay entry into the workforce, it generally enhances employability and cannot explain persistently low participation rates.
Option (b) is correct:
The unequal distribution of unpaid domestic responsibilities is widely recognized as the key constraint on women’s labour force participation.
Option (c) is incorrect:
There are no broad legal prohibitions preventing women from working in most sectors. Restrictions are limited to specific hazardous occupations.
Option (d) is incorrect:
Although structural shifts in agriculture affect employment, they impact both men and women. This is not the primary reason for low female participation.
Q. Consider the following statements regarding recessionary trends in an economy:
Statement-I: During a recession, the labour force participation rate always declines as discouraged workers exit the labour market.
Statement-II: Recessions invariably lead to deflation, with a sustained fall in general price levels.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
(a) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I
(b) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I
(c) Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect
(d) Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is incorrect
Ans: (d)
Explanation:
Statement-I is incorrect:
Although labour force participation may decline during recessions due to discouraged workers, it is not always the case. Participation rates may remain stable or even increase depending on economic necessity and demographic factors.
Statement-II is incorrect:
Recessions do not always lead to deflation. In some cases, economies experience stagflation, where inflation coexists with economic stagnation. Hence, deflation is not inevitable.
Q.Consider the following statements regarding the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS):
- PLFS is conducted by the National Statistical Office (NSO).
- It provides estimates of unemployment and labour force participation at both national and state levels.
- The survey follows a rotating panel design, where households are revisited multiple times.
- It replaced the earlier quinquennial Employment and Unemployment Surveys (EUS).
Which of the statements given above are correct?
(a) 3 and 4 only
(b) 1, 2 and 3 only
(c) 1, 3 and 4 only
(d) 2, 3 and 4 only
Ans: (d)
Explanation:
Statement 1 is incorrect:
PLFS is conducted by the National Statistical Office (NSO), not NSSO (which has been merged into NSO). The wording must be precise; hence the statement is considered incorrect.
Statement 2 is correct:
PLFS provides labour force indicators such as unemployment rate and participation rate at both national and state levels.
Statement 3 is correct:
It uses a rotating panel design, especially in urban areas, allowing tracking of employment trends over time.
Statement 4 is correct:
PLFS replaced the earlier quinquennial Employment and Unemployment Surveys, enabling more frequent and timely labour market data.
