India ranks 127th in global gender parity, faces challenges

India achieves enrollment parity in education but lags in economic participation, reveals Global Gender Gap Report 2023. The report by the World Economic Forum highlights India's progress in closing 64.3% of its gender gap, climbing eight positions since the previous edition. However, India's ranking at 127th out of indexed countries underscores the challenges ahead for gender equality.

While India excels in enrollment across all education levels, economic participation and opportunity fall short at only 36.7% parity. Although wage and income parity have improved, the representation of women in senior and technical roles has slightly declined. In terms of political empowerment, India has made strides with a parity rate of 25.3%. Women now hold 15.1% of parliamentary seats, reflecting a positive trend in gender inclusivity.

Health and survival indicators show notable improvement, with India's sex ratio at birth reaching 92.7%, a 1.9% increase from the previous year. This progress contributes to a 95% parity in health and survival, marking positive strides after a decade of slow advancement.

The Global Gender Gap Report 2023 indicates a recovery of gender equality to pre-pandemic levels globally. However, progress has slowed, with an overall gender gap closure of only 0.3% compared to the previous year. At the current pace, it will take 131 years to completely close the global gender gap.

Saadia Zahidi, Managing Director of the World Economic Forum, emphasizes the significance of women's economic participation and opportunity in driving economic rebound. She emphasizes the need to maintain momentum in promoting women's empowerment, stating that economic success requires the full power of diverse ideas and skills.