HALF THE POPULATION, INCOMPLETE PARTICIPATION: INDIA’S FALLING CREDIBILITY IN THE GLOBAL GENDER GAP INDEX

22-JUNE-ENG 10

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

ARA--------------------------Priyanka Saurabh, Poet and social thinker said that one of the biggest revolutions of the 21st century is the increase in women's participation. Yet, when the World Economic Forum released the Global Gender Gap Index 2025, India's 131st position indicates that despite all claims of development, women empowerment has remained limited to slogans only. There has been a slight improvement in the field of education and health, but India's position in political representation and economic participation is worrying.

The Global Gender Gap Index is released every year by the World Economic Forum and evaluates gender equality in four major areas: economic participation and opportunity, educational achievements, health and life expectancy, and political empowerment. In the 2025 report, India is ranked 131st among 146 countries, while in 2024 it was ranked 129th. That is, we have fallen two more places.

India has certainly achieved some achievements in the field of education. The enrollment rate of girls at the primary level has become almost equal, but participation in higher education is still unequal. In rural areas, the school drop-out rate is higher among girls, especially after adolescence. Education is not limited to just going to school, it also provides opportunities, self-reliance and decision-making ability - which is still not available to the majority of girls.

The picture is even more worrying in terms of economic participation. The female labour force participation rate in India is only around 25%, while the global average is 47%. Despite India having a large population, the limited economic contribution of women hinders the productivity and inclusive development of the country. Women do not get equal pay for equal work. They work in the informal sector where they do not get any facility like pension, maternity benefit or social security.

India's position is even weaker in the field of political representation. This is the reason why India has got the lowest score in political empowerment in the global index. The number of women MPs in Parliament is still less than 15%. The picture is no different in state assemblies. Even though there is 33% reservation at the panchayat level, there too women are named, but power is in the hands of their husbands or fathers-in-law—that is, words like “Sarpanch Pati” have now become a part of our political culture.

This situation of India becomes even more worrying when we compare it with our neighboring countries. Countries like Bangladesh (99th), Nepal (117th), and Sri Lanka (123rd) are ahead of India, while Pakistan (148th) is at the bottom. Bangladesh has strengthened women leadership politically and has also improved women's labor participation. This shows that more than resources, change in willpower and social thinking is important.

Politics is not just a center of power, but a platform to give direction to social discourse. Only when there are women in Parliament, Assembly and Cabinet, their issues—women's safety, maternal health, education, gender justice—will become a real priority. But, in India, the mindset of considering women leaders as “someone’s wife” or “someone’s daughter” still prevails. Lineage and male patrons are seen more than the quality of leadership.

The actual situation of women in villages and small towns is even more complex. Even today, incidents like child marriage, dowry, domestic violence and honour killing are a blot on women empowerment. There are so many women who do not know about bank accounts, property rights or legal protection. Government schemes like Ujjwala or Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao are visible, but their ground impact is not visible in the figures.

However, there are some rays of light amidst all this darkness. Through campaigns like Startup India and Digital India, many women have started small online businesses. Many women are making India proud on international platforms in the field of sports, science, and technology. Names like PV Sindhu, Avani Lekhara, and ISRO’s female scientist Ritu Karidhal are examples that if given opportunity and confidence, women can change not just the home, but the world.

Now the question is—what to do next? First of all, the law to provide 33% reservation to women in Parliament and Assembly should be passed as soon as possible. This is not just a question of representation, but a question related to the soul of democracy. Flexible work policies like maternity leave, crèche facility, and gender safety at workplace are necessary to increase women's labour participation. There should be special scholarships, hostels and security arrangements for higher education of girls. And most importantly, society will have to change its thinking. Daughters should be considered an opportunity, not a burden.

India dreams of becoming a global power in the 21st century, but this dream is incomplete by marginalizing half of the population. Not just corrective policies for women, but a mental revolution based on equality is needed. Global Gender Gap Index is not a foreign conspiracy, but a mirror that shows us our reality. Now we have to decide - whether to just celebrate or bring about change.