India's Progress in Gender Equality

Why is it notable in the news?

According to the GII, India ranks 108th out of 193 countries, scoring 0.437.

What does the Gender Inequality Index measure?

• The GII is a comprehensive measure of gender inequality that considers three dimensions: reproductive health, empowerment, and the labor market.
• It reflects the disparities in human development potential stemming from the inequality between male and female achievements in these areas.
• GII values range from 0 (indicating equality) to 1 (representing extreme inequality).
• A lower GII value signifies lesser inequality between genders, while a higher value indicates the opposite.

India’s Progress

• India stood at rank 122 out of 191 countries with a score of 0.490 in the Gender Inequality Index 2021.
• The current data shows a significant jump of 14 ranks on GII 2022 vis-a-vis GII 2021.
• Over the last 10 years, India’s rank in GII has become consistently better, indicating progressive improvement in achieving gender equality in the country.

What are the initiatives of the Indian Government to advance Gender Equality?

• Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) focuses on safeguarding, nurturing, and educating girl children.
• Mahila Shakti Kendra (MSK) empowers rural women by offering skill development and employment opportunities.
• The National Creche Scheme provides safe childcare environments, enabling women to pursue employment.
• Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandna Yojna offers maternity benefits to pregnant and lactating mothers.
• Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana ensures housing under women's names.
• Sukanya Samriddhi Yojna (SSY) economically empowers girls through bank accounts.
• Gender Budget, integrated into the Union Budget since 2005, allocates funds for women-centric programs and schemes.
• The Nirbhaya Fund Framework establishes a non-lapsable corpus fund to enhance the safety and security of women.
• One Stop Centres (OSCs) provide comprehensive services for women victims of violence.
• The Constitution (106th Amendment) Act, 2023, reserves one-third of seats in various legislative bodies for women.
• 33% of seats in Panchayati Raj Institutions are already reserved for women.
• The Vigyan Jyoti program encourages girls to pursue STEM education and careers.
• Other initiatives like Stand-Up India, Mahila e-Haat, Entrepreneurship and Skill Development Programme (ESSDP), and Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY) promote women entrepreneurs.