Where does India lag in gender metrics? | Explained

The story so far:India fell in two places in the Global Gender Gap Index of the World Economic Forum for 2025 and ranked 131th from 148 countries. Although gender difference has been narrowed or stable in the event of three categories, economic participation and opportunity; Education gain; Health and survival – deteriorated in the case of political strengthening. At a time when increasing number of women voted in the elections, the number of women in the highest power halls is stubbornly low. This will change in 2029, when compulsory 33% reservation for women in the state and national legislative bodies is set to start, but steps must be taken to ensure that the benefits of this law extend to the long term.

What did it lead to a decline?

The index uses three indicators to assess political strengthening, India falls to two – the percentage of women in the parliament decreases from 14.7% in 2024 to 13.79% (74 MPS) in 2025; And in 2024, the percentage of women in the positions of the ministry, which is currently falling from 6.45% to 5.56% in 2025.

What will change after a female booking?

33% booking legislation for women in Lok Sabha and state legislative bodies was adopted after a long wait in 2023, but it can only be applied from the earliest elections at the earliest elections at the earliest elections, since it depends on a new census and limitation exercise. The representation of women in Lok Sabha ranged from 3.4% in 1977. It ranged from 14% in 2019. During the transition of the women’s booking legislation in 2023, women in the state councils made only 9% of the MLAs, while Chhattisgarh was the highest representation (18% female MLAS), while Himachal Pradesh did not have only one woman and mamor. Cricoling these figures up to at least 33% will give significant support to India’s political strengthening points.

The capture is that the reservation is only valid for 15 years from the time of the laws, ie it is possible to implement only in 2029 and 2034 in two general election cycles, and raises concerns about the sustainability of women in this period. In addition, while more female deputies can be, it is seen that ruling parties assigned them to higher numbers of ministry and increased their representation in real governance. Despite the three -year 33% reservation for women at Panchayat and municipal levels, which are increased to 50% in most states, there is no open pipeline to attract such local leaders into politics at state level.

Is the increase in female voters important?

In 1952, 28 Lakh women were removed from voting in the general elections, as they were listed as the mother or wife of only one in election rolls. The gender difference between voters has shrinked rapidly since then, less than two percent of the 17 percent in 1962 in 2014. In fact, in the last two general elections, female voters actually passed men, but this can be attributed to increasing male migration for employment and that men cannot vote in their homes. Increasing women’s votes, political parties led women to Wooing as a voting bank, a series of welfare plans for women changed to monthly for girls than free bikes for girls.

How to increase female candidates?

However, the tendency of female voters has not become an increase in women’s representation. Rahul Verma, a political scientist at the Policy Research Center, says, “Political parties, ‘good seats’, often referring to the lack of acquisition, usually referring to lack of acquisition,” he says.

“Female voters do not automatically vote for female candidates. Gender is not like caste that voters can vote on the basis of identity. Women are much more practical, they are looking for real programmed delivery, Tara says Tara Krishnaswamy, a non -Partizan group, is working to improve the representation of women in politics. However, he rejects the excuses of parties that women candidates are not won. “Since 1952, in every general election, female candidates have a higher percentage of winnings than men. The problem is that women do not enter the candidate list… The female candidates in the recognized parties list are 8% or 9%.”