Introduction

The Global Gender Gap Report 2024, published by the World Economic Forum (WEF), brings troubling news for India. The country has slipped to 131st position among 148 nations, down two ranks from last year—signaling deep-rooted challenges in achieving gender equality. This downward trend underscores the urgent need to reassess India’s policies and actions aimed at bridging the gender divide.

Understanding the Global Gender Gap Index

Introduced by WEF in 2006, the Global Gender Gap Index evaluates countries on the level of gender-based disparities in four key areas:

• Economic Participation and Opportunity
• Educational Attainment
• Health and Survival
• Political Empowerment

Scores range from 0 (complete inequality) to 1 (full parity), with a country’s overall index reflecting its average performance across these categories.

India’s 2024 Performance: Snapshot

• Global Rank: 131 out of 148
• Gender Parity Score: 64.1%
• Position in South Asia: Among the lowest
• Bangladesh: Rank 24
• Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka: All ahead of India

India’s lag in gender parity is especially concerning given that the global average score rose to 68.5%, and the projected time to close the global gap dropped from 143 years (2023) to 123 years (2024).

Breakdown by Indicator

1. Economic Participation & Opportunity

• Minor improvement in score by 0.9 percentage points
• Female labour force participation remains low at 45.9%
• Women concentrated in low-wage, caregiving sectors
• Wage gap persists—women earn 20–30% less than men
• High levels of unpaid and informal work go unrecorded

Conclusion: Without policy reforms that recognize unpaid labour and address wage inequality, true economic empowerment remains out of reach.

2. Educational Attainment

• Consistent gains in school enrolment at primary and secondary levels
• Female literacy still lags at ~70% (vs 87% global average)
• Underrepresentation of women in STEM fields
• Social norms and early marriages restrict higher education for girls, especially in marginalized communities

3. Health and Survival

• Sex ratio at birth remains imbalanced (~929 girls per 1000 boys)
• Women suffer disproportionately from maternal malnutrition, anaemia, and lack of reproductive health services
• Gender-based neglect in healthcare is driven by patriarchal mindsets

4. Political Empowerment

• Women’s representation in Parliament has dropped from 14.7% to 13.8%
• Female ministers declined from 6.5% to 5.6%
• Poor performance in this area heavily impacts India’s overall rank

Despite the Women’s Reservation Bill (2023) being passed, delays in census and delimitation are stalling its implementation.

Regional and Global Comparisons

• Bangladesh continues to outperform India, aided by strong female leadership and gender-focused policies
• Nepal’s constitution mandates women’s participation in governance
• Surprisingly, lower-income countries are closing gender gaps faster than many wealthy nations, proving that political will matters more than economic status

Lesson for India: Economic growth alone is not enough—gender equity must be integrated into governance, culture, and institutions.

Why Gender Parity is Critical

• Economic Growth: Gender parity in the workforce could boost India’s GDP by $700 billion by 2025 (McKinsey)
• Better Outcomes: Health, education, and governance improve with greater gender equity
• Demographic Advantage: A young, working-age population can only deliver results if women are empowered

Persistent Challenges

• Cultural patriarchy influences every life stage of a woman
• Lack of infrastructure and safety deters female employment
• A pronounced digital gender divide hampers women’s access to education and employment
• Implementation gaps in laws and schemes restrict real progress

Recommendations and Way Forward

Conclusion

India’s slip in the Global Gender Gap Index is not merely a statistical setback but a clear reflection of systemic and cultural obstacles that continue to marginalize women. Gender parity is not just a social goal—it is a strategic economic necessity. The path forward is well-defined; what remains is the political will, societal support, and effective implementation to turn plans into progress.