Context:
The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), Government of India, has released the 26th edition of its flagship publication, “Women and Men in India 2024: Selected Indicators and Data”. This annual report provides a detailed and gender-disaggregated statistical portrait of India’s demographic, socio-economic, and institutional landscape.
Key Purpose and Impact
This publication:
- Offers gender-based statistics across critical sectors such as population, education, health, economic participation, and decision-making.
- Draws on data from diverse ministries, departments, and organizations to reflect both urban-rural divides and regional disparities.
- Aims to inform gender-sensitive policy formulation, and support evidence-based decision-making for inclusive and sustainable development.
The full report is accessible on the MoSPI website.
Major Highlights from “Women and Men in India 2024”
1. Education & Gender Parity
- Gender Parity Index (GPI) at primary and higher secondary levels remains consistently high, reflecting strong female school enrolment.
- Upper primary and elementary levels show fluctuations, but overall maintain near parity.
2. Labour Participation
- Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) for ages 15+ (usual status) increased from 49.8% in 2017-18 to 60.1% in 2023-24, indicating growing workforce inclusion.
3. Financial Inclusion
- Women hold 39.2% of all bank accounts and contribute 39.7% to total deposits.
- Participation is highest in rural India, where 42.2% of account holders are women.
4. Stock Market Participation
- DEMAT accounts surged more than fourfold between March 2021 and November 2024, from 33.26 million to 143.02 million.
- Male account holders: 26.59M → 115.31M
- Female account holders: 6.67M → 27.71M
- Female participation is steadily rising, though males still dominate.
5. Entrepreneurship & Economic Activity
- An increasing trend of female-headed proprietary establishments is observed across manufacturing, trade, and services sectors from 2021–22 to 2023–24.
- Startups with at least one woman director grew from 1,943 in 2017 to 17,405 in 2024, indicating a surge in female entrepreneurship.
6. Political Participation
- Total electors rose from 173.2 million (1952) to 978 million (2024).
- Female voter turnout peaked at 67.2% in 2019, slightly dipping to 65.8% in 2024, but still surpassed male turnout, closing the gender gap in electoral participation.
The “Women and Men in India 2024” report not only reflects the progress India has made in bridging gender disparities but also highlights areas that need focused interventions. It is an essential resource for policymakers, researchers, gender advocates, and institutions aiming to drive inclusive growth and support the Viksit Bharat vision.
UPSC Mains PYQ
1. Examine the role of ‘Gig Economy’ in the process of empowerment of women in India. (UPSC-2021)
